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.

We believe responsible business practices begin with protecting the environment and supporting the communities we serve. That commitment drives our ongoing efforts to reduce waste, reuse materials and partner with organizations that create positive change. By conserving resources and finding value in materials that might otherwise be discarded, we deliver both environmental and economic benefits. Whether through recycling initiatives or equipment reuse, we are guided by a simple principle: the way we operate matters. We continue to explore innovative approaches to lessen our environmental footprint while maximizing benefits for our communities.

Advancing sustainable waste management
Through intentional waste-reduction strategies centered on reducing, reusing and recycling, we actively manage materials generated by our operations and limit the amount sent to landfills and incinerators. Whenever possible, materials are repurposed or reused, and items in good condition are regularly donated to local nonprofits and community organizations. These practices allow us to operate more sustainably while supporting a circular economy that prioritizes efficiency and environmental stewardship.

In 2024, our utility operations generated 524,700 metric tons of material, more than 86% of which was successfully recycled. Recovered materials included concrete, construction debris and other reusable resources. We continue to identify new opportunities to expand recycling programs and work closely with employees and contractors to strengthen sustainable waste practices across our operations.

“The continued progress and success of this program reflect strong leadership and a clear commitment to minimizing waste,” said Rob Pollock, Senior Director of Environmental Projects & Services, PSE&G.

Recognized for leadership
Our recycling efforts have been recognized with Recycling Champion awards from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in both 2020 and 2024. These honors highlight the effectiveness of our recycling programs and our dedication to ongoing improvement.

We have also consistently outperformed industry benchmarks. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a national goal of reaching a 50% recycling rate by 2030, and the New Jersey DEP targets 60%, our operations have historically achieved recycling rates as high as 90%.

Recycling in practice

Our approach to recycling and reusing timber wetland mats—used to stabilize heavy equipment on soft terrain—demonstrates how we extend the life of valuable materials. After project completion, mats are inspected, cleaned and evaluated for reuse. When reuse is not feasible, responsible recycling options are pursued. In 2023 alone, more than 2,500 tons of wetland mats were diverted from landfills, underscoring our commitment to sustainable operations.

 

Launched in April 2022, our pallet recycling program has become a highly effective and cost-efficient initiative. Instead of disposing of wooden pallets, they are now recycled or donated to nonprofit organizations. Since the program began, it has delivered measurable results:

The program has expanded significantly, growing from six sites to 25 locations across the utility. In July 2025, it reached a new milestone by recycling 1,088 pallets in a single month.

Beyond environmental benefits, the pallet program supports local communities. One of its primary beneficiaries is America’s Grow-A-Row, a nonprofit that provides fresh produce to families in need throughout New Jersey and beyond. By donating pallets, we help reduce the organization’s operating costs, allowing more resources to be directed toward growing and distributing food.

“PSEG’s pallet donations help us safely deliver fresh, healthy food to people who need it most while freeing up resources we can reinvest into feeding even more families,” said Tristan Wallack, Vice President of Programming & Operations, America’s Grow-A-Row.

Moving forward
Our commitment to responsible operations extends beyond reducing waste—it’s about building stronger communities. As we continue to grow our recycling and sustainability initiatives, we are proud to see these efforts reduce landfill use, support non-profit partners and create lasting positive impact for the people we serve.