With the motto "Infrastructure package meets reality – we build digitally," the twelfth conference "Planning and Building Infrastructure Digitally 4.0" at the THM once again served as a leading forum for the digital transformation in infrastructure construction. Experts from research, administration, and practice gathered at the Giessen Congress Hall.
Organizer Katja Däumer from the Department Civil Engineering at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) registered a total of 330 registrations, of which about two-thirds were in person, with the remainder participating via livestream. The audience ranged from management and department heads to project and planning managers and experts from Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands – a clear signal that the discussion on digital planning and construction has a connection far beyond regional borders. A particularly positive aspect: despite many familiar faces, numerous new participants were once again welcomed.
The programme included high-level insights and practical examples on the implementation of the infrastructure package, data interoperability, digital inventory models, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and geographic information systems (GIS) – topics that demonstrate that "building with data" is no longer a promise of the future, but rather a daily reality. The event was opened by Dr. Katja Hüske of DB InfraGO on the first day of the conference, followed by THMVice President Prof. Dirk Metzger and – via video message – Christian Hirte, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport.
The highlight, in addition to a session on georeferencing that brought together many technical threads, was a panel discussion on investments through the special fund. "I'm not aware of a single project in the past 35 years that has failed due to a lack of capacity," emphasized Dr. Matthias Jacob, Vice President of Building Construction at the German Construction Industry Association. The industry employs around one million people and has hired over 200,000 new workers in the past ten years. "We currently have a capacity utilization rate of around 70 percent – that means a 30 percent reserve. If the announced investments actually materialize, we can easily handle it – provided the framework conditions are right." He explicitly included small and medium-sized construction companies in this promise: "Many medium-sized companies are extremely innovative in their field and utilize digitalization where it brings them real added value." Larger procurement packages, he added, do not pose a risk for medium-sized companies, but could open up opportunities: "Anyone who believes that general contractors do everything themselves is mistaken. Medium-sized companies remain a key partner in the construction value chain." Regardless of company size, leaner processes and reliable political signals are crucial for successful business: "We need reliability and not a yo-yo effect. Once skilled workers leave the industry, they don't come back. Only stability creates a willingness to innovate and invest – and the construction industry is ready for this."
The initiator and host of the conference is Dean Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joaquín Díaz; the programme brought together a "who's who" of digital infrastructure. The list of speakers reflected the breadth of the field: academia, government agencies, and industry participated in discussions on equal footing. Premium partners of the event were Autodesk, RIB Software, and Esri Germany, who provided technical and strategic input with their perspectives.
In terms of organization, THM once again focused on openness: Students from all universities were able to book free online tickets, DB Training included the conference in its booking tool, and the optional conference dinner at the Heyligenstaedt Restaurant attracted 170 guests—a sign of networking that takes place not in presentation slides, but at the table. Praise came from all quarters: Speakers, participants, and partners emphasized the practical exchange and high level of expertise. The Hesse Chamber of Engineers and the Hesse Chamber of Architects and Urban Planners awarded Further education points.
The THM’s conclusion: The congress “Planning and Building Infrastructure Digitally 4.0” is, in its twelfth year, a growing event with practical relevance and fresh impetus for the implementation of digital infrastructure transformation.