By rosebell
The concentration of this Centre, wich led by digital professionals with extensive experience in urban planning and infrastructure, it is due to focus on developing AI-powered solutions to improve data quality, enhance the mapping of underground utilities and safeguard underground space for existing and future developments. Moreover, the centre is going to collaborate with institutes of higher learning and engage with infrastructure industry partners and relevant agencies.
According to Aecom Singapore managing director Jee Yi Ying: “Infrastructure planning in dense urban environments like Singapore demands innovation.The Underground Infrastructure AI Innovation Centre represents a bold step forward in how we harness digital tools to solve complex underground design challenges. With the support of the EDB (Singapore Economic Development Board), we’re accelerating the future of infrastructure delivery and building capabilities that benefit Singapore and beyond.”
With the aim of deceasing manual design checks, ensure timely regulatory approval and avoid project delays and abortive work, the Centre is developing a suite of advanced software to automate and enhance underground utility design and survey workflows.
In order to systematically assessing the accuracy of existing underground data, identifying critical sections with severe space congestion and proposing recommendations to optimise underground space use, the digital tools are designed, wheras the key considerations such as constructability, maintainability and end-to-end feasibility are embedded into the tools.
Aecom says:”These innovations enable it to streamline its work on utility corridor studies, which traditionally rely on numerous utility plans and trial trench reports.The initiative aligns with its global drive for technical excellence (TechEx), supported by programmes that deliver innovative, high-quality solutions to meet the evolving needs of its clients and the industry. By investing in AI, geographic information systems (GIS) and advanced survey technologies, Aecom’s digital infrastructure delivery capabilities will be significantly enhanced.”
The Centre will also provide training and upskilling for digital-literate professionals and talent from various disciplines, with the aim of opening career paths in digitally empowered engineering.
“AECOM’s AI Innovation Centre demonstrates the transformative potential of AI-powered engineering for smarter and more efficient urban planning and development. The Innovation Centre will support the development of local talent with advanced digital and engineering capabilities, strengthen Singapore’s position as a global hub for AI innovation and drive innovation in our built environment sector,” said Junie Fo, vice-president and head, professional services, EDB.
