Target Audience

• UN Agencies, e.g., UN-Habitat
• African Development Bank
• Ecowas
• Professional Bodies, e.g., The Order of Civil Engineers, Commonwealth Association of Architects
• Developers and Real Estate Companies
• Architects and Urban Designers
• General Contractors and Subcontractors
• Building Inspectors and Technical Control Experts
• BIM Consultants and Specialists
• Construction Technology Companies
• Affordable Housing Advocates
• Indigenous Housing Groups
• Municipal, Provincial, and Federal Government Housing Agencies
• City Planners and Urban Development Authorities
• Regulatory Bodies
• Any BIM, Digital Twins, AI Enthusiasts

Course Summary

Africa is at a pivotal moment, facing immense challenges in closing infrastructure gaps and meeting the surging demand for affordable and sustainable housing. Rapid urbanization and population growth continue to outpace development efforts, exacerbated by limited resources, unplanned urban sprawl, and the urgent need for climate-resilient solutions. Digital technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) offer a transformative pathway to address these challenges, optimizing the design, construction, and management of infrastructure and housing projects.

Despite the introduction of policy-driven initiatives—such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), African Smart Cities Initiative, Agenda 2063, the Africa Infrastructure Development Programme (PIDA), and the Africa Manifesto for Sustainable Cities and the Built Environment—the practical implementation of these technologies remains a major gap. The “how” of integrating BIM and AI into real-world projects is often overlooked, compounded by weak institutions that fail to empower young graduates, policymakers, and professionals to fully participate in the digital transformation of Africa’s built environment.

This workshop program is designed to bridge this gap by equipping African professionals, policymakers, and organizations with practical tools, methodologies, and best practices for leveraging BIM and AI in infrastructure and housing development. Participants will gain a strong theoretical foundation, develop a clear understanding of BIM and AI concepts, and explore their application in addressing Africa’s unique challenges—from resource optimization and cost reduction to climate adaptation and sustainability.

By drawing from real-world case studies from across Africa and beyond, the program will emphasize context-specific solutions that align with the continent’s development priorities. Through interactive, hands-on demonstrations, participants will discover how BIM and AI can revolutionize project planning, execution, and lifecycle management, ensuring that Africa’s cities and infrastructure evolve into greener, smarter, and more resilient environments.

Course Facilitator

The workshop will be led by Professor Henry Abanda, the Smart Green Building and City Lead at Fokabs Inc. With over 12 years of academic and industry experience, he has been at the forefront of integrating BIM and AI into construction practice. Henry has delivered BIM and AI training and consultancy services to universities and companies across multiple countries, including the UK, Spain, France, Canada, Germany, India, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, etc. His expertise spans sustainable building design, digital construction, and smart city development.

Henry holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics & Physics, a Diplôme d’Ingénieur in Civil Engineering, an MA in Monitoring & Evaluation, and a PGCert (Distinction) in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. He earned a PhD in Construction IT and an Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) in Digital Construction Technology. Additionally, he is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Course Coordinator

For enquiries, please send e-mail to [email protected]

Course Fee

250 USD

Language

• French and English

Course Content

• Context/Motivation
• Overview of BIM and AI
• Concept of BIM and AI for Infrastructure
• BIM & AI for Infrastructure
• Case Study Projects
• Lessons Learned

Training Schedule