In today’s podcast we return to the interesting, important and very often controversial topic of artificial intelligence – specifically the way that it is set – or not set - to transform the way we design construct, operate and maintain our infrastructure. 

Now, no one will have escaped to ubiquitous emergence of AI tools now finding their way into virtually every aspect of our lives – driving our phones and computers to influence and guide our working patterns, social media feeds, entertainment choices, cars, our social activities, food and perhaps even our friends.

The infrastructure sector is not immune to this influence. As the use of data, digital technologies and software tools increases to help boost the efficiency and outcomes of design delivery and operation we are now seeing an inevitable rise in AI tools creeping in to smooth the flow of information.

That means, at the one end, helping out with the time-consuming number crunching tasks by making sence of the vast amounts of data now flowing out of the infrastructure life cycle. Think of it as a handy helper tackling the mundane tasks and freeing up head space and time for professionals to focus on the creative problem-solving tasks.

On the other hand, we are now also seeing the rise of AI tools capable of much more advanced decision making, using live data and complex rule sets to guide and influence the design, construction and operation and maintenance operations; easing the management of processes across all aspect of infrastructure. 

Some might say creating a fantastic opportunity to boost efficiency; others fear a spiralling route to disaster. 

Software companies are at the cutting edge of this AI revolution, creating new tools and platforms daily to transform the way professionals interact with data.

Bentley Systems is one such software business which, at its recent Year in Infrastructure conference in Vancouver, revealed the on-going ambition to “revolutionise infrastructure through AI”. 

It is indeed an exciting and daunting moment for the sector so to hear more about these revolutionary ambitions it is my pleasure to chat today to Julien Moutte, Chief Technology Officer at Bentley Systems the man driving forward this revolution and rolling it out at dizzying pace for the infrastructure sector to grasp.

Resources
Bentley Systems Year in Infrastructure 2024
YII 2024 Keynotes
Cesium 3D Tiles
Google partnership