The world infrastructure has undergone a significant transformation over the last decade. Countries who have often ignored the co-dependency of economic growth, resiliency and population growth on infrastructure development, are now realizing infrastructure to be a key engine of growth and the most tangible hallmark of economic development and progress. The existing physical infrastructure worldwide continues to be in undue stress as the global population is estimated to touch 8.5 billion in 2050 and 10.9 billion in 2100 – severely impacting economic progress and necessitating the governments to catalyze
significant investments in infrastructure foreseeing its potential as an economic multiplier. To meet the rising infrastructure needs/demands, the traditional AEC industry is witnessing a radical technology disruption that is redefining it.
Digital construction is the new ‘normal’ for the AEC industry wherein new technology models and outlooks are created while the old isn’t wholly shunned. The ever-increasing technology mainstreaming and convergence of digital technologies across the construction lifecycle, driven by 4IR technologies (Big Data, IoT, Cloud, AI) and immersive solutions (AR/VR), is creating a seamless synchronization between geospatial and BIM technologies for hassle-free decision making and higher productivity levels. The industry has begun to realize the importance of co-existing in a 3D spatial environment – with BIM, immersive solutions along with the traditional construction tools which lead to better coordination and collaboration. The use of geospatial and BIM technologies has made it possible for the delineation between plan, design, construction and operations, and maintenance phases lead to an emergence of a more holistic approach which is unprecedentedly detailed and accurate. Drones, IoT, AI, AR/VR, Ground-penetrating radar (GPR), Digital Twin technologies, construction robotics, are few of the innovative solutions that are transforming the AEC industry today to deliver more sustainable and resilient infrastructure. It is noteworthy, integrated geospatial and BIM technologies are at the forefront of this digital transformation.
