AI use in Infrastructure set to soar
Engineers around the world are already seeing major efficiency gains from using AI. In Turkey, advanced AI tools helped compress what would have been a five-year geothermal reservoir development timeline into just one year, reducing costs by more than 76%. In California, AI automatically analyzed detailed 3D models of existing utility infrastructure for safety, code compliance and real-world loading conditions, cutting modeling time by up to 75% and eliminating unnecessary pole replacements. These examples reflect a broader trend: nearly every infrastructure organization surveyed is already testing or adopting AI to enhance design and engineering productivity, and many expect AI to play a major role in more than half of their projects within three years.
The findings come from a global survey by Bentley Systems, Pinsent Masons, Mott MacDonald and Turner & Townsend, which explored how ready infrastructure firms are for AI and what opportunities and risks they foresee. The report highlights a “pivotal opportunity” for AI to help close the long-standing productivity gap in construction, a sector expected to reach $10 trillion in global spending by 2025. While firms anticipate significant gains in project scheduling, cost forecasting and design efficiency, challenges remain, particularly around data-sharing risks, limited AI skills and the need for stronger project controls. Even so, most organizations plan to increase investment in AI over the next three years, focusing on technical capabilities, standardized data and leadership to accelerate adoption.
