Can AI Really Transform Infrastructure?
In an article originally published by PBC Today, Lydia Walpole, global senior director of performance at Bentley Systems, argues that AI and digital twins could be central to delivering the UK's 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy.
The strategy, backed by £725bn of planned investment, is described as a rare chance to rethink how major infrastructure is designed, built and maintained. Walpole says success will depend not just on policy and funding but on the public and private sectors adopting digital delivery together.
She notes that construction has gradually modernised, moving from paper drawings to BIM and cloud-based collaboration, but that challenges such as net zero, climate resilience and workforce shortages demand new capabilities.
According to Walpole, AI is already adding value across the project lifecycle. At the design stage, generative tools such as OpenSite+ can rapidly test thousands of options to balance cost, sustainability and resilience, and flag environmental compliance issues early. On site, AI can combine data from sensors, equipment and project systems to highlight potential delays, safety risks or quality problems. Once assets are operational, AI-enabled digital twins using drone and sensor data can track condition and performance, allowing owners to plan maintenance proactively and extend asset life.
She stresses that technology must be matched by changes in culture, skills and collaboration, with AI seen as a way to support engineers and free them for higher-value work. Responsible and ethical use is essential, and technology companies need strong governance, accountability and openness so that AI tools are fair and explainable.
Walpole concludes that by combining strong policy with careful adoption of AI and digital twins, the UK could set an example for delivering infrastructure faster, more sustainably and with greater long-term benefit to communities.
Source: London Build 2026, originally published on The Landsite (14 October 2025)
