Shaping the future: six transformative AI trends for infrastructure in 2026 and beyond

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Shaping the future: six transformative AI trends for infrastructure in 2026 and beyond

It is hard to believe that it is been just over a year since I joined Amey as Chief Digital Information Officer – how time flies! It is remarkable to reflect on how much has changed at Amey in just over a year since then. Operating across a broad spectrum of sectors, including rail, highways, public estates, justice, defence, and energy transition, makes Amey a uniquely fascinating and rewarding organisation to work at. Every day, the passion and commitment of the people at Amey is evident in the way they deliver for clients and the communities they serve.

Over the past year, we have seen the implementation of some significant digital and IT programmes that are beginning to transform how we operate and deliver value. We are nearing completion of our migration to the cloud, which includes a transition to SAP S/4HANA, equipping frontline teams with new mobile technology, and the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform and data lake to boost efficiency and client outcomes. Microsoft Copilot is now also in use across the business, and we are actively trialling AI-enabled tools to strengthen our safety culture and enhance how we plan, manage, and maintain infrastructure.

 It is no secret that AI is accelerating changes across industries at an unprecedented pace, and the infrastructure sector is no exception. The question now is not if AI will transform our sector, but how. So, as we look ahead, what trends and opportunities will define this next phase and how will organisations like Amey embrace this revolution responsibly, effectively, and for the benefit of our clients and society?

In this article, we will explore the six key AI trends set to deliver the most significant impact for the infrastructure industry in 2026 and beyond.

AI is expected to play an increasingly central role in how infrastructure is designed and planned.

AI-driven design and planning

In the coming years, AI is expected to play an increasingly central role in how infrastructure is designed and planned. Design tools powered by Generative AI will become standard practice, enabling engineers to rapidly test and optimise design layouts for cost, safety, and sustainability, outcomes that once took months of modelling and manual iteration. AI will be able to analyse soil behaviour, structural loads, and environmental factors simultaneously, producing designs that are not only efficient but inherently more resilient. Techniques such as surrogate modelling will drastically cut the time needed for simulations, allowing feasibility studies and risk assessments to be completed in a fraction of the time. The result? Smarter, faster, and more sustainable design decisions that free up human expertise to focus on the more creative and strategic endeavours like solving complex engineering challenges that algorithms alone cannot.

As part of this, Amey will be investing in AI-enabled design and planning tools to enhance quality and client outcomes, ensuring that we continue to keep the ‘human-in-the-loop’ principle and consistently drive greater design capabilities.

Engineers can make faster, and more informed decisions that deliver more resilient infrastructure.

Digital twins and Internet of Things (IoT) integration

Digital twins and IoT technologies are transforming how infrastructure is monitored and managed. Acting as data-rich, virtual versions of physical assets, digital twins give project teams a single, unified view of assets in real-time and therefore improving collaboration and decision-making across design and operations. Real-time monitoring via IoT sensors enable early failure prediction and proactive maintenance, enhancing safety and reducing downtime. By simulating stress tests, maintenance needs, and environmental impacts, engineers can make faster, and more informed decisions that deliver more resilient infrastructure.

Amey will be combining data streams from multiple IoT sensors with machine learning (ML) models to understand how critical structures respond to adverse weather conditions. This will allow us to continue taking a proactive approach to asset management and prioritise engineering interventions where necessary.

At Amey, we are already using computer vision asset inspections to accelerate data processing at scale.

Automation and robotics

Automation and robotics are transforming how infrastructure is built and maintained. Drones are now delivering faster, more accurate site surveys and inspections, producing detailed 3D models that enhance planning and design. Automation reduces material waste and energy use, helping firms to address labour shortages and deliver projects more efficiently. As these technologies mature, we will see them drive safer, smarter, and more sustainable infrastructure delivery.

At Amey, we are already using computer vision asset inspections to accelerate data processing at scale. We have also supported our rail clients in leveraging advanced computer vision technologies to efficiently process infrastructure measurement data. Additionally, we are piloting new Planning and Scheduling Optimisation tools for our Highways business to drive improvements in team performance in addition to implementing AI-enabled computer vision systems to promote enhanced site safety.

Amey leverages intelligent tools to prevent failures and optimise maintenance strategies for long‑term efficiency.

Predictive maintenance and smart infrastructure

AI is transforming asset management through predictive maintenance and smarter infrastructure monitoring. By analysing sensor data, AI models like machine learning (ML) can detect early signs of wear and tear, unusual stress loads, and other forms of damage on infrastructure like bridges before issues escalate further. ML models can forecast maintenance needs, enabling timely, cost-effective interventions that reduce downtime and operational costs. This proactive approach extends asset lifespans, lowers emergency repairs, and supports safer, more resilient infrastructure.

Amey currently leverages intelligent predictive maintenance tools to pre-empt maintenance needs of operational technology assets on road networks before they undergo failure. This is combined with risk-centred planning for large-scale maintenance activities to reduce operational expenditure across our national clients.

AI is becoming a key enabler of sustainable infrastructure design and delivery.

Sustainability through AI

AI is becoming a key enabler of sustainable infrastructure design and delivery. It can model flood resistance and optimise energy efficiency to help infrastructure assets withstand the impacts of climate change. Smart systems powered by AI will also monitor and manage energy use in real time, reducing carbon emissions and improving long-term operational performance. By embedding AI into the design and delivery process, organisations can create infrastructure that’s both resilient and environmentally responsible.

Amey has partnered with Grid Edge to create an AI-powered system that receives direct input from verified national metering data and integrates with Building Management Systems (BMS) and sensors to automate enhancements.

AI is reshaping how people work, not replacing them.

Upskilling & workforce transformation

AI is reshaping how people work, not replacing them. Large Language Models are already supporting teams by streamlining documentation, report writing, and proposal development and as result, improving productivity levels and reducing workloads. The real transformation, however, lies in enabling people to work effectively with AI. Organisations will need to invest in upskilling their workforces to bridge the digital skills gap and prepare for AI-integrated workflows that combine human insight with AI intelligence to deliver better, faster outcomes.

Amey is a strategic partner of FutureDotNow, a coalition of industry leaders focused on addressing digital skills gap among working-age adults. We manage activities related to their construction and infrastructure sector, working with government and other public sector organisations to increase broader awareness of digital skills for economic growth and personal wellbeing.

At the Microsoft Ignite 2025 event, Amey also achieved Frontier Firm status as one of 844 organisations to do so, demonstrating our advancement and dedication to integrating AI into our core business strategy. We have also outlined our commitment to upskilling our workforce through the development of a full programme of AI and digital skills training which we have been delivering to our workforce throughout 2025.