Digital strategies for water resilience take the spotlight in Amsterdam
Amsterdam played host to the final day of the 2025 Year in Infrastructure and Going Digital Awards, Bentley Systems’ annual gathering celebrating the organizations and professionals driving innovation across the infrastructure sector.
While artificial intelligence and open data platforms framed much of the dialogue on the opening day, the second day shifted toward practical implementation, with finalists presenting real-world use cases demonstrating how digital engineering tools are improving performance, resilience, and sustainability across infrastructure systems.
This year’s edition drew nearly 250 nominations from 47 countries, with 36 finalists selected across 12 categories
This year’s edition drew nearly 250 nominations from 47 countries, with 36 finalists selected across 12 categories by independent expert juries. Among them, Alejandro Maceira, Director of Smart Water Magazine and iAgua, served on the panel for the Water and Wastewater category.
SPAM Regional Jatiluhur I: Transforming Water for a Better Tomorrow
Their approach included the use of OpenFlows for hydraulic modeling and iTwin IoT for real-time asset monitoring, enabling faster approvals, tighter schedule control, and operational savings
The first presentation came from PT Wika Tirta Jaya Jatiluhur (WTJJ), a public-private initiative focused on delivering clean drinking water to more than 380,000 people in West Java, Indonesia. Faced with difficult topography, strict environmental constraints, and complex stakeholder coordination, the project team turned to ProjectWise and Bentley’s digital twin capabilities to streamline workflows and centralize decision-making.
Their approach included the use of OpenFlows for hydraulic modeling and iTwin IoT for real-time asset monitoring, enabling faster approvals, tighter schedule control, and significant operational savings. The results were measurable: a 50% reduction in stakeholder turnaround times, a 25% cut in project delivery time, IDR 12 billion in avoided rework, and an 18% reduction in energy consumption. The project also achieved a 1,200-ton drop in carbon emissions, showcasing the power of integrated technology in improving both efficiency and sustainability.
Modeling and Optimization of the Medellín Aqueduct Primary Network
Next, Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) outlined its ambitious plan to future-proof water access for 1.4 million families in Colombia’s second-largest city. The challenge: model a primary aqueduct system spanning five water treatment plants in mountainous terrain — no small feat given the data complexity and forecasting demands.
To overcome limitations in their manual modeling processes, the EPM team developed a comprehensive digital twin using OpenFlows, enabling predictive analysis and long-term scenario planning. Their efforts are already paying off. Modeling tasks that previously took weeks can now be completed in hours, allowing for more agile decision-making. The project is projected to deliver annual savings of nearly USD 18.6 million, avoid the construction of 5 kilometers of new pipeline, and reduce CO₂ emissions by 182 tons per year. The utility views this as an ongoing digital transformation — one that will continue to guide its urban water strategy for years to come.
Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Urban Flood Control and Drainage Capacity in Northwest China Based on Digital Technology
Rounding out the category, CSCEC AECOM Consultants Co., Ltd. shared its work on an urban flood control project in Jinchang City, Gansu Province, an area increasingly vulnerable to extreme rainfall. With aging infrastructure and missing system data, the team relied on an integrated approach, combining OpenFlows, OpenRoads, and 3D reality modeling via LumenRT.
Through dynamic simulations, the team optimized drainage design and identified critical flood zones, ultimately eliminating flood risk across 1,146 hectares of urban terrain. The connected data environment also delivered broader project benefits: design errors were reduced by 90%, piping material waste cut by 15%, and the construction timeline shortened by 40%. With a reported 500-ton reduction in carbon emissions, the project illustrates the role digital tools can play in strengthening resilience against climate-driven risks.
Awards ceremony
The day concluded with the Going Digital Awards Ceremony, where PT Wika Tirta Jaya Jatiluhur was announced as the winner in the Water and Wastewater category. Their success in building a digitally unified water supply system that balances engineering performance with environmental stewardship earned praise from jurors and attendees alike.