AI and Connected Data: The Key to Rebuilding Europe’s Infrastructure

• Sommana Yan
• 18 May 2026
• Construction Focus
• 908 Views

At the Bentley Illuminate 2026 conference, industry leaders revealed that Europe’s massive infrastructure goals—including Germany’s €500 billion investment cycle—rely on a digital transformation powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and connected data. As the continent faces aging assets and a shortage of engineers, technology is no longer optional; it is the primary engine for growth.

The €30 billion Port Polska project in Poland serves as a primary example of this digital-first approach. To manage nearly 80 terabytes of data and 5,700 engineers across 83 parallel projects, the program utilizes Bentley Systems’ ProjectWise.

By acting as a “digital backbone,” the software breaks down silos and ensures that design intent and context are not lost during handoffs between designers, builders, and operators.

Experts noted that construction productivity has remained flat for decades. Bentley’s suite of tools—including OpenRoads, Synchro, and iTwin—addresses this by creating “digital twins” of assets.

These virtual models first allow companies like Ferrovial and Egis Group to analyze “Dark Data”. AI can now process unstructured information, such as PDFs and site photos, turning decades of unused records into actionable insights.

Besides, they can also preserve expertise as digital systems is able to capture the knowledge of retiring senior engineers, helping train new talent up to three times faster.

Real-time data connectivity also helps control the execution of mega-projects, such as the New Terminal One at JFK Airport, from the initial design phase through decades of maintenance.

The shift toward Bentley Infrastructure Cloud provides a secure, unified environment where AI agents can connect various files and projects.

By fostering a “coherent system” rather than just automating individual tasks, these technologies are designed to bridge the structural gap in engineering labor while ensuring that Europe’s new bridges, rails, and hubs are built to last for the next century.

• Bentley
• iTwin
• AI
• ProjectWise
• Bentley Systems
• Synchro
• OpenRoads
• Illuminate 2026