Engineering the future: AI, sustainability and design in infrastructure

How will artificial intelligence, sustainability and design thinking transform New Zealand’s infrastructure in the years ahead?

The Emerging Technologies Forum 2025, hosted by the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Engineering and Design, offers an opportunity to hear directly from the experts.

The event brings together academics leading research in architecture, engineering, and design to share insights on how the built environment can respond to challenges like climate change, technological advances, and shifting community needs.

Speakers include Professor Andrew Barrie, specialising in architecture and technological innovation; Dr Aaron Fry, focusing on design cognition and AI’s role in creativity; Professor Paola Boarin, expert in sustainable retrofit and urban futures; Dr Enrique del Rey Castillo, a specialist in seismic strengthening and construction technologies; and Dr Sandeeka Mannakkara, known for climate adaptation and disaster recovery. 
 
The forum will consider questions like:

• How can sustainability principles be translated into measurable outcomes in design and construction? 
• How can innovation be balanced with standardisation and scalability? 
• What opportunities and risks come with using AI to transform infrastructure?

The forum offers journalists, industry partners, and the wider community a chance to connect with researchers and help shape the future of New Zealand’s infrastructure sector.