GeoAI to exploit point clouds to inform design, construction & operations | Presentation
GeoAI to Exploit Point Clouds
Informing Design, Construction
& Operations
Ian Koeppel Global Business Development
Transportation ikoeppel@esri.com
Marcella Faraone Head of BIM&GIS Dpt
m.faraone@fstechnology.it
mailto:ikoeppel@esri.com mailto:ikoeppel@esri.com mailto:m.faraone@fstechnology.it
GIS & BIM Convergence
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Mission Accelerating Digital Twin creation for the full project lifecycle
with GIS and BIM
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© Copyright Esri 2025. All rights reserved. Not to be used, distributed or circulated without authorization. Subject to Autodesk Safe Harbor Statement.
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© Copyright Esri 2025. All rights reserved. Not to be used, distributed or circulated without authorization. Subject to Autodesk Safe Harbor Statement.
The Railways infrastructure Digital Models and the GeoAI use case
Roma, 21/10/2025
6
FSTechnology – BIM&GIS Team
Ilaria Mascellani GIS Specialist
Stefano Libianchi BIM Expert
Eleonora Troiani BIM Expert
Marcella Faraone Head BIM&GIS Team
Luca Capuani GIS Specialist
Catello Cascone GIS Specialist
Ferrazza Fabiano GIS Specialist
Mallegni Chiara GIS Specialist
Laura Pesce Head GIS Projects
7
The Railways infrastructure Digital Models Program
8
Analysis of industry best practices, trends, and reference
standards
BIM, GIS, IoT, AI & Analytics, Advanced HMI adoption
Compliance with the national regulations procedure
interne vigenti Rationalization of business
requirements
Enhancement of a heterogeneous application
landscape
Digital Models to support the operation of railway infrastructure
A summary of the program
Trends and industry standards
Technologies Business requirements
Systems in use
Regulatory Framework
The Program aims to develop the essential capabilities for the implementation of digital models of assets, systems, and processes, enabling the adoption of predictive and condition-based maintenance strategies with resulting efficiency benefits. This approach facilitates real-time monitoring mechanisms to support data-driven decision-making and the simulation of complex scenarios, guiding investments toward areas of greatest strategic relevance. All of this is pursued through a shared and unified vision, in which the digital model is recognized as a transversal element across business processes.
Joint Working Group to Implement the Vision
Design of the operating model
Design and Implementation of the Integrated Architectural
Landscape
Design of the Organizational Model
Design of the common data model
Design of the integration with the company systems and the
operation methods
Digital Twin(s) based Vision
9
Analysis of industry best practices, trends, and reference
standards
BIM, GIS, IoT, AI & Analytics, Advanced HMI adoption
Compliance with the national regulations and the internal
procedures
Rationalization of business requirements
Enhancement of a heterogeneous application
landscape
Digital Models to support the operation of railway infrastructure
Key steps
Trends and industry standards
Technologies Business requirements
Systems in use
Regulatory Framework
The Program aims to develop the essential capabilities for the implementation of digital models of assets, systems, and processes, enabling the adoption of predictive and condition-based maintenance strategies with resulting efficiency benefits. This approach facilitates real-time monitoring mechanisms to support data-driven decision-making and the simulation of complex scenarios, guiding investments toward areas of greatest strategic relevance. All of this is pursued through a shared and unified vision, in which the digital model is recognized as a transversal element across business processes.
Joint Working Group to Implement the Vision
Design of the operating model
Design and Implementation of the Integrated Architectural
Landscape
Design of the Organizational Model
Design of the common data model
Design of the integration with the company systems and the
operation methods
Digital Twin(s) based Vision
10
Analysis of industry best practices, trends, and reference
standards
BIM, GIS, IoT, AI & Analytics, Advanced HMI adoption
Compliance with the national regulations and the internal
procedures
Rationalization of business requirements
Enhancement of a heterogeneous application
landscape
Digital Models to support the operation of railway infrastructure
Joint Working Group
The Program aims to develop the essential capabilities for the implementation of digital models of assets, systems, and processes, enabling the adoption of predictive and condition-based maintenance strategies with resulting efficiency benefits. This approach facilitates real-time monitoring mechanisms to support data-driven decision-making and the simulation of complex scenarios, guiding investments toward areas of greatest strategic relevance. All of this is pursued through a shared and unified vision, in which the digital model is recognized as a transversal element across business processes.
Joint Working Group to Implement the Vision
Design of the Organizational Model
Design of the integration with the company systems and the
operation methods
Design and Implementation of the Integrated Architectural
Landscape
Digital Twin(s) based Vision
Trends and industry standards
Technologies Business requirements
Systems in use
Regulatory Framework
Design of the Operating Model Design of the Common Data
Model
11
RAIL TRAFFIC
ASSET MANAGEMENT
EXTERNAL DATA SOURCES
RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE DIGITAL TWIN
BUSINESS OPERATIONS BUSINESS ANALYTICS & INTELLIGENCE
SIMULATIONFORECAST
AI MODELS
DATA ANALYSIS
DECISION MAKINGDASHBOARD
CONTROL ROOM
FIELD SYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENT
METEOROLOGICAL
ACOUSTIC
SEISMIC
HYDROGEOLOGICAL
INVESTMENT (INTEGRATED PLANNING)
PLANNING
PROGRAMMING
REPROGRAMMING
TECH LAB
DATA PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT
MAINTENANCEENGINEERING
P R
O JE
C T
CD Es
HANDOVER
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
TRAFFIC PLANNING
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
ASSET MANAGEMENT AND
UTILIZATION
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
OTHER PROJECTS
LABS
DOCUMENTS & MEDIA ARCHIVE
GEOSPATIAL DATA (GIS)
INTEGRATED INFRASTRUCTURE MODEL & VIEWS
ASSET REGISTRY & LIFECYCLE
ASSET STATUS ALARMS &
NOTIFICATIONS ASSET UTILIZATION
ENVIRONMENTAL MODEL AND DATA
BIM MODELS2D/3D MODELS
D IG
IT A
L T
W IN
A D
M IN
IS TR
A TI
O N
INFRASTRUCTURE NAVIGATION ASSET VIEWER ASSET MONITORING IMMERSIVE HMI
MONITORING (IoT PLATFORM)
SC C,
A C
S, C
TC
Io T
SE N
SO R
S
T E
C H
N O
LO G
IC A
L PL
A N
TS IN
T H
E ST
A TI
O N
S
C O
N ST
U C
TI O
N
SI T
E Io
T
…
M O
B IL
E D
IA G
N O
ST IC
S
C O
M M
ER CI
A L
TR A
IN
D IA
G N
O ST
IC S
FI X
ED D
IA G
N O
ST IC
S
VISUALISATION AND ELABORATION OF EVENTS AND STATES
EDGE PROCESSING
DIAGNOSTICS
DEVICE AND FW MGMT
INSPECTIONS (IN PERSON, WITH DRONES…)
WORKFORCE
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMING
MAINTENANCE REGULATIONS AND
STANDARDS
Publication for Railway Undertakings and
Institutional Stakeholders (e.g. EPIR, RINF)
Development
and
Testing
environment
Architectural Landscape
12
MUIF Explorer
Unified Railway Infrastructure Model
13
MUIF Explorer – Unified Railway Infrastructure Model
14
MUIF Explorer – Unified Railway Infrastructure Model
15
Use case
Point clouds and GeoAI
16
Project workflow
MUIF data .laz export .laz to .las conversion
GeoAI Point Cloud
Classification
Classified .las are saved
Classification validated on
New
GeoAI model
Training
the model
Placing the classified .las
Classification revision on
Import and digitisation in
Autodesk Civil3D
Conversion to RECAP format
Upload to ACC Classified Point
Cloud Export
17
Input data
Raw unclassified point clouds
18
Automated classification
• Python script
• Automated classification
19
Manual correction
20
Model training – Toolbox
21
Model training – Toolbox
• Process automation: progressive reduction of manual processing
• Improved precision of the classification of the railway elements
• Significant reduction of the classification time (from 5/8 hours to a few minutes for 300 metres of tracks)
Firts iteration Second iteration Third iteration
22
Central storage in ACC
We used ACC to store all our project files centrally:
• .las scans captured from the plane
23
Central storage in ACC
We used ACC to store all our project files centrally:
• .las scans captured from the plane
• .las scans captured from the train
24
Central storage in ACC
We used ACC to store all our project files centrally:
• .las scans captured from the plane
• .las scans captured from the train
• AutoCAD files
25
Central storage in ACC
We used ACC to store all our project files centrally:
• .las scans captured from the plane
• .las scans captured from the train
• AutoCAD files
• Point clouds published from ReCap
26
Semi-automated BIM model
27
Thank you
Copertine e indici Slide 1 Slide 2 Slide 3 Slide 4
SLIDE fondo scuro Slide 5: The Railways infrastructure Digital Models and the GeoAI use case Slide 6: FSTechnology – BIM&GIS Team Slide 7 Slide 8: A summary of the program Slide 9: Key steps Slide 10: Joint Working Group Slide 11 Slide 12 Slide 13: MUIF Explorer – Unified Railway Infrastructure Model Slide 14 Slide 15 Slide 16: Project workflow Slide 17: Input data Slide 18: Automated classification Slide 19: Manual correction Slide 20: Model training – Toolbox Slide 21: Model training – Toolbox Slide 22: Central storage in ACC Slide 23: Central storage in ACC Slide 24: Central storage in ACC Slide 25: Central storage in ACC Slide 26: Semi-automated BIM model Slide 27