Sebastien Cliche, business information modeling (BIM) manager and head of digital innovation, has more than 20 years of experience delivering BIM-led, technology-enabled workflows for complex infrastructure projects.
Sebastien leads digital innovation initiatives that focus on improving how data is created, managed, and used across the asset life cycle. His work supports transportation and civil infrastructure programs by strengthening coordination between design, construction, and operations with a strong emphasis on practical, field-ready digital workflows.
He also specializes in model-based delivery, digital inspections, and the integration of asset data within platforms clients already use. He works closely with owners and project teams to standardize inspection processes, improve data consistency, and enable traceable, defensible decision-making using tools such as Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), BIM, and digital twin strategies.
Sebastien’s background spans BIM management, building systems, and digital engineering. He actively contributes to advancing innovation through internal leadership, client advisory support, and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
How are inspection practices evolving for large transportation and civil infrastructure assets?
Inspection practices are shifting away from fragmented, paper- and photo-based approaches toward structured digital workflows that produce consistent, auditable, and reusable data. Asset owners are under increasing pressure to improve field productivity while strengthening traceability, compliance reporting, and the defensibility of maintenance and investment decisions across large portfolios.
A key shift is the move toward asset-based inspections, where observations are captured against defined assets and locations rather than stored as disconnected notes or images. When inspection data is tied to a clear asset structure and, where available, connected to a model, teams can standardize inspection methods that deliver faster inspections, reduce interpretation gaps between field and office, and support lifecycle tracking over time. Owners also recognize that technology alone is not enough. Successful programs emphasize clear standards, simple field workflows, and alignment between inspection data and long-term asset management need.
What should asset owners consider before modernizing their field inspection workflows?
Before introducing new tools, asset owners need a clear understanding of what information is required from inspections and how that data will be used over time. Many challenges arise from inconsistent inspection criteria, unclear asset definitions, or field data that is not aligned with maintenance, capital planning, or compliance needs. Establishing clear requirements upfront helps ensure inspections generate information that supports long-term decision-making rather than isolated reporting.
Owners should prioritize standardizing inspection processes and asset structures so inspectors capture consistent, meaningful data, regardless of who is in the field. Usability is critical, as overly complex workflows reduce adoption and compromise data quality. Governance also needs to be defined early, including data ownership, validation, and stewardship to avoid accumulating unusable information. Successful modernization balances simplicity for field teams with the structured data needs of asset managers to support defensible, lifecycle-based decisions.
What is Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) Build Asset Manager, and how can it make field inspections faster and more consistent?
Build Asset Manager is a module within Autodesk Construction Cloud that enables teams to define assets, associate them with models, and manage inspection and condition data in a structured, consistent environment. Instead of treating inspections as isolated observations, data is captured directly against specific assets using standardized templates and classifications, reducing ambiguity and improving consistency across inspection programs.
In practice, this approach streamlines field data capture; connects assets, locations, photos, and inspection results in a single system; and simplifies review and validation for office teams. At Tetra Tech, we help implement ACC Build Asset Manager within existing owner workflows, emphasizing clear standards, configuration, and governance rather than unnecessary customization. This enables clients to improve inspection traceability and data quality while maximizing the value of tools they already have in place.
How are digital inspections and asset management expected to evolve in the coming years?
Digital inspections are increasingly becoming a core input to asset management and digital twin strategies. Inspection data is no longer treated as static documentation, but as an active data source that supports condition assessment, risk prioritization, and long-term investment planning across asset portfolios. As expectations grow, owners are looking for inspection information that can be reused, analyzed, and connected to broader decision-making processes.
At the same time, inspection platforms are becoming more tightly integrated with BIM, reality capture, and enterprise asset management systems. Automation and analytics are helping owners identify trends, flag risks earlier, and focus resources where they add the most value. We support this evolution by designing scalable, tool-agnostic workflows grounded in strong data foundations, enabling clients to adopt new technologies and capabilities as their programs mature.
How does Tetra Tech help clients successfully implement digital inspection solutions?
We approach digital inspections with an implementation-first mindset, grounded in real project delivery and long-term operational needs. We work with clients to define inspection standards, asset structures, and governance models before configuring tools, ensuring technology supports established processes rather than driving them. This approach helps owners avoid over-customization and focus on repeatable, scalable workflows.
Our teams bridge the gap between field operations, engineering, and asset management by aligning data capture with how assets are maintained and decisioned over time. We leverage platforms clients already use, such as ACC, and integrate complementary technologies like BIM, reality capture, and digital twins where they add measurable value. This combination of technical expertise and practical change management enables sustainable adoption across multidisciplinary teams and delivers inspection workflows that remain usable, scalable, and defensible throughout the asset life cycle.