Japanese Firm and Indian Data Platform Partner on AI for Smart Cities

, and DataKaveri Systems, backed by the Indian Institute of Science, have signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate construction data into AI applications for smart cities. The agreement focuses on linking ONESTRUCTION's openBIM platform, based on the IFC standard, with DataKaveri's Intelligent Universal Data Exchange, which operates in 55 Indian smart cities covering mobility, utilities, environment, and public services.

The collaboration seeks to make construction data, including floor plans, utility layouts, and asset histories, available for city-scale AI and digital twins, rather than remaining isolated after projects end. The signing occurred on the sidelines of the inaugural Japan-India AI Strategic Dialogue, a bilateral initiative for AI and data infrastructure cooperation.

Lucas Haywood, vice president of global strategy at ONESTRUCTION, stated that the partnership could enable standardized building data to be used in broader city contexts. Ashok Krishnan, vice president of commercial business and revenue at the Centre of Data for Public Good and DataKaveri, said the construction industry holds extensive data that typically stays within individual projects.

“The construction industry as sitting on 'a goldmine of data' that rarely travels beyond the boundaries of individual projects.”

The organizations plan to explore AI use cases combining construction and urban datasets, seek bilateral funding, and consider replicating the model internationally.

ONESTRUCTION is based in Tottori, Japan, and specializes in open-standard built environment data. DataKaveri is the commercial arm of the Indian Institute of Science's Centre of Data for Public Good in Bengaluru. The partnership addresses the issue of construction data becoming inaccessible after building projects conclude, aiming to support urban planning through integrated data flows.