The winners of the 2025 Going Digital Awards were announced last Thursday (16 Oct) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Three of them are from Southeast Asia, including one in Malaysia and two in Indonesia.
Hosted by Bentley Systems, the annual awards honour the extraordinary work of infrastructure professionals and their innovative use of Bentley software to improve the way infrastructure is designed, built and operated. The full list of the winners can be viewed here.
This year, nearly 250 projects were nominated by organisations in 47 countries. Winners were selected across 12 categories by a panel of independent judges during Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure (YII) conference, held on 15-16 October at the Hotel Okura Amsterdam.
“Congratulations to this year’s Going Digital Award winners,” said Chris Bradshaw, chief sustainability and education officer at Bentley Systems. “Your achievements are setting the standard for resilience, sustainability and impact across infrastructure sectors.”
He pointed out that “these groundbreaking projects demonstrate how leading infrastructure engineering and construction companies, together with innovative owner-operators, are harnessing digital advancements – from connected data to AI – to transform project delivery and elevate asset performance.”
The three winners from Southeast Asia are:
Jabatan Kerja Raya Sarawak (JKRS), Malaysia
Sarawak Sabah Link Road Phase 2
(Winner – Roads and Highways category)
To improve access and mobility for isolated communities in northern Sarawak, the Malaysian government initiated construction of the area’s first continuous land connection to the rest of the country. The mountainous terrain and remote location presented site and logistical challenges, compounded by managing multiple disciplines and stakeholders on a 60-month project timeline. Conventional 2D methods lacked integration and design capabilities to timely and cost-effectively deliver the roadway.
The project team selected Bentley ProjectWise to establish a connected data environment, Bentley OpenRoads and OpenCities Map to develop 3D roadway design models, and Bentley Synchro and iTwin Capture for construction simulation and visual monitoring. Working in an integrated digital twin platform accelerated the design process by 50% and reduced overall project costs by 30%.
Using Bentley’s applications minimised impact on protected areas and wildlife by 80% and reduced the project’s carbon footprint by 30%. The project’s digital success ensures sustainable infrastructure for future generations and serves as a benchmark for Malaysia’s road construction sector.
PT Wika Tirta Jaya Jatiluhur (WTJJ), Indonesia
SPAM Regional Jatiluhur I: Transforming Water for a Better Tomorrow
(Winner – Water and Wastewater category)
The WTJJ multiregional clean water supply system provides clean water access to more than 380,000 residents in West Java, enhancing public health, sustainability and network resilience. The project presented topography challenges and strict environmental requirements, compounded by coordinating multiple disciplines and stakeholders. Initial fragmented workflows hampered coordination and delayed decision-making. To meet strict cost, quality, schedule and sustainability targets, the team needed a unified modelling and analysis platform.
Leveraging Bentley ProjectWise with open modelling and digital twin technology, the team established a connected data environment and digital twin, enabling real-time collaboration, simulation and risk mitigation. Working in an integrated digital ecosystem accelerated stakeholder approval by 50%, avoided IDR 12 billion in rework and reduced project delivery time by 25%. The project recorded an 18% energy savings through Bentley OpenFlows hydraulic modelling and a 1,200-t reduction in carbon emissions. Using Bentley iTwin IoT set a new benchmark for asset visibility and predictive maintenance.
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), Indonesia
Smart Infrastructure by KAI & AssetWise Linear Analytics
(Winner – Rail and Transit category)
The owner and operator of 7,000 km of rail track spanning multiple islands and regions in Indonesia, Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) initiated a digitalisation and modernisation project to facilitate predictive network maintenance, enabling smarter, data-driven asset management. Faced with data standardisation issues, system integration, coordination difficulties and scalability concerns, the initial software and maintenance approaches proved insufficient to meet KAI’s needs. The team needed a comprehensive, integrated asset modelling and monitoring solution to ensure a more reliable, safer and sustainable railway network.
Leveraging Bentley AssetWise and iTwin applications, KAI established a common data environment and digital twin that incorporated AI to detect risks early, optimise asset lifecycle and support intelligent decision-making. Bentley’s applications facilitated predictive maintenance through real-time condition monitoring and seamless system integration that reduced railway track maintenance by two to four hours per segment, improving average efficiency by 25-40%. The synergetic digital solution extends asset life, lowers carbon emissions and reduces material waste, supporting smarter, greener network planning and operations.
Other winners
During the event, Bentley also recognised 18 projects with Founders’ Honors. Chosen individually by Bentley’s founders, these awards are presented to a small number of exemplary projects, individuals and organisations that reflect the company’s mission of advancing the world’s infrastructure for better quality of life.
Two of the 2025 Founders’ Honors recipients are from Indonesia, namely PT Hutama Karya (for the Trans Papua Road – Mamberamo-Elelim section) and PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (for the Lumut Balai Unit-3).
Another highlight is the Bentley-Envision Award for Sustainable Infrastructure, which honours a pioneering Going Digital Award project that went beyond technical excellence and economic value to deliver exceptional and measurable environmental and social impact. This year’s recipient is GeoStruXer (Saudi Arabia) – Seismic Rehabilitation of Creeping Ground using Sustainable Micropiled PTRaft.
All Bentley-Envision submissions were reviewed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), the non-profit organisation that develops and manages the Envision sustainable infrastructure framework, in partnership with Bentley’s Sustainability team.
Meanwhile, the Bentley Systems’ Educator of the Year Award honours an academic professional who has made outstanding contributions to infrastructure education. Selected by a panel of independent judges, the winner is recognised for innovative teaching methods, impactful student engagement, and the integration of cutting-edge engineering software and technology into the curriculum. This year’s winner is Irfaan Peerun, Griffith University, Australia.
All images: Bentley Systems
