How is Gamuda Berhad (Gamuda) leveraging cutting-edge technology and AI to revolutionise the construction industry? In this interview, we sit down with John Lim Ji Xiong, Group Chief Digital Officer at Gamuda Berhad, to discuss the company’s digital transformation journey, their pioneering innovations like the autonomous Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), and how AI is reshaping their approach to complex infrastructure projects. Discover how Gamuda is not just keeping pace with industry trends but setting them – and why their approach to AI adoption could be a game-changer for construction.

FuturePlace: John, thank you for your time. Can you tell me more about Gamuda and your role as the Group Chief Digital Officer?

John Lim Ji Xiong:Thank you for having me. Gamuda is a leading regional organisation in engineering and construction, infrastructure, and property development. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we have a history spanning nearly 50 years and a presence in nine countries. We’ve delivered some of the region’s largest and most innovative infrastructure projects, including the 42km MRT Kajang Line and the 56.2km MRT Putrajaya Line; Penang Silicon Island; and the SMART Tunnel (Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel), the world’s first dual-purpose tunnel, located in Malaysia. Our international portfolio includes the Sydney Metro West – Western Tunnelling Package in Australia; 75 London Wall in the United Kingdom; Hamad International Airport in Qatar; and several award-winning projects in Taiwan, such as the Guantang Marine Bridge and the Taipei Sea Wall.

As the Group’s Chief Digital Officer, I lead the company’s strategic efforts to innovate and transform our organisation using technology. I pioneered the Gamuda Innovation Hub, an award-winning team of innovators tasked with creating new digital solutions and driving AI adoption across our regional projects. I also focus on building strong partnerships with tech leaders such as Autodesk and Google Cloud.

FuturePlace: How advanced is Gamuda on its digital transformation journey?

John Lim Ji Xiong: Gamuda is a leader in digital transformation. Through our in-house capabilities, we deploy third-party solutions and develop our own. We have a standard digital architecture, the Gamuda Digital Operating System (GDOS), which is used across all our global projects. One of our iconic innovations is the autonomous TBM, an AI-driven solution recognised by the New Civil Engineer Tunnelling Awards and ITA Tunnelling and Underground Space Awards in 2019. Additionally, we’ve created Bot Unify, an AI platform with over 140 different agents developed by staff across the organisation. Recently, we were featured on stage at Autodesk University 2024 and received awards like IDC’s Future Enterprise of the Year and the Special Award for Digital Innovation in 2024. Gamuda’s case study was also highlighted in Deloitte’s State of Digital Adoption in the Construction Industry 2024 report.

FuturePlace: What strategic areas are you focusing on this year?

John Lim Ji Xiong: This year, we launched Gamuda Technologies, an external-facing business arm focused on building new digital businesses and offering our products to the market. Internally, we continue to expand the use of AI across the organisation to improve our processes.

FuturePlace: What aspects of your role and the work you do within Gamuda are you most proud of?

John Lim Ji Xiong: Construction has traditionally been a very conservative industry, so I’m most proud of leading the way in innovation at Gamuda. I’m incredibly proud of pioneering the Gamuda Innovation Hub and seeing it inspire others, both within and outside the industry, to recognise that construction is the ideal space for driving technological advancements.

FuturePlace: What opportunities or challenges do you see across the broader construction industry today?

John Lim Ji Xiong: With the growing global demand for AI, there are significant opportunities in the infrastructure space. The construction industry plays a crucial role in the success of AI at scale. However, we are still facing challenges like labour shortages, attracting and retaining highly skilled workers, and managing increasingly complex projects and risks.

FuturePlace: How do you see innovation and technology providing solutions to some of the challenges the industry faces?

John Lim Ji Xiong: Technology and innovation will foster collaboration, which is key to overcoming many of the challenges we face. Generative AI will make data more accessible and understandable, driving efficiency and enabling better decision-making. As supply chains become more global, collaboration tools like Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) will help bring people together, allowing us to create new value.

FuturePlace: Thank you for speaking again at FCON25. What parts of the summit are you most looking forward to?

John Lim Ji Xiong: I’m excited to meet and connect with like-minded individuals from across the industry. The chance to learn and share ideas is always invaluable.

FuturePlace: Lastly, if you had a crystal ball, what predictions do you have for the industry over the coming decade?

John Lim Ji Xiong: While no crystal ball is perfectly clear, the trends we see today offer a strong glimpse into the future of construction. Over the next decade, we’ll see a more tech-savvy workforce with an increased emphasis on digital skills and collaboration with AI. Digital devices, such as smart glasses, will become common on construction sites. The next decade will usher in a period of profound transformation, making construction more efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced. Though challenges will persist, the industry is poised to build a better future.

John Lim Ji Xiong’s sessions at FCON25 will provide unique insights into the cutting-edge digital transformation taking place in construction. His International Keynote Address will dive deep into how AI, data, and user-centric approaches are converging to reshape the built environment, with a focus on predictive analytics, automation, and optimisation to enhance safety and reduce errors. In his Digital Delivery Panel, John will explore how balancing tradition with innovation in construction practices can drive industry advancement, drawing from real-world case studies to showcase successful projects. Additionally, his Roundtable discussion will focus on digitising construction through AI and data while putting the user first, providing a fresh perspective on how to manage the digitisation process and resolve issues early in the design phase.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the industry’s leading digital pioneers at FCON25.

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