Arcadis and Autodesk Expand AI and Digital Collaboration
Arcadis, a global provider of data-driven sustainable design, engineering and consultancy services for natural and built assets, has expanded its collaboration with Autodesk to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence, connected data and digital workflows across the built and natural environment.
The collaboration is intended to combine Arcadis’ industry knowledge and growth strategy with Autodesk’s technology platforms and AI capabilities. While advancing digital delivery, both companies emphasize that human expertise, professional judgment and client needs will remain central to project decision-making.
The expanded relationship brings together Arcadis’ expertise in design, engineering, sustainability and project execution with Autodesk’s Design and Make platform and Autodesk AI. This includes Autodesk Assistant, which is designed to work with information such as geometry, engineering intent and project history.
For Arcadis, the collaboration supports its broader AI and Data & Knowledge strategy. The company aims to incorporate its own technical knowledge, standards and experience from client projects directly into the digital workflows where important project decisions are made.
One example is See Through Walls, a joint initiative that combines artificial intelligence, sensor information and predictive modeling to estimate the condition of materials and systems concealed within existing buildings. The approach could help support decisions involving material reuse, circular construction and emissions reduction.
For clients, the companies intend for these capabilities to make AI-supported and digital project delivery more practical and consistent, particularly for complex projects. Arcadis contributes asset knowledge, professional judgment, sector expertise and client requirements, while Autodesk provides the digital platform on which these capabilities can be integrated into project workflows.
This combination allows AI-generated outputs to be assessed against project information and the real-world requirements that a design must satisfy. The companies say this can support more informed decision-making, improve quality and resilience, reduce project delivery risks and increase productivity.
Human Expertise Remains Central
Arcadis emphasizes that technology by itself does not automatically generate business value; successful adoption and effective application are equally important. Its professionals remain responsible for translating AI and digital capabilities into reviewed and verified project outcomes.
By combining human expertise with AI and connected data, Arcadis expects its teams to work with greater speed, consistency and accuracy while spending more time addressing complex client challenges.
Heather Polinsky, CEO of Arcadis, said the company's value proposition continues to depend heavily on the knowledge and judgment of its people. She explained that the partnership with Autodesk is intended to place Arcadis’ expertise directly into the workflows used by project teams to design, evaluate and make decisions.
Polinsky added that combining professional expertise with AI, data and digital technologies could help teams work more efficiently and accurately while allowing them to devote more attention to difficult problems requiring human judgment.
Andrew Anagnost, President and CEO of Autodesk, said Arcadis is taking a broader approach to preparing for the future rather than simply adopting individual technologies. He emphasized the importance of combining AI with industry expertise, reliable data and real-world project context so that technology can contribute to better decision-making and project outcomes.
Connecting Arcadis Knowledge With Autodesk AI
As part of the expanded relationship, Arcadis is connecting its own Model Context Protocol (MCP) capabilities with Autodesk Assistant. The approach is intended to allow Arcadis’ knowledge, standards and guidance to be incorporated into AI-enabled workflows while allowing the company to retain ownership of the capabilities it develops.
The Autodesk relationship is one element of Arcadis’ broader digital ecosystem, which includes collaborations with multiple technology organizations. The company combines these external capabilities with its own engineering expertise and teams specializing in products, data and client delivery.
This ecosystem is designed to help Arcadis redesign workflows in ways that can be repeated and scaled across different clients, industries and geographic markets.
Demonstrating Practical AI and Automation Gains
Arcadis already has AI and automation programs operating across North America and Europe, with some initiatives producing measurable improvements in project efficiency.
In one example cited by the company, automation reduced the time required for quality reviews from approximately five days to around half a day. The result illustrates how automation can potentially free up employee capacity, improve consistency and accelerate project delivery.
Rather than relying on a single technology provider, Arcadis combines established digital platforms such as Autodesk with solutions from emerging technology companies and its own engineering capabilities.
The company says this model allows it to integrate established technologies with newer innovations and sector-specific knowledge. The objective is to develop practical, connected digital solutions that can improve project execution, strengthen decision-making and generate measurable value for clients.
The expanded Arcadis–Autodesk collaboration therefore brings together AI, connected data, digital workflows and engineering expertise while maintaining professional oversight at the center of project delivery. The companies intend to continue developing these capabilities through platform integration, applied AI initiatives and joint research.
The collaboration is intended to combine Arcadis’ industry knowledge and growth strategy with Autodesk’s technology platforms and AI capabilities. While advancing digital delivery, both companies emphasize that human expertise, professional judgment and client needs will remain central to project decision-making.
The expanded relationship brings together Arcadis’ expertise in design, engineering, sustainability and project execution with Autodesk’s Design and Make platform and Autodesk AI. This includes Autodesk Assistant, which is designed to work with information such as geometry, engineering intent and project history.
For Arcadis, the collaboration supports its broader AI and Data & Knowledge strategy. The company aims to incorporate its own technical knowledge, standards and experience from client projects directly into the digital workflows where important project decisions are made.
One example is See Through Walls, a joint initiative that combines artificial intelligence, sensor information and predictive modeling to estimate the condition of materials and systems concealed within existing buildings. The approach could help support decisions involving material reuse, circular construction and emissions reduction.
For clients, the companies intend for these capabilities to make AI-supported and digital project delivery more practical and consistent, particularly for complex projects. Arcadis contributes asset knowledge, professional judgment, sector expertise and client requirements, while Autodesk provides the digital platform on which these capabilities can be integrated into project workflows.
This combination allows AI-generated outputs to be assessed against project information and the real-world requirements that a design must satisfy. The companies say this can support more informed decision-making, improve quality and resilience, reduce project delivery risks and increase productivity.
Human Expertise Remains Central
Arcadis emphasizes that technology by itself does not automatically generate business value; successful adoption and effective application are equally important. Its professionals remain responsible for translating AI and digital capabilities into reviewed and verified project outcomes.
By combining human expertise with AI and connected data, Arcadis expects its teams to work with greater speed, consistency and accuracy while spending more time addressing complex client challenges.
Heather Polinsky, CEO of Arcadis, said the company's value proposition continues to depend heavily on the knowledge and judgment of its people. She explained that the partnership with Autodesk is intended to place Arcadis’ expertise directly into the workflows used by project teams to design, evaluate and make decisions.
Polinsky added that combining professional expertise with AI, data and digital technologies could help teams work more efficiently and accurately while allowing them to devote more attention to difficult problems requiring human judgment.
Andrew Anagnost, President and CEO of Autodesk, said Arcadis is taking a broader approach to preparing for the future rather than simply adopting individual technologies. He emphasized the importance of combining AI with industry expertise, reliable data and real-world project context so that technology can contribute to better decision-making and project outcomes.
Connecting Arcadis Knowledge With Autodesk AI
As part of the expanded relationship, Arcadis is connecting its own Model Context Protocol (MCP) capabilities with Autodesk Assistant. The approach is intended to allow Arcadis’ knowledge, standards and guidance to be incorporated into AI-enabled workflows while allowing the company to retain ownership of the capabilities it develops.
The Autodesk relationship is one element of Arcadis’ broader digital ecosystem, which includes collaborations with multiple technology organizations. The company combines these external capabilities with its own engineering expertise and teams specializing in products, data and client delivery.
This ecosystem is designed to help Arcadis redesign workflows in ways that can be repeated and scaled across different clients, industries and geographic markets.
Demonstrating Practical AI and Automation Gains
Arcadis already has AI and automation programs operating across North America and Europe, with some initiatives producing measurable improvements in project efficiency.
In one example cited by the company, automation reduced the time required for quality reviews from approximately five days to around half a day. The result illustrates how automation can potentially free up employee capacity, improve consistency and accelerate project delivery.
Rather than relying on a single technology provider, Arcadis combines established digital platforms such as Autodesk with solutions from emerging technology companies and its own engineering capabilities.
The company says this model allows it to integrate established technologies with newer innovations and sector-specific knowledge. The objective is to develop practical, connected digital solutions that can improve project execution, strengthen decision-making and generate measurable value for clients.
The expanded Arcadis–Autodesk collaboration therefore brings together AI, connected data, digital workflows and engineering expertise while maintaining professional oversight at the center of project delivery. The companies intend to continue developing these capabilities through platform integration, applied AI initiatives and joint research.
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