Buy Bentley Descartes: Reality Data Processing Software

Features
Technical Capabilities
Resources
Related Products
FAQs

Powerful reality modeling data process application

Work with all data types, regardless of size, in a single product. With Bentley Descartes, Bentley’s reality modeling data processing software, you can integrate point clouds, reality meshes, scalable terrain models, and raster imagery into your infrastructure workflows.

Quickly and easily manipulate 3D reality meshes

Descartes enables the fast and easy manipulation of 3D reality meshes of any scale as well as the generation of cross sections, extraction of ground and breaklines, and production of orthophotos, 3D PDFs, and iModels. In addition, you can integrate your meshes with GIS and engineering data to enable the intuitive search, navigation, visualization, and animation of that information within the visual context of the mesh. These meshes are rich, 3D scalable models of the real-world created with Bentley’s reality modeling software, iTwin Capture Modeler.

Work with raster images

Raster images in the form of aerial imagery, binary imagery, and raster digital elevation models (DEM) are fully supported in Descartes. It is a comprehensive image management environment with conversion (raster to vector and vector to raster), cleanup, and editing tools that extend the MicroStation raster management tools.

Better evaluate and work with point clouds

Point clouds can be enriched, segmented, and classified and combined with engineering models. You can then leverage Descartes’ capabilities for advanced 3D modeling, cross sectioning, breaklines, and ground extraction to quickly and efficiently model as-built conditions and support the design process. You can better evaluate point clouds and produce more accurate engineering models as a result. Animations and renderings for presentation can also be produced.

Produce and work with large, scalable terrain models

You can produce very large scalable terrain models from many sources including point clouds, breaklines, raster digital elevation models, and existing triangulated irregular networks. Scalable terrain models are synchronized with the original data sources to remain up to date. This allows you to have a global, current, and integrated representation of all your data to perform analyses using a variety of display modes and to produce animations and visualizations.

Ensure interoperability to improve production

With support for a wide range of reality modeling and engineering data types, you can take full advantage of your investment in existing data and get a more complete integrated view of your information. You can also streamline the production of deliverables in most standard industry formats for use in other applications.

“The swift creation of the model [using Bentley applications] has proven that during a global pandemic and lockdown, it is still possible to provide services that go above and beyond the expectations of our clients and stakeholders.”

Technical Capabilities

Reality Mesh Support Raster Image Processing Point-cloud Processing Scalable Terrain Modeling Raster Data Interoperability Visualization

Reality Mesh Support

Display of very large, phototextured reality meshes produced using iTwin Capture Modeler
Editing of meshes (remove facets, fill holes)
Automatic ground extraction
Breakline extraction
Efficient 3D modeling by using sections and templates
Mesh classification to enrich mesh with data from many sources
Orthoimage extraction on any axis
Generation and manipulation of cross sections
Production of 3D PDFs and iModels
Tools’ support of streamed reality meshes

Raster Image Processing

Fast display and management of large raster images
Vector to raster conversion
Raster to vector conversion
Retouch color raster images
Cleanup binary raster images
Register raster images
Manage display of raster mosaics
Generation of orthophotos
Thematic display of Digital Elevation Models

Point-cloud Processing

Fast display and visualization of billions of points
Drape and snap elements
Classification editing
Smart Snap
Batch tile export
Pointools, POD, LAS, and XYZ file export
Extraction of planar and cylindrical elements
Linear feature extraction
Re-color points for flexible presentation
Class management for any type of presentation style
Definition of custom classes
Point-cloud colorization from orthophotos
Clip and section manager
Support of geographic coordinate systems

Scalable Terrain Modeling

Creation of scalable terrain models (STMs)
High-performance display of very large digital terrain models (DTMs)
Display modes for smooth shading, smooth shading with shadows, aspect angle, elevation, slope, contours
High-resolution image draping on STM
STM update and synchronization with DGN files, civil DTMs, point-cloud data, and XYZ files
Calculate view shed from point or path

Raster Data Interoperability

ECW (unlimited), PDF, IMG, JPEG 2000, BIL, DOQ, FLI, SPOT CAP, and Digital Image Map
TIFF (1-to 32-bit), GEOTIFF, iTIFF, COT, CIT, RLE, CALS, PCX, IMG, BUM, TG4, INT, RGB, TGA, JPEG, RLC, RS, HMR, BMP, and IKONOS 3 (Red), and 4 (NIR) bands from GeoEye
Compression schemes: Deflate, Pack-Bits, CCITT3, CCITT4
Support for lossless compression formats: ECW, MrSID, and JPEG 2000

Visualization

Image draping on DTM
MicroStation-based rendering
Real-life textures
Lighting effects
Elevation and perspectives
Creation of fly-throughs and animations
Creation of 3D PDFs
Support for engineering data, point cloud, reality meshes
Seamless integration with LumenRT for real-time, immersive presentations
Support for traffic animation
Solar and shading analysis
Thematic visualization of elements based on height, slope, and aspect angle

Reality Mesh Support

Display of very large, phototextured reality meshes produced using iTwin Capture Modeler
Editing of meshes (remove facets, fill holes)
Automatic ground extraction
Breakline extraction
Efficient 3D modeling by using sections and templates
Mesh classification to enrich mesh with data from many sources
Orthoimage extraction on any axis
Generation and manipulation of cross sections
Production of 3D PDFs and iModels
Tools’ support of streamed reality meshes

Raster Image Processing

Fast display and management of large raster images
Vector to raster conversion
Raster to vector conversion
Retouch color raster images
Cleanup binary raster images
Register raster images
Manage display of raster mosaics
Generation of orthophotos
Thematic display of Digital Elevation Models

Point-cloud Processing

Fast display and visualization of billions of points
Drape and snap elements
Classification editing
Smart Snap
Batch tile export
Pointools, POD, LAS, and XYZ file export
Extraction of planar and cylindrical elements
Linear feature extraction
Re-color points for flexible presentation
Class management for any type of presentation style
Definition of custom classes
Point-cloud colorization from orthophotos
Clip and section manager
Support of geographic coordinate systems

Scalable Terrain Modeling

Creation of scalable terrain models (STMs)
High-performance display of very large digital terrain models (DTMs)
Display modes for smooth shading, smooth shading with shadows, aspect angle, elevation, slope, contours
High-resolution image draping on STM
STM update and synchronization with DGN files, civil DTMs, point-cloud data, and XYZ files
Calculate view shed from point or path

Raster Data Interoperability

ECW (unlimited), PDF, IMG, JPEG 2000, BIL, DOQ, FLI, SPOT CAP, and Digital Image Map
TIFF (1-to 32-bit), GEOTIFF, iTIFF, COT, CIT, RLE, CALS, PCX, IMG, BUM, TG4, INT, RGB, TGA, JPEG, RLC, RS, HMR, BMP, and IKONOS 3 (Red), and 4 (NIR) bands from GeoEye
Compression schemes: Deflate, Pack-Bits, CCITT3, CCITT4
Support for lossless compression formats: ECW, MrSID, and JPEG 2000

Visualization

Image draping on DTM
MicroStation-based rendering
Real-life textures
Lighting effects
Elevation and perspectives
Creation of fly-throughs and animations
Creation of 3D PDFs
Support for engineering data, point cloud, reality meshes
Seamless integration with LumenRT for real-time, immersive presentations
Support for traffic animation
Solar and shading analysis
Thematic visualization of elements based on height, slope, and aspect angle

Featured Training

Browse a variety of upcoming training and previously recorded courses taught by our in-house, industry experts.

View Options

Webinars

Explore our Reality Modeling webinars for best practices and engage with Virtuosity and Bentley industry experts.

Watch Now

Blogs

Read our Infrastructure Insights blog to find tips and tricks and Reality Modeling user success stories from around the world.

What is Bentley Descartes?

Descartes is a very powerful application for integrating and processing reality modeling data such as reality meshes, point clouds, scalable terrain models, and raster data for use in your information modeling workflows and infrastructure projects.

How much does Bentley Descartes cost?

A practitioner license of Bentley Descartes costs $4,751 USD. Prices vary per region. While there are various types of licensing available, a common choice is the 12-month practitioner license offered through Virtuosity, Bentley’s eCommerce store. When you purchase through Virtuosity, you get a Virtuoso Subscription. This means you get the software and “Keys” (tokens) to redeem for customizable training, mentoring, and consulting services.

System Requirements

Processor

Intel Pentium-based or AMD Athlon-based processor 2.0 GHz or greater

Operating System

Windows 10 (64 bit) – Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education
Windows 8 (64 bit) – Standard, Pro, and Enterprise
Windows 8.1 (64 bit) – Standard, Pro, and Enterprise
Windows 7 SP1 (64 bit) – Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate

Memory

4 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended, (more memory typically results in better performance)

Featured Products

CAD & Visualization

MicroStation

Construction Management & Planning

SYNCHRO 4D

Hydraulics & Hydrology

OpenFlows WaterGEMS

Utilities & Communication Networks

SPIDAcalc