In a pivotal moment for Singapore's technological future, Assistant Professor Gun Kim from Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) underscored the indispensable role of civil engineering in realizing the nation's ambitions to become a global artificial intelligence (AI) hub. Speaking at the Korea-Singapore AI Connect Summit on March 2, 2026, Asst Prof Kim engaged directly with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, emphasizing how robust infrastructure underpins AI advancement. The event marked the launch of a bilateral AI alliance, with Seoul committing US$300 million (S$382 million) to a global fund in Singapore by 2030, fostering joint research and innovation.

Asst Prof Kim highlighted the need for large-scale power facilities, data centers, and sustainable structures to support compute-intensive AI workloads. He proposed deeper ties with Korean construction firms in Singapore, including an AI-Construction Centre and a Centre for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Infrastructure, to amplify synergy between the two nations. This vision aligns seamlessly with Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0), which positions AI as a strategic imperative for economic growth and public good.

The summit, attended by 150 AI leaders, venture capitalists, and officials including Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, adopted seven memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on AI in autonomous driving and public safety. It signals Singapore's gateway role to Southeast Asia, backed by over S$1 billion in government investment from 2025 to 2030 for AI R&D and talent development.

Profile of Asst Prof Gun Kim: Pioneering Ultrasound for Smart Infrastructure

Gun Kim, the Tan Swan Beng Endowed Assistant Professor at NTU CEE, brings a unique blend of expertise in structural engineering, nondestructive evaluation (NDE), and sustainability. Holding a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (2016), his career spans wave propagation, natural hazards monitoring, and renewable energy applications. With over 30 first-authored papers, publications in PNAS and JACS, and six patents, Kim leads the Cross Ultrasound Research Laboratory (CURE Lab).

CURE Lab specializes in nonlinear ultrasound techniques to monitor cement-based materials, detecting carbonation, chloride corrosion, and microstructural changes in concrete. Recent work incorporates deep learning for concrete segmentation, bridging traditional civil engineering with AI for predictive maintenance in smart cities. This AI-enhanced NDE is crucial for durable infrastructure supporting AI data centers, where structural integrity under high loads is paramount.

Awards like the Early Career Investigator Grant from the Acoustical Society of America underscore his impact. Since joining NTU in January 2025, Kim has elevated the school's global profile, coinciding with CEE's #9 QS ranking in Civil and Structural Engineering 2025.

NTU School of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Global Powerhouse

NTU CEE stands as a beacon in higher education, ranked 9th globally by QS 2025 and 3rd in Asia for Civil and Structural Engineering. The school's research spans smart construction, sustainable urban development, and resilient infrastructure, perfectly poised for the AI era.

Faculty like Asst Prof Kim contribute to interdisciplinary efforts, preparing students for roles in AI-integrated civil projects. NTU's emphasis on industry partnerships ensures graduates are equipped for Singapore's digital transformation.

The Infrastructure Imperative: Powering Singapore's AI Ambitions

AI's voracious energy appetite poses profound challenges. Globally, data center electricity demand is forecasted to exceed 945 TWh by 2030—equivalent to Japan's total consumption—driven primarily by AI. In ASEAN, it could nearly double, with Singapore's data centers projected to consume 8.4 TWh by 2030 from 5 TWh currently.

Civil engineers must design high-density racks (>1 MW), advanced cooling, HVDC grids, and SMRs for reliable power. Singapore's land scarcity and carbon budget necessitate innovative solutions like green data centers and renewables integration. For details on global forecasts, see the IEA report.

Challenges include grid strain and emissions; solutions lie in efficient designs and modular construction championed by experts like Asst Prof Kim.

Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0: A Blueprint for Excellence

Launched in 2023, NAIS 2.0 envisions AI as the 'great equaliser' for public good, targeting peaks of excellence across industry, talent, and infrastructure. Key goals include boosting the AI practitioner pool to 15,000, with S$1B+ investments in R&D and compute. Universities like NTU play central roles in talent nurturing and research.

Infrastructure enablers address compute shortages via GPU access and net-zero data centers. Full strategy available here.

NTU's Vanguard Initiatives in AI Infrastructure

NTU leads with the FutureGrid Accelerator, Southeast Asia's first HVDC testbed for AI workloads at 325kW+, partnering STT GDC and others for energy-efficient data centers. The Nemetschek partnership advances physics-informed AI for generative design and climate-responsive buildings.

Proposals for orbital data centers highlight NTU's bold vision for carbon-neutral compute.

AI Innovations in Civil Engineering Research

At CURE Lab, deep learning enhances ultrasound imaging for corrosion detection, enabling real-time structural health management vital for AI facilities. NTU CEE's BIM digitalization and smart sensing projects exemplify AI-civil fusion.

• Nonlinear ultrasound for carbonation quantification.
• AI segmentation of concrete defects.
• SMR infrastructure modeling.

Forging Global Partnerships for AI Leadership

The Korea alliance exemplifies collaborations, with MOUs accelerating AI-construction. NTU's ties with Nemetschek, Zero Gravity (S$5M decentralized AI hub), and more position Singapore centrally.

Upskilling Tomorrow's AI Civil Engineers

NTU offers AI professional certificates in engineering, aligning with NAIS talent goals. Internships at testbeds bridge academia-industry, preparing graduates for high-demand roles.

Photo by SR on Unsplash

Outlook: Sustainable Foundations for AI Dominance

Singapore's AI hub vision hinges on civil engineering prowess. With leaders like Asst Prof Kim, NTU CEE will drive resilient, green infrastructure, ensuring economic GDP uplift and job creation by 2030.