In infrastructure projects, the most consequential decisions are often made long before construction begins. This usually takes place at the design stage, where trade-offs between cost, carbon, and performance are locked in.

It is this early phase that multinational infrastructure consulting firm Aecom is targeting. Its artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled “sustainable design optioneering ecosystem” is a suite of tools and workflows aimed at reshaping how design decisions are made.

At its core are two proprietary internal tools and frameworks: ScopeX, which provides a framework for whole-life carbon management; and AecomZero, a parametric design tool that allows engineers and architects to test multiple design scenarios in real time.

The proposition for ScopeX and AecomZero is to bring carbon, cost, and performance considerations forward into the earliest stages of design, rather than treating sustainability as a downstream check.

Using AecomZero, teams can generate and compare hundreds of design permutations – from facade configurations to material choices – with live feedback on key metrics such as embodied carbon, daylight, and cost.

In one example cited, the system evaluated more than 600 design combinations for a transit station entrance, narrowing them down to a set of optimal solutions aligned with project targets.

What differentiates the approach is its emphasis on multi-objective optimisation.

Instead of focusing on a single metric, the platform forces trade-offs into the open, presenting them through dashboards and scorecards that are designed to be understood by both technical teams and clients.

The aim is to make complex decisions more transparent and reduce the risk of late-stage redesigns or superficial “green” add-ons.

Project-ready solutions

The Underground Infrastructure AI Innovation Centre in Singapore is a demonstration of the ability of this ecosystem to support client delivery and tackle the equally complex challenge of planning and managing underground space in dense urban environments.
 

Here, AI is used to improve the accuracy of utility mapping, automate design checks, and identify spatial conflicts early, helping to avoid delays and abortive work.

While the tools themselves are highly technical, their impact is framed in practical terms. Aecom said it has seen examples that can deliver carbon reductions of up to 45 per cent by enabling better design choices upfront, while also improving coordination across multidisciplinary teams.

By embedding these tools into everyday workflows rather than treating them as standalone innovations, the firm is also pushing for broader digital adoption across its global operations.

There is a clear sustainability angle, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability, and more defensible decision-making. By anchoring decisions in quantifiable data and making trade-offs explicit, the platform is designed to counter greenwashing and support more defensible outcomes.

AecomZero and ScopeX have already been deployed across Aecom’s global operations, while the Singapore AI Innovation Centre extends the approach into underground infrastructure.

The ecosystem reflects a shift in how infrastructure is being conceived – not as a linear process, but as a continuous loop of simulation, evaluation, and refinement.
 

Source: The Business Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.