name: Bentley iTwin Platform description: >- Vocabulary of key terms, concepts, objects, and operations used across Bentley's iTwin Platform. Covers infrastructure digital twins, iModel data management, reality capture, 4D scheduling, reporting, and synchronization. version: "1.0" created: "2026-05-23" modified: "2026-05-23" tags: - Infrastructure Engineering - Digital Twin - BIM - iTwin - iModel - Reality Capture - Construction terms: - term: iTwin definition: >- The top-level digital twin container holding iModels, reality data, schedules, and project context for a single infrastructure asset or endeavor. iTwins are classified as Account, Thing, or Endeavor and can form hierarchies. category: Core Object tags: [iTwin, Container] - term: iModel definition: >- A specialized information container for exchanging data associated with the lifecycle of infrastructure assets. Implemented as a distributed relational database derived from BIM authoring and synchronized via changesets. category: Core Object tags: [iModel, BIM, Data Management] sourceQuote: "An iModel is a specialized information container for exchanging data associated with the lifecycle of infrastructure assets." - term: Changeset definition: >- An atomic, ordered set of edits pushed against an iModel by an authoring session. Changesets form an append-only timeline that enables versioning, branching, and audit trail across the iModel's lifecycle. category: Core Object tags: [Changeset, Versioning, History] - term: Named Version definition: >- A pinned, named, immutable reference to a specific changeset in an iModel's timeline. Used to capture submittals, baselines, and milestones for reporting, sharing, and comparison. category: Core Object tags: [NamedVersion, Milestone, Baseline] - term: Briefcase definition: >- A local writable copy of an iModel acquired by an authoring application. Briefcases hold pending edits before they are pushed as a changeset. category: Core Object tags: [Briefcase, Authoring] - term: BIS Schema definition: >- Bentley Infrastructure Schema — the canonical EC-schema vocabulary describing all classes, relationships, and properties used in iModels (Roads, Buildings, Plant, Bridge, etc.). category: Schema tags: [BIS, Schema, EC] - term: Reality Data definition: >- Captured representation of the as-built world — point clouds, 3D meshes, orthophotos, terrain models — attached to an iTwin for use in design context and visualization. category: Core Object tags: [Reality Capture, Point Cloud, Mesh] - term: ContextCapture definition: >- Bentley's reality modeling engine that processes photos and laser scans into 3D meshes, point clouds, and 3D Tiles consumable by iTwin viewers and downstream tools. category: Service tags: [ContextCapture, Reality Modeling, Photogrammetry] - term: ProjectWise definition: >- Bentley's project information management system for engineering deliverables. Federated through the iTwin Platform's EDFS API and a primary source for synchronization. category: Product tags: [ProjectWise, Project Delivery, Document Management] - term: SYNCHRO definition: >- Bentley's 4D construction modeling and project controls product, surfaced through the iTwin Platform Schedules API for task, resource, and animation management. category: Product tags: [SYNCHRO, 4D, Construction, Scheduling] - term: MicroStation definition: >- Bentley's flagship CAD authoring product. MicroStation produces DGN files that synchronize into iModels via the iTwin Synchronization API. category: Product tags: [MicroStation, CAD, DGN] - term: OpenRoads / OpenBridge / OpenBuildings definition: >- Bentley's vertical authoring applications for road design, bridge design, and building design respectively. All produce iModel-compatible data. category: Product tags: [OpenRoads, OpenBridge, OpenBuildings, Design] - term: AssetWise definition: >- Bentley's asset lifecycle information management platform for operations and maintenance, including AssetWise ALIM and AssetWise 4D Analytics. category: Product tags: [AssetWise, Operations, Asset Performance] - term: Saved View definition: >- A persisted iModel viewer state — camera position, display styles, category visibility, model selections — shared across users and embedded in reports and issues. category: Core Object tags: [Saved View, Visualization, Collaboration] - term: Clash Detection definition: >- Automated geometric interference checking between sets of iModel elements. Defined via tests that pair element groups, with optional suppression rules for known acceptable conflicts. category: Operation tags: [Clash Detection, Coordination, Validation] - term: Issue definition: >- A trackable observation, defect, RFI, or punch-list item raised against project deliverables. Issues support attachments, comments, audit trail, and workflow transitions. category: Core Object tags: [Issues, Collaboration, Quality] - term: Mapping (Insights) definition: >- A declarative configuration that maps iModel elements to logical groups and calculated properties, used by the Insights reporting engine to produce tabular reports and dashboards. category: Reporting tags: [Mapping, Reporting, Insights] - term: EC3 Integration definition: >- Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator integration that lets carbon calculation jobs pull EPD data and material definitions for sustainability reporting against iModel takeoffs. category: Integration tags: [EC3, Embodied Carbon, Sustainability] - term: Synchronization Connection definition: >- A configured pairing between a source repository (Azure Blob, iTwin Storage, ProjectWise) and a target iModel that defines which files to synchronize and how often. category: Core Object tags: [Synchronization, Connection, Pipeline] - term: Connector definition: >- A native-format-to-iModel bridge that translates DGN, DWG, IFC, RVT, SHP, and other source formats into iModel data during synchronization runs. category: Component tags: [Connector, Synchronization] - term: Credit definition: >- The iTwin Platform's billing unit. Service consumption (iModel ingress, storage, visualization hours, reporting rows, reality modeling) is charged in credits at $1.20/credit overage. category: Billing tags: [Credit, Pricing, Billing] sourceQuote: "Credits do not roll over at this time and any unused credits will no longer be available." - term: Bentley IMS definition: >- Bentley Identity Management Service — the OAuth2 authorization server at ims.bentley.com used for all iTwin Platform API access. category: Authentication tags: [Authentication, OAuth2, IMS] - term: 4D Construction Schedule definition: >- A schedule linked to 3D model elements so that planned and actual progress can be animated and validated against the iModel through the Schedules API and SYNCHRO. category: Concept tags: [4D, Construction, Schedule, SYNCHRO] - term: Digital Twin definition: >- A continuously updated digital representation of a physical asset that combines design authoring (iModel), reality capture, IoT sensor data, and operational records to mirror real-world state. category: Concept tags: [Digital Twin, iTwin]