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.

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“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

  • 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

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

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

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

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

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

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
Virtuoso Subscription

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We’ve bundled a 12-month license for trusted Bentley software with customizable training from experts and call it our Virtuoso Subscription. With lower upfront costs and flexible support options, businesses of all sizes can now compete with the industry’s heavy hitters.

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Webinars

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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)

Disk Space

10 GB minimum free disk space

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