Shah Muhammad, who leads AI innovation at design and engineering firm Sweco, offers insight into how AI is building the cities of the future.
“Is there certainly a better way to design this city?” Or did you think you might pass through a huge new building and become an energy-stricken monster?
For decades, building our towns and cities has been a slow and complicated process that often relies on educated speculations. But what if we could give urban planners a superpower? What if they could test dozens of different futures before a single shovel hits the ground?
That’s exactly what’s starting to happen. And the secret ingredient is AI.
“AI is revolutionizing urban design and infrastructure planning at SWECO by optimizing processes, enhancing decision-making and improving sustainability outcomes,” explains Shah. “We can analyze huge amounts of data, simulate different scenarios, and create more efficient and resilient urban environments.”
Shah says that AI gives teams the ability to ask big questions that will impact people’s lives when designing cities for the future. AI can run numbers with thousands of possibilities to find the best path forward.
Of course, the real world is troubling. It’s not a neat and organized computer simulation. It’s full of unpredictable weather, unexpected delays, and beautiful confusion in human life. This is the biggest headache.
“The biggest challenge of applying data-driven models to physical environments is the complexity and variability of actual conditions,” says Shah. “It is important that the model accurately represents these conditions and adapts to changing conditions.”
So, how do they deal with it? They start with the basics. They keep the house organized. Before thinking about AI, they make sure the information it learns is solid and reliable.
“We will implement strict data governance practices, standardize data formats and use interoperable software tools to ensure data quality and interoperability across the project,” he says.
That may sound a bit technical, but think about it like this. They make sure everyone on the team is singing from the same hymn sheet. If all the different software tools talk to each other and everyone can trust the information, AI can do the job properly. “It enables seamless data exchange and collaboration between different teams and stakeholders.”
But of everything that AI can do, this next part may be the most hopeful when using it to design a future city. This technique shows that you can have a real mind.
“There are so many projects where AI has measurable impacts on sustainability that it makes it difficult to select them,” he recalls. “However, if I choose, I will highlight the projects that AI has been used to maintain biodiversity by identifying endangered species and providing this information to researchers.”
In this scenario, technology is giving natural voice to the planning meetings. It’s like the AI is raising its hands and saying, “Let’s hang here and be careful here. We have a rare bird family living in this area.” It allows us to respect and build the world around us.
So, what is the next chapter? According to Shah, it’s about turning that crystal ball into a real-time guide.
“According to me, the biggest opportunity for AI in the AEC sector is in predictive analytics and automation,” explains Shah. “By predicting future trends, identifying potential issues early and automating routine tasks, AI can dramatically improve efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the overall quality of your project.”
This could mean safer bridges, roads with fewer repairs and less disruptions in our lives. It means freeing talented people from their boring work and focusing on building a future city that is more harmonious with those who call them home.
Shah Muhammad will speak at AI & Big Data Expo Europe in Amsterdam from September 24th to 25th, 2025, and will hold a presentation on “Generation and Agent AI for Intelligent Process Automation.” Learn more about the event and how to attend here.
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