AI-Driven Data Centre Developments: Infrastructure Challenges and BIM-Based Data Integration

The rise of artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the design, construction and operation of data centres, while digital information management solutions are playing an increasingly important role.

Discover the challenges facing AI data centre developments and how BIM, Digital Twin, Scan-to-BIM and the ISO 19650 standard can help address them. We also explain how AFMTEC Services Kft., acting as an independent BIM integrator, supports clients in creating an auditable digital information asset with long-term value and reducing investment risks.

The expansion of data centres is ushering in a new era of infrastructure

The rapid development of artificial intelligence has given new momentum to data centre developments worldwide, and this trend is becoming increasingly apparent in Central and Eastern Europe as well. Training generative AI and machine-learning models requires enormous computing capacity, which is being further increased by the growing number of inference workloads. As a result, traditional enterprise server rooms are becoming less and less capable of meeting these requirements economically and reliably.

International market forecasts clearly indicate the pace of growth. By the end of the decade, global data centre capacity is expected to double, while infrastructure designed to support AI workloads is likely to expand even faster. McKinsey estimates that by 2030, the combined capacity demand of AI and conventional computing workloads could almost triple, while AI alone may account for approximately 70% of total demand. Synergy Research Group has reached a similar conclusion: according to its analysis, the total capacity of hyperscale data centres may likewise approach a threefold increase. Meanwhile, the value of the market is expected to exceed USD 500 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of between 15% and 20%.

The energy demand of data centres is increasing alongside their computing capacity. According to the International Energy Agency, their global electricity consumption could double by 2030 and approach 945 TWh. The energy consumption of accelerated servers supporting AI workloads may grow even faster, potentially increasing by as much as 30% per year.

At the same time, the map of the European data centre market is also continuously changing. Energy supply, land availability and permitting constraints in Western European regions are directing an increasing number of investments towards new locations, creating significant opportunities for Central and Eastern Europe as well. Success, however, depends on numerous factors: adequate electrical capacity, modern fibre-optic infrastructure, predictable permitting processes, qualified professionals and standardised information management are all essential.

Why are traditional construction and FM approaches no longer sufficient?

Modern data centres are among the most complex cyber-physical infrastructures in the world. The building, power supply, uninterruptible power systems, cooling, network connections, physical security and IT environment are closely interconnected. Reliable operation requires every element to work in coordination, whether the facility is experiencing a change in load, undergoing maintenance or responding to an unexpected failure.

One of the most important efficiency metrics for data centres is PUE, or Power Usage Effectiveness, which compares total energy consumption with the energy demand of the IT equipment. The closer this value is to 1, the lower the losses generated by the supporting infrastructure. However, the metric alone is not sufficient to identify problems. Temperature, airflow, cooling-system performance, rack loads, electrical consumption and equipment condition data are all required.

Operating such complex facilities requires unified information management. A BIM-based digital ecosystem enables all relevant data to be available in a structured form within the same environment. This provides a reliable foundation for data-driven operations and rapid, informed decision-making.

This is where AFMTEC Services Kft. assumes a strategic role as an independent BIM integrator and consultant. Its experts coordinate client requirements, design models, information generated during construction and operational systems. The result is a unified database that supports efficient operation and informed decision-making throughout the building’s entire lifecycle.

The value of a data centre lies in the building and its digital information asset together

A data centre development can only be considered truly successful if, at handover, a reliable and up-to-date digital information asset is available alongside the physical facility. This asset contains information relating to the location, relationships, performance, redundancy, manufacturer data, warranty conditions and maintenance requirements of the systems. Without this information, operations begin with incomplete data from the very first day, creating significant long-term risks.

Data centres are constantly changing. New racks, network devices and cooling solutions are introduced, while evolving client requirements and technological developments make regular capacity expansions necessary. The cost, safety and predictability of any intervention depend largely on how accurate an understanding the operator has of the existing infrastructure and available capacities.

BIM-based data integration accompanies the entire investment lifecycle, from design through to operation. Cost, scheduling and performance data can be linked to the models, while the as-built condition and any modifications made during construction can also be tracked. At handover, all relevant information is transferred to the operator in a structured form, linked to individual assets and rooms. This ensures that the investment continues to support faster decision-making, more efficient operation and cost optimisation over the long term.

As an independent BIM integrator, AFMTEC Services Kft. supports its clients in ensuring that the completed investment delivers not only a modern data centre, but also a structured and auditable digital information asset that provides a long-term foundation for efficient operation and future developments.

1. Real-time thermodynamic and energy optimisation using a Digital Twin

Cooling server farms accounts for a significant proportion of data centre operating costs, which means that effective heat dissipation is one of the key factors in energy-efficient operation. The increasing power density of AI accelerators also requires a new approach to cooling design. A data hall operating under partial load, a sudden increase in computing demand or a cooling branch being unavailable due to maintenance can all create entirely different operating conditions.

According to an analysis by the Uptime Institute, traditional perimeter cooling typically operates efficiently up to rack loads of 20–25 kW. At higher power densities, hybrid or full liquid-cooling solutions are increasingly required, which is why the use of direct liquid cooling continues to expand.

Efficient operation depends on the physical infrastructure and digital data remaining continuously aligned. A BIM-based Digital Twin connects the three-dimensional model with information received from BMS, DCIM, CAFM and IoT systems. Operators can therefore monitor changes in temperature, energy consumption, airflow, pressure, rack load and equipment condition in real time.

A properly developed Digital Twin supports the rapid identification of hot spots, the optimisation of cooling capacity and the planning of maintenance activities. Accurate and up-to-date data enables informed decisions, allowing operators to respond to changing conditions in good time and reduce the risk of failures.

AFMTEC Services Kft. supports its clients in establishing data-driven operations through BIM-based facility management models and real-time Digital Twin solutions. Its experts create a unified information environment in which geometric, technical, warranty, maintenance and performance data generated throughout the building’s lifecycle are available in a structured and up-to-date form. This provides a reliable foundation for more efficient operation, faster decision-making and long-term cost optimisation.

2. Extreme MEP density and the Scan-to-BIM methodology

The raised floors, suspended ceilings and service corridors of data centres conceal extremely complex infrastructure. Fibre-optic cables, power networks, busbar systems, cooling-circuit pipework, sensors, fire protection systems and structural elements all run through the same spaces. These systems are often installed within highly restricted areas for installation and maintenance, meaning that even a minor design or construction error can cause a critical outage, or downtime.

The increasing power density of racks further intensifies this challenge. Direct liquid cooling is being used more frequently for high-load systems, introducing additional pipework, distribution units, redundant branches and inspection points into server rooms. It is therefore especially important that the digital model accurately reflects the as-built condition.

The Scan-to-BIM process plays a key role in achieving this. Laser scanning and other reality-capture technologies are used to generate accurate spatial data from which a verified BIM model can be created. However, geometric accuracy alone is not sufficient to produce a usable result. A unified coordinate system, asset identifiers, a defined data structure, model validation and consistent change management are also required.

As an independent BIM integrator, AFMTEC Services Kft. focuses primarily on process management, Scan-to-BIM data integration and BIM-based support for Facility Management. It converts the as-built model into an operational BIM model that also contains the information required for daily operation, maintenance and future developments.

As a result, operators can rely on an accurate spatial database during a capacity expansion, rack replacement or MEP modification. This significantly reduces the risk of damaging existing cabling, pipework or other critical infrastructure, while clash detection can identify potential problems before construction begins.

3. International information management and ISO 19650 compliance

Global technology companies, cloud service providers and institutional investors are frequently involved in data centre developments. For these organisations, data security, access management, version control and standardised information management are fundamental requirements. An incorrect model version, incomplete asset data or an inadequately documented approval can represent a significant business risk.

The implementation of BIM therefore extends far beyond the adoption of new software. During the project preparation phase, it is necessary to define what information the client and operator will require, who will be responsible for creating and verifying the data, which Common Data Environment will be used for the work, and how information will be transferred from the project model into a database suitable for operational use.

ISO 19650-2 governs information management during the design and construction phases, while ISO 19650-3 focuses on operational processes. In the case of a data centre, the continuous flow of information between the two phases is particularly important. This allows operators to begin their work at handover with a structured, searchable and maintainable digital information asset.

AFMTEC Services Kft. supports its clients in implementing the BIM methodology at organisational level through unified and standardised information management processes. This may include assessing existing operations, developing OIR, AIR, EIR and BEP requirements, regulating the Common Data Environment, defining responsibilities, creating the necessary templates, training employees and supporting internal control processes.

AFMTEC is the first company in Hungary to offer comprehensive preparation for internationally accredited BIM certification at management-system level based on the requirements of ISO 19650-2. It is important to emphasise that ISO 19650 is not itself a management-system standard. Corporate certification is based on UNI/PdR 74:2019, which applies the principles of ISO 19650-2 and provides an internationally recognised framework.

The preparation programme also provides an opportunity to obtain international NQA certification, which credibly demonstrates an organisation’s BIM maturity and may provide a significant competitive advantage in international projects and high-value tenders.

Our experts also support clients in achieving compliance with ISO 19650-3. In cooperation with one of Hungary’s largest certification organisations, they guide clients through the entire preparation process, from the initial assessment and preparation of documentation through internal audits to the successful completion of certification.

4. The risk-reducing effect of the independent integrator role

In a data centre investment, the objectives of the main contractor and the client are not necessarily opposed, but their priorities may differ. For the contractor, deadlines, budget and handover are decisive factors; for the owner, long-term operability, expandability and the usability of the complete information asset are equally important.

Without independent control, the facility may be physically completed while the information required for operation remains incomplete or unreliable.

To mitigate capital risk, it is therefore advisable to involve an independent BIM integrator and a quality assurance and quality control, or QA/QC, specialist. Their role extends beyond merely running clash detection. They must verify the compliance of models and data, version-control and approval processes, the fulfilment of requirements, the traceability of changes, and whether the as-built and operational models are genuinely suitable for their defined purposes.

A central proposition of AFMTEC’s service model is that, among BIM integrators in Hungary, it is exceptionally well positioned—and, in its own assessment, the most flexible—to join the project team as an independent expert, combining the roles of integrator and BIM ISO 19650 specialist. Its purely integrator-focused profile enables it to align processes with the client’s information and lifecycle objectives, independently of the interests of designers, contractors or software suppliers.

AFMTEC’s principal client groups include large corporations, investors, industrial facilities, power plants, manufacturing companies, and the owners and operators of office buildings. For these clients, the integrator’s independence provides assurance that they will receive an auditable, structured and reusable information asset at handover.

This information asset supports data-driven decision-making, energy optimisation, maintenance, expansion and risk management throughout the building’s entire lifecycle.

The strategic role of BIM in data centre development

In AI-driven data centre developments, BIM has become one of the project’s fundamental tools. Power supply, cooling systems, redundancy, high-density MEP systems and continuous availability can only operate efficiently if information is managed through unified, standardised and auditable processes.

As an independent BIM integrator, AFMTEC Services Kft. connects client requirements with the data generated during design, construction and operation. The result is a digital ecosystem that supports efficient operation, informed decision-making and future developments throughout the data centre’s entire lifecycle.

When constructing a new data centre, expanding capacity or digitising an existing facility, it is advisable to involve AFMTEC’s experts as early as the preparation phase. This ensures that information management requirements become an integral part of the investment strategy and accompany the project throughout its entire lifecycle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is BIM particularly important in data centre development?

Because the electrical, cooling, network and security systems of a data centre are extremely dense and operate in close interdependence. BIM makes these systems verifiable within a unified spatial and information environment.

What is the difference between a BIM model and a Digital Twin?

A BIM model provides the structured geometric and technical information foundation of the facility. A Digital Twin connects this foundation with real-time or regularly updated operational data, allowing the facility’s actual performance to be analysed.

How does Scan-to-BIM reduce the risk of downtime?

By accurately surveying the actual condition, it identifies the location of existing cables, pipes, equipment and structures. Expansions and maintenance activities can therefore be planned using verified data.

What does PUE mean, and how does BIM support its optimisation?

PUE is the ratio between the total energy consumption of a data centre and the energy demand of its IT equipment. A BIM-based Digital Twin helps spatially connect energy, temperature and load data, making it possible to identify the causes of energy losses.

What is the difference between ISO 19650-2 and ISO 19650-3?

ISO 19650-2 applies to information management during the design and construction phases, while ISO 19650-3 applies to the operational phase. In the case of a data centre, the continuous and controlled transfer of information between the two phases is particularly important.

Why is it beneficial to involve an independent BIM integrator?

Because an independent integrator represents the client’s information and lifecycle interests while verifying the data supplied by project participants. This ensures that handover delivers not only a completed building, but also a usable and auditable information asset.