The document summarizes key findings from a survey of 490 public infrastructure leaders from 7 countries conducted by Accenture. Some of the main findings include: - 80% of respondents expected increased infrastructure investments in the next 1-2 years. - Top challenges for digital aspects of projects included lack of data strategies and incentives, and limited interest in data-driven transformation. - Top technologies planned for investment were cloud platforms, blockchain, and robotic process automation. - Developing a holistic strategy balancing short and long-term goals was identified as a key pillar for success.

1. Public infrastructure
Survey insights

2. Public infrastructure survey insights
Accenture conducted a survey backed
by in-depth interviews with 490 public
infrastructure leaders around the world.
We asked them about their predictions
for investments and action in a post-
pandemic environment.
New levels of funding for these projects
provide unique opportunities to propel
agencies into the digital age, developing
infrastructures that are resident-focused,
secure, sustainable, and resilient.

3. Public infrastructure,
particularly transportation
agencies, have a once-in-
a-generation opportunity.
of the public infrastructure
experts we asked expected
a spending increase for
infrastructure investments
in the next one to two years.
80%
Public infrastructure survey insights

4. What are the main challenges you’ve encountered, if any, relating to digital aspects
of recently completed infrastructure projects?
We believe that despite the daunting challenges…
Public infrastructure survey insights
23%
23%
23%
22%
21%
21%
20%
20%
19%
19%
18%
17%
17%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
Absence of incentives to build data-driven digital value
Limited interest and patience within project teams to drive…
Poor data quality that can be used for drawing critical and…
Absence of a strategy and skills to build and deploy…
Poor digital preparedness at the level of contractors and…
Limited interest and patience within stakeholders to drive…
Absence of a stakeholder-driven strategy to execute data-…
Mismatches between tasks to be addressed and choice of…
Lack of clear business case to drive a digital transformation
Over-dependence on a limited number of subject matter…
Poor digital maturity of partners
Poor interoperability between digital platforms and digital…
Siloed data across multiple functions
Other
Absence of incentives to build data-driven digital value
Limited interest and patience within project teams to drive data-driven digital transformation
Poor data quality that can be used for drawing critical and operational insights
Absence of a strategy and skills to build and deploy actionable insights with digital technologies
Poor digital preparedness at the level of contractors and workforce being hired by them
Limited interest and patience within stakeholders to drive data-driven digital transformation
Absence of stakeholder-driven strategy to execute data-driven digital transformation across the
project value chain
Mismatches between tasks to be addressed and choice of digital technologies
Lack of clear business case to drive a digital transformation
Over-dependence on a limited number of subject matter experts (SMEs)
Poor digital maturity of partners
Poor interoperability between digital platforms and digital tools across the value chain
Siloed data across multiple functions
Other

5. Please identify the top three digital technologies and applications your organization
plans to invest in during the period from 2022 to 2026.
…now is the right time to invest in digital platforms
Public infrastructure survey insights
46%
41%
36%
30%
30%
27%
24%
23%
22%
21%
Cloud Platforms/SaaS
Blockchain
Robotic Process Automation
Machine Learning
Design Automation
Worker Wearables & IoT
Digital Twins & Project Simulation
Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality
(VR), or Mixed/Hybrid Reality (MR)
Advanced Data Analytics (including video
analytics)
Sentiment Monitoring Analytics
Other
Blockchain
Robotic process automation
Cloud Platforms/SaaS
Other
Sentiment monitoring analytics
Advanced data analytics (including video
analytics)
Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR),
or mixed/hybrid reality (MR)
Digital twins & project simulation
Worker wearables & IoT
Design automation
Machine learning

6. Our research revealed that by adopting three key pillars,
agencies can use the new influx of funding to create digital
transformation momentum that fast-forwards progress to
tomorrow’s smart infrastructures.
Pillar 1 Pillar 2 Pillar 3
Public infrastructure survey insights

7. Pillar 1
When agencies prioritize investments, they must consider not
just cost, but also longer-term metrics spanning sustainability,
security, and efficiency, along with citizen experience.
New intelligent platforms can enable public infrastructure
agencies to simultaneously address their top-three pain
points across ongoing projects:
• Regulatory & compliance
• Operations & maintenance
• Prioritizing projects
Develop a holistic strategy
that balances short-term and
long-term transformation
Public infrastructure survey insights: Pillar 1

8. Which of the following were pain points for your organization while executing the most
recently completed capital project?
Public infrastructure survey insights: Pillar 1
41%
37%
37%
36%
36%
31%
29%
28%
27%
Regulatory & compliance
Operations and maintenance
Prioritizing projects
Data availability, quality and sharing
Meeting sustainability goals
Securing funding/budgeting constraints
Quickly identifying project
objectives/project ideation
Contracts & procurement
Achieving consensus and/or legislative
approval
Other
Operations and maintenance
Prioritizing projects
Regulatory & compliance
Achieving consensus and/or legislative
approval
Other
Contracts & procurement
Quickly identifying project
objectives/project ideation
Securing funding/budgeting constraints
Meeting sustainability goals
Data availability, quality and sharing

9. Public infrastructure survey insights: Pillar 1
To what extent do ESG (environmental, social, governance) considerations drive your
agency’s digital investment decisions?
Meeting sustainability goals can be a pain point, but also drives
digital decisions.
of public infrastructure
leaders say their organization
considers ESG at least to
some extent when making
digital investment decisions.
85%
0.47
0.37
0.15
ESG goals are the main
consideration when making
digital investment decisions
ESG goals are taken into
consideration to some extent
when making digital
investment decisions
ESG goals are not considered
when making digital
investment decisions
ESG goals are the main
consideration when making
digital investment decisions
ESG goals are taken into
consideration to some extent
when making digital
investment decisions
ESG goals are not considered
when making digital
investment decisions

10. Pillar 2
Anticipate and architect the future role of data in your
organization.
Assess the quality and availability of current data to
identify gaps and necessary governance.
Explore innovative uses of digital tools to deliver real
results.
Reimagine the role of data
and digital in infrastructure
Public infrastructure survey insights: Pillar 2

11. Public infrastructure survey insights: Pillar 2
What has driven changes in digital investments over the past 12 months?
Security tops digital investments.
40%
37%
34%
33%
33%
28%
24%
24%
22%
21%
Security & safety
Customer expectations
Increased need for predictive
capabilities
Sustainability goals
Overall agency digital
transformation
Cost or efficiency transformation
Agency needs due to the impact
of COVID-19
Targeted improvement
programs/new service goals
Citizen needs arising from the
impact of COVID-19
Failing legacy equipment
Other
Don’t know
Security & safety
Don’t know
Other
Failing legacy equipment
Citizen needs arising from the
impact of COVID-19
Targeted improvement
programs/new service goals
Agency needs due to the impact
of COVID-19
Cost or efficiency transformation
Overall agency digital
transformation
Sustainability goals
Increased need for predictive
capabilities
Customer expectations

12. Public infrastructure survey insights: Pillar 2
How are public infrastructure agencies preparing for cyberattacks?
During the 2017 to 2021 period for executing capital infrastructure projects, which of the following
digital technologies and applications has your organization deployed for cybersecurity?
Q6_4
17%
18%
19%
19%
20%
21%
23%
23%
26%
31%
Design automation
Sentiment monitoring analysis
Machine learning
Robotic Process Automation
Digital twins/project simulation
Worker wearables/IoT
Advanced Data Analytics
(including video analytics)
Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual
Reality (VR), or Mixed/Hybrid…
Blockchain
Cloud platforms/SaaS
Cloud platforms/SaaS
Blockchain
Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality
(VR), or mixed/hybrid reality (MR)
Advanced data analytics
(including video analytics)
Worker wearables/IoT
Digital twins/project simulation
Robotic process automation
Machine learning
Sentiment monitoring analysis
Design automation

13. “It’s making me realize […]
how important data is. When
I think about the RFPs we’ve
won and when I think about the
projects that we actually carry
out, most of the discussion and
debate is on data, it’s less
about tools now.”
– Infrastructure leader interview (Canada)
Public infrastructure survey insights: Pillar 2

14. Pillar 3
Infrastructure projects bring together multiple players
and considerations.
Break down industry silos with a collaborative approach
designed to deliver on the end-user’s needs in the long
term.
Bring together ecosystem
partners to maximize impact
and minimize risk
Public infrastructure survey insights: Pillar 3

15. Periods of increased infrastructure
spending are generally few and far
between. And they are windows of
opportunity that will not stay
open forever.
The keys to take advantage? A balanced
digital strategy, comprehensive data
preparation and smart partnerships.
The window of
opportunity
Public infrastructure survey insights

16. About this research
Accenture Research surveyed 490
infrastructure leaders globally during June
and July 2021. Respondents included
leaders at the federal, provincial and
municipal levels from seven different
countries (Singapore, Australia, Canada,
Japan, Spain, UK, US).
The survey sample predominantly came
from the transportation sector, but also
included some respondents from public
buildings (excluding hospitals and
schools), utilities, public works, etc.
To supplement these survey results,
Accenture also conducted six interviews
of agency leaders to gain more detailed
insights into the challenges and outcomes
of digitally enabled infrastructure projects.
Public infrastructure survey insights

17. About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more
than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and
Intelligent Operations centers. Our 674,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace
the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com
Contact us
Ryan Oakes
Senior Managing Director
Strategy and Consulting,
Global Public Service
Jenny Brodie
Research Senior Manager
Accenture Research
State and Local Government
Stephen Zoegall
Director
Consulting,
Cities, Transport and Infrastructure