Portcoast & HUCE Co-Host Seminar on Railway Digital Transformation

By giaoduc.net.vn - 11/04/2025

On April 11, 2025, Portcoast and Hanoi University of Civil Engineering co-hosted the seminar “Digital Transformation for Railway Infrastructure.” As a pioneer in applying digital technologies to transport infrastructure, Portcoast has long focused on research and implementation of digital solutions for the railway sector. The seminar is part of the collaboration between Portcoast and HUCE, aligning with the directions of the Party and Government in the 13th National Party Congress Resolution and Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW on railway development strategies.

With the desire to share knowledge, trends, and modern digital technology applications in the railway sector—one of the country's key infrastructure areas—on the morning of April 11, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (HUCE) coordinated with Portcoast Consultant Corporation to organize the scientific and technological seminar “Digital Transformation for Railway Infrastructure.”

Attending the seminar were Mr. Nguyễn Cao Lục – Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Ports, Waterways and Continental Shelf; Mr. Nguyễn Cao Minh – Director of Hanoi Urban Railway Management Board; Mr. Trần Tấn Phúc – Chairman of the Board of Directors of PORTCOAST...

From the side of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, there were Associate Professor, Dr. Hoàng Tùng – Rector of the university; Associate Professor, Dr. Bùi Phú Doanh – Vice Rector; along with faculty members, department and office leaders, affiliated units, and students from relevant disciplines.

The seminar also welcomed representatives from the Ministry of Construction—the State management agency for the transport sector, including railway transport; project managers from high-speed railway and urban railway projects; scientists; representatives of ministries, professional associations, and enterprises.

At the seminar, leading experts discussed and shared about digital transformation trends in railway infrastructure, modern surveying technology applications in railway surveying, BIM (Building Information Modeling) and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) integration in design and infrastructure operation, and exemplary projects currently being implemented in Vietnam.

Opening the seminar, Associate Professor, Dr. Bùi Phú Doanh – Vice Rector of HUCE emphasized that today's seminar carries special significance.

The Vice Rector of HUCE shared that less than four months ago, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. Accordingly, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation are identified as top strategic breakthroughs and foundations for fast and sustainable national development in the new era. This is not only a strategic orientation but also an urgent call for mindset and action across all sectors and levels.

The transportation sector, including railway infrastructure—especially high-speed and urban railways—is identified as a key area that must take the lead in this process. Railways, as the backbone of national transport, are now facing a significant opportunity to transform through the application of digital technologies, information modeling, and integrated information management.

"Today's seminar is a collaboration between the university and Portcoast Consultant Corporation, a pioneer in applying BIM, GIS, and digital survey technologies in Vietnam...

The seminar is a professional forum for connection and future shaping. I believe that with the participation of leading experts, managers, and enterprises, today’s seminar will be a rich academic and applied platform, a launchpad for interdisciplinary cooperation and school-enterprise partnerships, contributing practically to the national digital transformation goals in the fields of transportation and construction," expressed Associate Professor, Dr. Bùi Phú Doanh.

At the seminar, Mr. Trần Tấn Phúc – Chairman of the Board of PORTCOAST presented a keynote report, sharing the latest technologies being applied in Vietnam and around the world. Including 5 main topics:

Digital transformation trends in railway infrastructure.

Application of modern survey technology in railway infrastructure digitalization.

Application of BIM (Building Information Modeling) and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for the railway sector.

Introduction of exemplary BIM – GIS projects in Vietnam.

Future directions for digital technology application in railway projects in Vietnam.

Accordingly, BIM is the process of digitally managing the entire life cycle of a project—from design and construction to operation. According to ISO 19650, BIM helps standardize information, enhance transparency, optimize management, reduce design errors, and improve maintenance performance.

GIS is a technology for collecting, managing, analyzing, and visualizing geographic spatial data. GIS supports digitalizing planning maps, urban and transportation management, resource integration, and enables quick, accurate decision-making.

BIM optimizes design – GIS manages spatial data; when combined, these systems enable intuitive simulations, enhance analytical capabilities, support accurate decisions, enable effective urban and infrastructure management, and optimize real-time operations.

Regarding future digital technology applications in railway projects in Vietnam, Mr. Phúc proposed several recommendations, including:

First, applying digital technology in design, construction, and operation management. Implement BIM and GIS to build digital data systems serving design, construction management, and operation. This enhances spatial analysis capabilities, optimizes design, and ensures tight control of construction and operations.

Second, applying digital survey technologies to build as-built digital models (as-built BIM), and establishing a GIS 3D database platform. Use 3D scanning technologies (Laser Scanning, LiDAR, UAV Photogrammetry) to digitize current infrastructure. This digital data supports construction quality control, monitoring, maintenance, and operations.

Third, developing digital model platforms and collaborating with technology providers: applying Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Digital Twin technologies based on BIM-GIS data. Work with technology partners to enhance management and operational capabilities.

After the presentations, experts, managers, and scientists discussed related issues. The “Digital Transformation for Railway Infrastructure” scientific and technological seminar concluded successfully, providing valuable insights and opening new perspectives and collaboration opportunities between universities, enterprises, and researchers.

Source: giaoduc.net.vn