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Datamine has released 2026 upgrades across its mining software suite, tightening data flow between exploration, geology, mine planning, laboratory information management and production control. Key advances include deeper integration between Studio RM resource modelling, Studio OP/UG mine design, Fusion LIMS and the Minemax scheduler, plus improved interoperability with fleet management and plant control systems via standardised APIs. For engineers, the changes aim to cut manual data handling in block model updates, short-interval control and grade reconciliation, and to support more consistent multi-mine planning workflows.

Researchers at Birmingham City University and steel specialist HadleyFRAME have automated structural checks in digital building models, cutting connection-checking time by 96% on projects with more than 18,000 joints. Two custom tools, developed under a West Midlands Advanced Construction Cluster sprint, include a parameter-driven copying utility that trims batch copy time for five connections from 15 to 12 minutes, and a model-wide scanner that flags missing or unexpected steel connections before fabrication. Tested on a five-storey modular residential scheme in Derbyshire, the system targets early detection of connection errors, directly affecting QA workflows for modern methods of construction.

Canada’s Open Science and Data Platform (OSDP), built by Natural Resources Canada to support the federal Major Projects Office, is now central to mine permitting, aggregating geospatial science, environmental monitoring, mapping tools and regulatory records from federal, provincial and territorial sources into a single online portal. Used on Newmont’s Red Chris mine expansion in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle, the OSDP lets users layer Treaty boundaries, species-at-risk data, transmission lines, watersheds and nearby projects, with updates fed automatically via APIs rather than static uploads. NRCan reports about 200,000 unique users, 70% repeat visits, and is adding datasets by roughly 10% annually, with plans for AI-driven search and machine-readable historical assessments.

idoba has released Version 2.0 of idoba.sim, a cloud-based simulation tool for short-term planning in underground hard rock mines that now models development advance and truck load-and-haul in a single run. Planning teams can simultaneously simulate development headings and both development and production haulage, rather than running separate models for each activity stream. The integrated workflow should improve cycle time analysis, fleet utilisation planning and identification of bottlenecks around development-ore interactions.

Deswik is rolling out its NOVA platform to unify open-pit mine scheduling, stockpile blending and haulage into a single planning environment, replacing the traditional mix of disconnected spreadsheets and point tools. By running mining, blending and truck fleet scenarios together, NOVA can expose crusher feed gaps, mill underutilisation and haul road bottlenecks early in the planning cycle rather than after shift start. For engineers, the integrated workflow tightens compliance to long-term plans, improves material movement visibility and reduces manual data hand-offs between geology, planning and operations.

Caprivi Solutions has released CapEx360® for Mining, a capital governance platform designed to manage multi-site, life-of-mine portfolios from initial business case and AFE approval through to execution and post-investment review. The system provides a single governed environment for tracking project execution, managing rolling forecasts and capturing actuals against budget across multiple assets. For mine owners, the tool targets tighter control of sustaining and growth capital, more consistent stage-gate decisions and improved visibility of capital performance over the full asset lifecycle.

Achilles has launched Achilles Risk Screening, a supplier risk capability aimed at giving mining and resources operators earlier visibility of exposure across multi-tier, global supply chains. The tool aggregates data on geographically dispersed vendors to flag disruption, compliance or ESG-related risks before contract award, enabling more targeted and cheaper mitigation than broad-brush prequalification. For mine owners and EPCM contractors relying on critical spares, explosives, reagents and OEM support, earlier risk signals can directly influence sourcing strategies, inventory buffers and contingency planning.

Global has acquired a controlling stake in Aberdeen-based Prism, a 40-strong project management and controls specialist best known for its Prism Apps software used widely across the energy sector. The deal will fund further development of Prism Apps and expansion of consultancy services in planning, estimating and risk management into renewables, infrastructure, data centres, nuclear, utilities and defence. Founder Andy Sutherland and his existing management team will remain in place, signalling continuity for current users and ongoing support for live project controls deployments.

McLaren Construction will deploy FieldAI autonomous quadruped robots on UK sites to run regular 360° scans, generate point clouds and carry out progress verification, model-to-site deviation checks, safety patrols and quality assurance. FieldAI’s “Field Foundation Models” combine data-driven AI, physics-based reasoning and uncertainty quantification, allowing robots to navigate stairs, doors and changing site layouts without prior maps, fixed routes or supporting infrastructure. Automated deviation analysis between scans and design models is expected to tighten tolerance control, catch installation errors earlier and cut rework, while meeting UK regulatory and data security requirements.

Seequent’s OpenGround Civil 3D Extension links live geotechnical data from OpenGround into Autodesk Civil 3D, allowing borehole logs, interpreted strata and lab test results to update directly within corridor, grading and earthworks models. Designers can generate 3D ground models, cross-sections and surfaces that automatically reflect new investigations, rather than relying on static AGS or CSV imports. The workflow reduces manual rework and helps geotechnical and civil teams keep alignments, cut/fill volumes and foundation layouts consistent with the latest ground model.

GeoDin Ground, a free Autodesk Civil 3D plug-in, replaces manual borehole imports by directly linking Civil 3D models to GeoDin® geotechnical databases and AGS/Excel borehole logs. The tool generates dynamic 3D subsurface models, including stratigraphy, groundwater levels and geotechnical layers, that update automatically as borehole data change. For designers, this means borehole positions, interpreted soil horizons and material properties are embedded in corridors, alignments and earthworks, reducing data re-entry and improving consistency between geotechnical interpretation and Civil 3D design.

Scripting in RS3 now lets tunnel designers automatically extract lining forces, moments, and displacements at every section along a 3D model, instead of manually interrogating individual cross-sections. Users can generate full lining design envelopes, export results to spreadsheets or custom reports, and rapidly iterate on reinforcement or segment thickness without re-running the finite element analysis. For geotechnical teams, this shifts effort from repetitive post-processing to checking design assumptions, load cases, and ground–structure interaction behaviour across the entire tunnel.

Greenbase’s Envago platform is being deployed to help mining companies comply with Australia’s new mandatory climate reporting regime under AASB S2, which requires disclosure of climate-related risks, Scope 1–3 emissions and governance alongside financial statements. Envago replaces spreadsheet-based workflows by integrating data from site operations, energy meters and procurement systems into a single emissions and ESG reporting environment. For mine operators, this means earlier alignment with AASB S2 assurance expectations and reduced manual reconciliation effort across multiple assets and joint ventures.

Micromine has launched its 2026 Half-Year Release, rolling out upgrades across all eight products in its geology, mine design, scheduling, fleet management and processing software suite as part of a Weir-backed push for a connected mining ecosystem. The release tightens integration between exploration tools such as Micromine Origin and mine planning modules like Micromine Beyond, and links them more directly with operational platforms including Micromine Pitram. For engineers, the move signals more consistent data models and workflows from resource modelling through short-interval control and plant performance monitoring.

Viridien has launched Evergreen Data Solution, an AI‑powered subsurface data platform that automates transformation of large, complex geoscience datasets so asset teams can access and trust results more quickly. Built on Viridien’s existing digital transformation stack, it applies data science workflows to seismic, geological and petrophysical data, targeting shorter interpretation cycle times from exploration through development planning. For mine planners and resource geologists, the tool aims to tighten model update loops, standardise multi‑source inputs and reduce manual data conditioning effort.

Yorkshire Water has appointed Jacobs to a £32M artificial intelligence services framework to support operation and maintenance of its water and wastewater assets across the region. The multi-year agreement is expected to deploy data-driven tools for network monitoring, leakage detection and predictive maintenance on treatment works and buried infrastructure. For civil and geotechnical practitioners, the framework signals growing demand for asset condition analytics, integration of sensor data with hydraulic models, and AI-assisted planning of renewal and resilience upgrades.

Leica has launched a new RTC series of terrestrial 3D laser scanners that combine the speed and on-site registration of the RTC360 with the robustness and higher accuracy of the ScanStation P‑Series, targeting surveying, construction, industrial plants, public safety and infrastructure workflows. Three performance tiers allow users to step up to more demanding scan jobs without replacing their full hardware stack, supporting incremental upgrades across project portfolios. A new Livelink data service, integrated into the Cyclone Field 360 mobile app, streams multi-scanner datasets directly to Hexagon GeoCloud so field, office and cloud models stay synchronised in near real time.

Eclipse Data Innovations has expanded its SourceOne EKPS platform so operations teams at large industrial and mining sites can build custom, AI-powered workflow tools directly from their own time-series and event data using natural language prompts. The upgrade is aimed at tasks such as plant downtime analysis, shift handover reporting and maintenance planning, without needing bespoke coding or separate data-science projects. For engineers, this points to faster deployment of site-specific decision-support apps tightly coupled to existing historians, MES and fleet management systems.

Mark Stuart, joint managing director of Stuart Energy and a specialist in temporary power and equipment hire for construction sites, has joined waste compliance and reuse platform MukAway as a non-executive director. MukAway, which digitises waste movements and reuse documentation for infrastructure and civils projects, is positioning the appointment to support expansion into a wider contractor and plant-hire client base. For geotechnical and civil teams, this signals growing integration between site power logistics, plant fleets and compliant soil and aggregate reuse workflows.

A New Civil Engineer webinar examines how the rapid spread of BIM, CDEs and asset management platforms on major infrastructure schemes is creating a looming “data handover gap” at project close-out. Speakers focus on integrating design, construction and O&M datasets into a single, validated asset information model that meets ISO 19650 requirements rather than leaving owners with fragmented PDFs, native models and sensor feeds. For geotechnical and civil teams, the discussion stresses early definition of data schemas for ground models, as-built records and inspection regimes to avoid costly rework at commissioning.

Niftylift has launched MyNifty, a machine-specific online support hub that consolidates manuals, technical documentation, error code lookup, cage overload override reset codes and NiftyPRO video guidance into a single portal. Operators, hire companies and service technicians can access a dedicated page for each model by scanning a QR code on the serial plate or entering the serial number via the Niftylift website, using any mobile device. Most machines in current service already carry QR-coded plates, while older units can be brought into the system through a serial-number QR search tool.

WSP’s AI specialists describe deploying machine learning tools across UK infrastructure portfolios to cut manual inspection and analysis time for engineers. Applications include automated defect detection on large image datasets from bridge and tunnel surveys, and predictive maintenance models that flag high‑risk assets before failure using historic condition, loading and environmental data. The approach is being embedded into WSP’s digital asset management workflows, raising questions for practitioners about data quality, model validation and how to integrate AI outputs into existing inspection and safety regimes.

Bouygues UK is using Revizto BIM tools to run live, fully navigable 3D walk-throughs of the 47,000 m² Moorfields and UCL Centre for Eye Health, enabling clinicians to test operating theatre layouts, medical gas outlet positions and patient flows months before work reaches those areas. A single shared model for more than 100 daily onsite users across 20 disciplines has cut clash detection from about a week to 10–15 minutes, with issues logged and resolved in real time. The specialist eye hospital complex is scheduled to open to patients in summer 2027.

Liebherr Nenzing has launched an AI-based app to identify parts and schedule maintenance for its deep foundation equipment and crawler cranes up to 400 t capacity. Components can be located via photo recognition, QR code scan, multilingual text search in over 100 languages, or item number, with results cross-checked against the official Liebherr parts catalogue to avoid mis-orders when nameplates are damaged. The app also uses machine operating hours to propose upcoming service intervals, listing required parts, consumables and fluids in optimised quantities for each maintenance kit.