KUCHING: The Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak (MPHLG), in collaboration with the Technological Association Malaysia (Sarawak Branch), BIMAGE Consulting (M) Sdn Bhd and Autodesk Malaysia, successfully organised a workshop titled "Digital Planning & BIM for MPHLG Sarawak: Integrated Urban & Infrastructure Planning using Autodesk Forma, InfraWorks & Revit" on Thursday at the Grand Margherita Hotel, Kuching.

The workshop was officiated by Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak (MPHLG) Desmond Douglas Jerukan.

Also in attendance were Working Organising Committee Chairman of the Technological Association Malaysia (Sarawak Branch) Ir. Jasmeer Zaisufir Sufian and Chief Executive Officer of BIMAGE Consulting (M) Sdn Bhd Donahue Chong.

Their presence reflected the strong commitment of Ministry, professional bodies and industry partners towards advancing digital transformation and innovation in urban and infrastructure planning across Sarawak.

The exclusive workshop was specially designed for officers, planners, architects, engineers and technical personnel from MPHLG Sarawak and Local Authorities to gain practical exposure to the latest digital planning that are transforming urban development and infrastructure planning worldwide.

As cities continue to face increasing challenges related to urbanisation, sustainability, infrastructure delivery, climate resilience and development coordination, digital technologies have become essential tools for supporting better planning decisions.

The workshop introduced participants to integrated digital workflows that enable data-driven planning, enhanced collaboration, improved visualisation and more efficient project evaluation.

Participants gained hands-on experience with Autodesk Forma, InfraWorks and Revit, exploring how these solutions can support the entire planning and development lifecycle from early-stage conceptual planning through detailed BIM design and infrastructure coordination.

The workshop demonstrated how Autodesk Forma leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI), environmental analysis and urban simulation capabilities to support informed planning decisions during the conceptual stage.

Participants learned how planners can evaluate development proposals through digital massing studies, sustainability assessments, solar analysis, wind studies and contextual urban design reviews.

The programme also showcased Autodesk InfraWorks for infrastructure planning and visualisation, enabling the integration of roads, terrain, GIS data, drainage corridors, utilities and surrounding developments into a unified digital environment.

This integrated approach allowed infrastructure and building developments to be assessed holistically, supporting smarter development control, mobility planning and sustainable city growth.

In addition, participants explored Autodesk Revit, the industry's leading BIM platform, to understand how approved planning concepts can transition seamlessly into detailed BIM workflows for design coordination, visualisation, documentation and multidisciplinary collaboration.

The workshop reflected a shared commitment towards strengthening digital capabilities within the public sector and supporting the wider adoption of digital planning methodologies across Sarawak.

By equipping planners and technical personnel with modern digital tools and workflows, the initiative contributed towards enhancing planning efficiency, improving decision-making quality and supporting the development of more sustainable, resilient and future-ready communities in Sarawak. - UKASnews

Prepared by: Ryan Lim