Is the construction sector truly going digital?

Digital adoption in the construction and civil engineering sector is widely perceived as low, and with good reason. Several factors contribute to this: the industry’s fragmented, project-based nature makes it difficult to create standardised products, while high capital intensity and strong risk aversion mean firms are cautious about implementing new technologies, since mistakes can be extremely costly.

Although there’s no simple way to measure digital adoption across the sector, we carried out an analysis to shed light on this question: what digital services and products are the world’s largest civil engineering companies actually offering?

To explore this, we manually analysed the websites of five major players: AECOM, WSP, Jacobs, Atkins, Arup, and Mott MacDonald, focusing specifically on two categories: digital services and digital products.

Find our analysis below:

What we can see:

AECOM leads in digital twins and asset management, applying them across water, transport, and environmental systems to improve resilience and decarbonisation. Its portfolio includes tools like PlanEngage for collaborative reporting, Safe Swim for water quality, and Carbon Portal/Twin for emissions management, all supported by integrated platforms combining GIS, BIM, AI, and IoT.

Mott MacDonald focuses on digital transformation, helping clients with capability assessments, digital blueprints, and data governance. Its strength lies in connecting data sources and applying AI and analytics, with applications spanning transport, water, and energy, supported by VR, GIS, and reality capture in major infrastructure projects.

AtkinsRéalis treats digital twins as services, from advisory and data capture to implementation and asset management. Its digital services are spread across operations, maintenance, energy, and decarbonisation, complemented by tools like SafetyEngine for site safety, HazAtlas for climate risk, and IPSUM for carbon footprint modelling.

Ramboll integrates digital services into its core business areas rather than through a centralised unit. It is strong in asset management and smart mobility analytics using sensor and network data, with solutions that consistently emphasise sustainability, resilience, and carbon reduction.

Arup offers a broad digital suite spanning BIM, digital twins, AI, geospatial tools, and smart buildings. Highlights include the City Modelling Lab and Intelligent Mobility services, with products such as d.Hub for collaboration, MassMotion for pedestrian simulation, and Charge4Fleets for EV infrastructure planning.

WSP combines digital and data advisory with expertise in AI, automation, and decision sciences. Its Orbi INSIGHT digital twin integrates CAD and GIS for asset management and task coordination, while its digital services support transport planning, EV adoption, and water resilience.

Jacobs has developed a wide range of proprietary platforms, from Alluvial Shift for BIM integration and RealScene for XR training to Flood Modeller for hydrology. With strong cloud, AI, and analytics capabilities, it applies digital solutions across water, climate, transport, and aviation, from asset management with Argon to resilience with Climate Risk Manager.

Some insights:

1. Digital services as consulting extensions: Many of these engineering firms are effectively offering what looks like management consulting for data and digital transformation, advising clients on strategy, governance, capability building, and adoption of digital tools. Their services often mirror the frameworks you’d expect from traditional consulting firms, but applied in the engineering and infrastructure domain.

   
   

2. Focus on bespoke, project-specific solutions: Rather than offering fully standardised digital products, most companies provide ad-hoc, tailored solutions for each client and project. This reflects the nature of construction and infrastructure delivery, every asset and context is different so flexibility often outweighs repeatability.

   
   

3. Digital twins and asset management dominate: Across the board, digital twins, asset management, and data analytics are recurring themes. These firms see them as the most immediate way to add value, from design through operations and maintenance.

   
   

4. Sustainability and resilience as digital priorities: Many solutions are framed around carbon reduction, climate resilience, and sustainability goals. Digital platforms are not just about efficiency, they’re positioned as enablers for broader societal outcomes.

Conclusions

Looking across these examples many engineering firms are positioning their digital offerings as an extension of management consulting in the data space, helping clients with digital strategies, governance, and adoption. At the same time, most solutions remain ad-hoc and project-specific rather than fully standardised products, which may reflect the bespoke nature of construction and infrastructure delivery. What’s clear is that digital twins, asset management, and data analytics are becoming the common ground across the sector, often tied to sustainability and resilience goals. The balance between consultancy-driven services and productisation still feels in flux, but the direction is unmistakable: digital is now core to how these companies create value.

Final Thoughts

Civil engineering is one of the industries with huge potential but relatively low maturity in leveraging technology, which means the opportunity is massive. If you’re a civil engineering company looking to offer digital services to your existing clients, Tryintel can help. We will work with you to define and develop tailored digital offerings that meet your clients’ needs and create new value streams.

👉 Book your free consultation with us to explore how we can support your digital journey! www.tryintel.com