Bentley Systems has acquired Legion, a UK-based provider of pedestrian simulation software.

Legion provides services for more than half of the 40 largest transit agencies in the world.

The acquisition bolsters Bentley’s modelling environment with collaborative digital workflows, allowing the company to explore different simulations of pedestrian traffic scenarios.

Bentley Systems senior vice-president of design engineering Santanu Das said: “Because pedestrian traffic and capacity are major concerns for infrastructure planning and operations, collaborative digital workflows for pedestrian simulation need to be prioritised during design.

“Taking advantage of Legion’s innovative pedestrian modelling capabilities throughout Bentley’s comprehensive modelling environment will enable better decisions to improve pedestrian circulation, throughput, and overall safety.”

“Taking advantage of Legion’s innovative pedestrian modelling capabilities will enable better decisions to improve pedestrian circulation, throughput, and overall safety.”

Legion’s pedestrian simulation application provides modelling capabilities for people’s interactions and physical obstacles and activities within public spaces, as well as vehicle interactions.

Making use of Legion simulation tools in collaborative digital workflows with Bentley’s OpenBuildings Designer will enable architects, engineers and owners to consider pedestrian traffic in their conceptualisation of design alternatives.

The OpenBuildings Station Designer will offer collaborative digital workflows to completely model pedestrian activities and journeys to and from trains, platforms, and through stations.

Legion founder Douglas Connor said: “Pedestrian flows should be considered fundamental design criteria for infrastructure assets like train stations or airports which are intrinsically meant to serve the needs of pedestrians.

“We’re excited to join with Bentley to provide designers, engineers, and owners with pedestrian simulation applications that are integrated with market-leading design modeling offerings.

The deal’s financial details have not been disclosed.