FM newsroom – robotics, BIM, AI, PropTech. Robotics, AI and digital workflows are moving rapidly from pilot programmes into everyday construction work — a clear consensus at the Portfolio Future of Construction 2025 Conference. Discussions also stressed the growing importance of data integrity, unified digital platforms and IT-enabled processes.
At the event’s dedicated session, László Kuczogi, Honorary Member of LEO and Managing Director of K-Ép Studio, and Csaba Szij, Deputy CEO of B+N Referencia and LEO Board Member, outlined their proposal for a sector-wide BIM (Building Information Modelling) operations framework. According to Portfolio’s report, speakers argued that declining investment and increasing efficiency pressures make the digital transition unavoidable. However, BIM is still widely misunderstood as merely a 3D model. High implementation costs, lack of standardised information and inconsistent data access remain significant barriers. To address these, an FM-focused guideline has been developed, offering definitions, regulatory summaries, essential operational data and practical case studies to improve communication and expectations across the industry.
AI as a Collaborative Tool
In her presentation, Professor Anita Boros, Head of the Greenology Centre at the National University of Public Service, emphasised the concept of “fair intelligence”, noting that AI should act as a partner rather than a replacement in construction processes. She shared international examples, such as a sensor-equipped 3D-printed steel bridge in Amsterdam and an AI system used on a new extension of the Paris Metro that improved scheduling and reduced faults.
Boglárka Csillag, BIM Manager at KÉSZ Group, identified four leading causes of project cost overruns: technical, organisational, administrative and communication-related issues. She highlighted that the company’s digital project management system, built on a Common Data Environment (CDE), significantly reduces delays and additional expenditure compared with traditional email- and paper-based workflows.
BIM Enhances Project Delivery
Practical applications of BIM in bridge construction were presented by Ádám Balogh, Design Engineer at FŐMTERV, and Mihály Szabados, Chief Structural Engineer at Speciálterv. Introduced by Lilla Makkos, Senior Manager at Construsoft, they demonstrated the methodology through models of the Mohács Danube Bridge and a new cycling bridge at the Velence rest area on the M7 motorway. At Velence, steel structures, concrete substructures, utilities and traffic engineering are all integrated within a single BIM model. The Mohács bridge, consisting of three spans with differing lengths and structural depths, was designed using a parametric BIM-based approach from the outset.
Panel participants agreed that consistent use of a shared data environment and broader adoption of BIM processes are crucial for a resilient, future-oriented construction sector. Despite regulatory requirements for BIM in specific state-funded projects, widespread utilisation remains limited due to incompatible platforms and isolated digital solutions.
Data Quality Drives AI Success
Csaba Borbély, Regional Director at PlanRadar, predicted that BIM, AI and robotics will become widespread in the next 10 years, not only in flagship or pilot projects but also in smaller, routine ones. He stressed the importance of open, interoperable systems, warning that closed software ecosystems eventually lead to dead ends. With AI support, digital platforms could save significant working hours; he cited a McKinsey report suggesting that reducing administrative tasks could boost productivity by 20%.
One of the most notable phenomena was Valter, Wienerberger’s bricklaying robot, presented by János Potos, Board Member for Commerce and Marketing at Wienerberger Hungary. Valter fits through a standard doorway, requires just 4 m² of space, uses laser guidance and can lay up to 10 m² of masonry per hour — far exceeding human capacity. Potos argued that labour shortages are likely to persist and that robots will reshape, rather than replace, human work while reducing physical strain.
András Kocsis, Chair of the BIM College and Business Development Director at bim.GROUP, highlighted the growing importance of data volumes in digitalisation and AI use. Large databases may require dedicated server parks, making energy consumption a key factor. He also called for clearer, more regulated processes for the data generated and updated throughout a project.
On industry fragmentation, Zoltán Jánky, Managing Director of NOVU Design Office, noted that the abundance of incompatible platforms makes market entry difficult for SMEs. Meanwhile, Krisztián Vatai, CEO of FDB-Projekt, stated that cloud computing and affordable hardware are democratising access to AI and open-source digital tools, predicting their full integration into daily operations within a decade.
A panel moderated by Samu Szemerey, Partner at DANU and Director of Architecture and Urbanism, examined how AI can be applied in construction execution and management. Márton Mandzsu, Head of Digital Construction at Brick+Data, argued that AI is only effective when sufficient usable data is available. He noted that adopting AI-driven workflows requires dedicated specialists — a trend already visible in the UK, where roles such as “digital construction manager” are emerging.
Finally, Ádám Ritter, Deputy Technical Managing Director at Moratus Szerkezetépítő and Market Group, described a system that uses AI to analyse crane-mounted camera footage to monitor construction progress. He stressed that data must be generated automatically within a workflow to avoid errors. Miklós Csanády, Director of Óbuda Group, expressed optimism, noting that AI tools become more effective as they learn from greater data, and that his company already uses them to detect errors in contracts and analyse quotations.