Interoperability in Infrastructure: Lessons from Infraday California 2025

Introduction

Interoperability is emerging as a top priority in infrastructure delivery—and at Infraday California 2025, Avicado moderated a panel session with leaders from CALTRANS, Autodesk, ESRI, and Trimble to explore its real-world impact. This discussion reinforced a critical insight for capital program owners and delivery teams alike: siloed systems and disjointed workflows are no longer sustainable in an era of digital transformation.

The session, which featured real-world examples of innovation and collaboration, emphasized the increasing necessity of connected technology ecosystems. CALTRANS demonstrated how integrating platforms across the infrastructure lifecycle is enabling more efficient project delivery and smarter asset management.

What Is Interoperability in Infrastructure?

At its core, interoperability is the ability of different systems, tools, and teams to exchange and use data seamlessly across the lifecycle of a capital program. In infrastructure, this means connecting design platforms, construction management tools, asset management systems, and geospatial technologies so that information flows without manual re-entry, duplication, or loss of context. Effective interoperability ensures that project data is accessible, consistent, and actionable—from planning and design through construction, operations, and long-term maintenance.

Why Interoperability Matters for Capital Program Owners

Interoperability has evolved from a technical preference into a strategic imperative. Capital program owners face mounting pressure to modernize operations, meet compliance standards, and future-proof their investments. Interoperability delivers measurable benefits in each of these areas:

Improved Visibility: Real-time project and asset data allows owners to move beyond outdated spreadsheets and gain a current, actionable view of their portfolio.
Streamlined Delivery: Data fluidity across teams and systems reduces rework, delays, and budget overruns.
Enhanced Asset Management: Integration with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital twin technologies supports predictive maintenance and lifecycle optimization.
Future-Readiness: Interoperability creates a foundation for adopting emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Regulatory Alignment: Federal programs, including the FHWA’s BIM for Infrastructure (BIM4I) initiative, increasingly expect digital standards, making interoperability essential for compliance.

For owners, interoperability is no longer optional. It is the key to delivering better outcomes across the capital program lifecycle.

Addressing the Human and Organizational Dimensions

While interoperability is often discussed in technical terms, the true challenge lies in managing organizational change. Success depends as much on people and processes as it does on platforms.

Change Management: Long-standing practices and systems must evolve, which requires leadership commitment and effective communication strategies.
Cultural Transformation: Breaking down departmental silos and fostering cross-functional collaboration demands a shift in mindset and behavior.
Training and Enablement: Staff must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to adopt and maximize new tools and integrated workflows.
Data Ownership and Accountability: Clear governance structures are needed to define responsibilities for maintaining data integrity and accuracy.
Cross-Functional Alignment: Achieving true interoperability requires coordination across IT, engineering, operations, and asset management functions.

These non-technical barriers often represent the most significant obstacles to successful interoperability initiatives—but they are surmountable with the right strategy.

Technology Reality Check: Navigating a Multi-Vendor Landscape

Despite growing aspirations for seamless integration, no single vendor currently offers a complete, end-to-end infrastructure solution. The reality is that most owners operate within a diverse and complex technology environment:

Design Software: Solutions like Autodesk Revit or Civil 3D
Field Collaboration Platforms: Tools such as Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud, or Trimble
Asset and Maintenance Systems: CMMS or enterprise asset management platforms
GIS Platforms: ESRI tools for spatial analysis and mapping
Enterprise Systems: Custom or off-the-shelf platforms for finance, scheduling, and documentation

This fragmented landscape reflects the specialized needs of infrastructure programs. Rather than pursuing an elusive “one platform to rule them all,” forward-thinking owners are investing in interoperability strategies that connect these disparate systems through standardized data formats, open APIs, and robust integration frameworks.

The goal is not uniformity—but orchestration. Leaders who embrace this complexity will be best positioned to maximize return on investment, minimize disruptions, and enable agile decision-making.

Data-Driven Validation: Insights from the Dodge SmartMarket Brief

The 2024 SmartMarket Brief from Dodge Construction Network and Avicado offered compelling evidence of the value of connected solutions:

Over 70% of Owners reported improved schedule and budget performance through interoperable systems.
Key Challenges remain—particularly around lack of standards, insufficient technical skills, and resistance to change—but these can be overcome through targeted investments.
BIM and Open Standards are central to progress, enabling collaboration across teams and platforms.
Owner Expectations Are Rising—Technology partners and contractors are increasingly expected to deliver interoperability as a baseline requirement.

These findings underscore what many industry leaders already suspect: interoperability is not just a technological preference—it is a business necessity.

Your Roadmap to Enabling Interoperability

Implementing interoperability across a capital program is a journey that requires a clear strategy, cross-functional coordination, and strong data foundations. While every organization’s needs are different, successful initiatives typically include a few common elements:

Strategic Alignment: Define your goals for interoperability and how they support broader program outcomes—whether that’s lifecycle asset management, project delivery efficiency, or digital compliance.
Data Governance: Establish clear standards, ownership structures, and workflows to ensure data quality and consistency across platforms.
Tech Stack Assessment: Evaluate existing systems to identify integration points and gaps. Prioritize open APIs and standards-based platforms.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Bring together IT, engineering, asset management, and project delivery teams early and often. Interoperability succeeds when responsibilities are shared and outcomes are collective.
Scalable Implementation: Start with pilot initiatives or high-value workflows to demonstrate impact, then scale gradually based on lessons learned.
Training and Change Enablement: Equip staff with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to adopt new systems and processes with confidence.

This roadmap is not one-size-fits-all—but with the right foundation, organizations can unlock significant value from their digital investments and future-proof their capital programs.

How Avicado Helps Owners Navigate the Journey

With over a decade of experience implementing and integrating technology solutions for complex capital programs, Avicado helps owners put interoperability into action. From advisory and integration to governance and asset lifecycle planning, our team bridges the gap between strategy and execution—turning digital goals into operational results.

Conclusion

The consensus at Infraday California 2025 was clear: the future of infrastructure lies in connected ecosystems, not isolated platforms. CALTRANS and others are proving that bold collaboration and thoughtful implementation can transform how public and private owners manage infrastructure investments.

As interoperability becomes the foundation for innovation, resilience, and accountability, owners must act with urgency and clarity. Avicado stands ready to guide that journey—helping clients unlock the full potential of their technology investments.

About Avicado

Avicado Construction Technology Services empowers owners and program managers to realize the benefits of digital transformation. Our team provides end-to-end support in technology consulting, system integration, data management, and lifecycle asset management. By enabling connected workflows and sustainable data strategies, we help clients deliver infrastructure projects that are smarter, faster, and more resilient.

References

1. Dodge Construction Network (2024). Connected Construction: The Interoperability Imperative – SmartMarket Brief. [Link]
2. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). BIM for Infrastructure (BIM4I) Program Overview. [Link]
3. Autodesk. Autodesk Construction Cloud – Owner Solutions. [Link]
4. ESRI. GIS for Infrastructure and Public Works. [Link]
5. Trimble. Connected Construction Solutions. [Link]
6. Procore. Owner-Focused Construction Platform Features. [Link]