Arcadis Accelerates Use of AI Through Autodesk Collaboration

Design and engineering consulting giant, Arcadis, is deepening its partnership with software powerhouse Autodesk, by ramping up its use of artificial intelligence, connected data and digital workflows.

Designed to support the long-term success of both companies, the move is set to align Arcadis’ industry judgement, expertise and growth ambitions with Autodesk’s innovative solutions.

Why context matters more than code

Arcadis positions its collaboration with Autodesk as an accelerator of its AI and Data & Knowledge strategy. 

The aim is to embed Arcadis' expertise in design, engineering, sustainability and project delivery into the platforms its teams already use, while keeping human judgement at the centre of delivery.

Why context matters more than code

Arcadis positions its collaboration with Autodesk as an accelerator of its AI and Data & Knowledge strategy. 

The aim is to embed Arcadis' expertise in design, engineering, sustainability and project delivery into the platforms its teams already use, while keeping human judgement at the centre of delivery.

"Our clients choose Arcadis because of the knowledge, judgment and experience of our people. That expertise remains at the heart of how we create value. Working with Autodesk, we are bringing that knowledge directly into the workflows where our teams design and decide," says Heather Polinsky, CEO of Arcadis.

Connecting knowledge to the workflow

The collaboration combines Arcadis' domain expertise with Autodesk's Design and Make platform and Autodesk AI, including Autodesk Assistant. The practical value comes from how these pieces fit together:

• Autodesk Assistant understands geometry, engineering intent and project history
• Arcadis is connecting its own model context protocol capabilities with the assistant, allowing its knowledge, standards and guidance to be applied within AI-powered workflows
• Arcadis retains full ownership of what it builds
• AI outputs can be checked against real project data and the conditions a design must meet
• Arcadis' people remain central to translating AI into reviewed and verified outcomes for clients

The point about ownership is worth dwelling on. Many firms hesitate to feed proprietary knowledge into third-party platforms for fear of losing control of it.

 A flexible connection model, where the firm's expertise plugs into the platform without being surrendered to it, addresses that concern directly. 

"Arcadis and its strong leadership team are clearly organising for the future, not simply adopting new technology," says Andrew Anagnost, President and CEO of Autodesk. “They understand that AI creates the most value when grounded in deep industry expertise, trusted data, and real-world context. That's how AI becomes project intelligence, helping people make better decisions and deliver better outcomes for clients.

Adoption is the real test

Technology alone does not create value. Adoption does. Arcadis stresses that its people are central to how AI and digital capabilities are turned into better outcomes, and that the work is designed to make AI-enabled delivery more practical, consistent and valuable across complex projects. 

It also describes a services model that brings domain experts, product teams, data specialists and client teams together to redesign workflows in ways that can be repeated across clients, sectors and geographies.

The partnership’s See Through Walls project is a clear illustration of AI serving a practical goal. 

It leverages AI, sensor data and predictive modelling to gain an understanding of hidden conditions in existing structures, to support material reuse, circularity and decarbonisation, outcomes that clients increasingly demand.