ACCIONA demonstrated how smart automation is accelerating infrastructure design at the 1Spatial World Tour at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 19 May 2026, highlighting faster delivery and improved decision-making through data-driven workflows.

Nicole Howie, Senior GIS Analyst, Engineering and Design, outlined the impact of the approach to industry peers.

"We are not replacing engineers. We are giving them a better starting point," Ms Howie said.

"Automation removes repetitive tasks so teams can focus on complex decisions that deliver stronger project outcomes."

The presentation showed how ACCIONA uses emerging technology on renewable energy projects to automate turbine pad and hardstand designs.

The workflow can test and refine hundreds of design options in minutes, enabling consistent evaluation before detailed engineering review.

Automated design delivers significant improvements

Designs that previously required about an hour per turbine pad can now be completed in just over a minute, reducing weeks of manual effort to under a day.

Teams have more time to explore and refine different options within tight tender timeframes.

The solution has been developed for reuse across transmission line and wind farm projects. This allows ACCIONA teams to apply the same methodology across multiple sites, increasing efficiency and consistency while maintaining engineering quality.

Data accessibility unlocks further improvements

National GIS Manager Leon Bowers expanded on the theme by focusing on data accessibility.

His session demonstrated how automation and artificial intelligence can convert unstructured geotechnical reports into structured datasets, supporting clearer risk assessment and planning.

The approach addresses a long-standing challenge in infrastructure delivery, where valuable information is often locked in inconsistent documents.

By unlocking this data, ACCIONA can improve knowledge sharing and strengthen project outcomes across its portfolio.

The combined presentations generated strong interest among industry participants, with discussion focused on practical applications.

The emphasis remained on using automation where tasks are repetitive and rule-based, enabling professionals to concentrate on higher-value work.

This work reflects ACCIONA’s ongoing commitment to improving productivity and decision-making in infrastructure delivery, supporting more efficient project execution and better outcomes for communities.