diff --git a/opendm/system.py b/opendm/system.py
index a7e20252..6da38e33 100644
--- a/opendm/system.py
+++ b/opendm/system.py
@@ -31,6 +31,21 @@ def now():
     return datetime.datetime.now().strftime('%a %b %d %H:%M:%S %Z %Y')
 
 
+def now_raw():
+    return datetime.datetime.now()
+
+
+def benchmark(start, benchmarking_file, process):
+    """
+    runs a benchmark with a start datetime object
+    :return: the running time (delta)
+    """
+    # Write to benchmark file
+    delta = (datetime.datetime.now() - start).total_seconds()
+    with open(benchmarking_file, 'a') as b:
+        b.write('%s runtime: %s seconds\n' % (process, delta))
+
+
 def run_and_return(cmdSrc, cmdDest=None):
     """Run a system command and return the output"""
     process = subprocess.Popen(cmdSrc, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, shell=True)
diff --git a/opendm/types.py b/opendm/types.py
index e8ba490f..4e104589 100644
--- a/opendm/types.py
+++ b/opendm/types.py
@@ -319,6 +319,9 @@ class ODM_Tree(object):
 
         # important files paths
 
+        # benchmarking
+        self.benchmarking = io.join_paths(self.root_path, 'benchmark.txt')
+
         # opensfm
         self.opensfm_bundle = io.join_paths(self.opensfm, 'bundle_r000.out')
         self.opensfm_bundle_list = io.join_paths(self.opensfm, 'list_r000.out')
diff --git a/scripts/cmvs.py b/scripts/cmvs.py
index 77d47484..91b7a204 100644
--- a/scripts/cmvs.py
+++ b/scripts/cmvs.py
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ class ODMCmvsCell(ecto.Cell):
         outputs.declare("reconstruction", "list of ODMReconstructions", [])
 
     def process(self, inputs, outputs):
+
+        # Benchmarking
+        start_time = system.now_raw()
         
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD CMVS Cell')
 
@@ -56,5 +59,8 @@ class ODMCmvsCell(ecto.Cell):
             log.ODM_WARNING('Found a valid CMVS file in: %s' % 
                             tree.pmvs_bundle)
 
+        if args['time']:
+            system.benchmark(start_time, tree.benchmarking, 'CMVS')
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD CMVS Cell - Finished')
         return ecto.OK if args['end_with'] != 'cmvs' else ecto.QUIT
diff --git a/scripts/odm_app.py b/scripts/odm_app.py
index 5a61de08..8cfd172e 100644
--- a/scripts/odm_app.py
+++ b/scripts/odm_app.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 import ecto
+import os
 
 from opendm import context
 from opendm import types
 from opendm import config
+from opendm import io
+from opendm import system
 
 from dataset import ODMLoadDatasetCell
 from resize import ODMResizeCell
@@ -70,6 +73,13 @@ class ODMApp(ecto.BlackBox):
         tree = types.ODM_Tree(p.args['project_path'])
         self.tree = ecto.Constant(value=tree)
 
+        # TODO(dakota) put this somewhere better maybe
+        if config.args.get('time') and io.file_exists(tree.benchmarking):
+            # Delete the previously made file
+            os.remove(tree.benchmarking)
+            with open(tree.benchmarking, 'a') as b:
+                b.write('ODM Benchmarking file created %s\nNumber of Cores: %s\n\n' % (system.now(), context.num_cores))
+
     def connections(self, _p):
         # define initial task
         # TODO: What is this?
diff --git a/scripts/odm_georeferencing.py b/scripts/odm_georeferencing.py
index c1fbdf84..a3deef04 100644
--- a/scripts/odm_georeferencing.py
+++ b/scripts/odm_georeferencing.py
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ class ODMGeoreferencingCell(ecto.Cell):
         outputs.declare("reconstruction", "list of ODMReconstructions", [])
 
     def process(self, inputs, outputs):
+        # Benchmarking
+        start_time = system.now_raw()
 
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD Georeferencing Cell')
 
@@ -139,5 +141,8 @@ class ODMGeoreferencingCell(ecto.Cell):
             log.ODM_WARNING('Found a valid georeferenced model in: %s'
                             % tree.odm_georeferencing_model_ply_geo)
 
+        if args['time']:
+            system.benchmark(start_time, tree.benchmarking, 'Georeferencing')
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD Georeferencing Cell - Finished')
         return ecto.OK if args['end_with'] != 'odm_georeferencing' else ecto.QUIT
diff --git a/scripts/odm_meshing.py b/scripts/odm_meshing.py
index 54575d48..24e7b214 100644
--- a/scripts/odm_meshing.py
+++ b/scripts/odm_meshing.py
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ class ODMeshingCell(ecto.Cell):
 
     def process(self, inputs, outputs):
 
+        # Benchmarking
+        start_time = system.now_raw()
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD Meshing Cell')
 
         # get inputs
@@ -67,5 +70,8 @@ class ODMeshingCell(ecto.Cell):
             log.ODM_WARNING('Found a valid ODM Mesh file in: %s' %
                             tree.odm_mesh)
 
+        if args['time']:
+            system.benchmark(start_time, tree.benchmarking, 'Meshing')
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD Meshing Cell - Finished')
         return ecto.OK if args['end_with'] != 'odm_meshing' else ecto.QUIT
diff --git a/scripts/odm_orthophoto.py b/scripts/odm_orthophoto.py
index 829305c2..c4790867 100644
--- a/scripts/odm_orthophoto.py
+++ b/scripts/odm_orthophoto.py
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ class ODMOrthoPhotoCell(ecto.Cell):
 
     def process(self, inputs, outputs):
 
+        # Benchmarking
+        start_time = system.now_raw()
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD OrthoPhoto Cell')
 
         # get inputs
@@ -95,5 +98,8 @@ class ODMOrthoPhotoCell(ecto.Cell):
         else:
             log.ODM_WARNING('Found a valid orthophoto in: %s' % tree.odm_orthophoto_file)
 
+        if args['time']:
+            system.benchmark(start_time, tree.benchmarking, 'Orthophoto')
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD OrthoPhoto Cell - Finished')
         return ecto.OK if args['end_with'] != 'odm_orthophoto' else ecto.QUIT
diff --git a/scripts/odm_texturing.py b/scripts/odm_texturing.py
index 6c18eae5..233168d4 100644
--- a/scripts/odm_texturing.py
+++ b/scripts/odm_texturing.py
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ class ODMTexturingCell(ecto.Cell):
 
     def process(self, inputs, outputs):
 
+        # Benchmarking
+        start_time = system.now_raw()
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD Texturing Cell')
 
         # get inputs
@@ -66,5 +69,8 @@ class ODMTexturingCell(ecto.Cell):
             log.ODM_WARNING('Found a valid ODM Texture file in: %s'
                             % tree.odm_textured_model_obj)
 
+        if args['time']:
+            system.benchmark(start_time, tree.benchmarking, 'Texturing')
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD Texturing Cell - Finished')
         return ecto.OK if args['end_with'] != 'odm_texturing' else ecto.QUIT
diff --git a/scripts/opensfm.py b/scripts/opensfm.py
index 4ce3f4df..cd4551d7 100644
--- a/scripts/opensfm.py
+++ b/scripts/opensfm.py
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ class ODMOpenSfMCell(ecto.Cell):
 
     def process(self, inputs, outputs):
 
+        # Benchmarking
+        start_time = system.now_raw()
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD OpenSfm Cell')
 
         # get inputs
@@ -97,5 +100,8 @@ class ODMOpenSfMCell(ecto.Cell):
         else:
             log.ODM_WARNING('Found a valid CMVS file in: %s' % tree.pmvs_visdat)
 
+        if args['time']:
+            system.benchmark(start_time, tree.benchmarking, 'OpenSfM')
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD OpenSfm Cell - Finished')
         return ecto.OK if args['end_with'] != 'opensfm' else ecto.QUIT
diff --git a/scripts/pmvs.py b/scripts/pmvs.py
index f4b9fe0f..0c2dc36b 100644
--- a/scripts/pmvs.py
+++ b/scripts/pmvs.py
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ class ODMPmvsCell(ecto.Cell):
 
     def process(self, inputs, outputs):
 
+        # Benchmarking
+        start_time = system.now_raw()
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD PMVS Cell')
 
         # get inputs
@@ -72,5 +75,8 @@ class ODMPmvsCell(ecto.Cell):
         else:
             log.ODM_WARNING('Found a valid PMVS file in %s' % tree.pmvs_model)
 
+        if args['time']:
+            system.benchmark(start_time, tree.benchmarking, 'PMVS')
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running OMD PMVS Cell - Finished')
         return ecto.OK if args['end_with'] != 'pmvs' else ecto.QUIT
diff --git a/scripts/resize.py b/scripts/resize.py
index da16c4af..17ed8bdb 100644
--- a/scripts/resize.py
+++ b/scripts/resize.py
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ class ODMResizeCell(ecto.Cell):
 
     def process(self, inputs, outputs):
 
+        # Benchmarking
+        start_time = system.now_raw()
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running ODM Resize Cell')
 
         # get inputs
@@ -91,5 +94,8 @@ class ODMResizeCell(ecto.Cell):
         # append photos to cell output
         self.outputs.photos = photos
 
+        if args['time']:
+            system.benchmark(start_time, tree.benchmarking, 'Resizing')
+
         log.ODM_INFO('Running ODM Resize Cell - Finished')
         return ecto.OK if args['end_with'] != 'resize' else ecto.QUIT