Paving the Future with HDM‑5 Road Infrastructure in the Cloud
In a bold stride for transport planning, TRL and the World Bank have unveiled HDM‑5, a complete reinvention of the venerable Highway Development and Management (HDM) model.
Since its origin in 1968, HDM has served as the analytical backbone for over 1,500 organisations across more than 100 countries—driving economic evaluation, strategic network analysis, investment planning and maintenance prioritisation. Multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, ADB, EIB, IsDB, AfDB, and JICA have consistently made HDM compliance a funding requirement for infrastructure projects.
Nonetheless, two transformative decades—marked by advances in vehicle technology, modern materials, environmental imperatives and safety concerns—have exposed the limitations of its legacy PC-based iteration. In response, development on HDM‑5 officially commenced in June 2025, with a planned debut in 2027.
What Makes HDM‑5 Truly Different?
Cloud-Native and SaaS-Based: Unlike its predecessors, HDM‑5 is being built as a cloud-native, modular, and web-based platform delivered via Software as a Service (SaaS). That means scalability, flexibility, seamless updates, and improved accessibility for practitioners worldwide.
New Functional Pillars: The model will incorporate tools to assess:
- Climate resilience
- Carbon emissions
- Road safety impact
Embedded within a modern, user-friendly digital framework, these capabilities ensure more insightful, sustainable and resilient transport strategies.
Subu Kamal, Head of Product at TRL Software, shared: “Our vision for HDM‑5 is to transform it into a dynamic and accessible platform that empowers decision‑makers across the globe. By embedding sustainability, safety, and digital flexibility at its core, we’re creating a tool that truly meets the transport challenges of tomorrow delivered with the usability and scalability expected of modern software.”
TRL’s Expertise Meets World Bank’s Reach
TRL—founding institution of HDM—brings more than six decades of domain knowledge in transport modelling, software engineering, user-centred design, and global rollout. Their enduring commitment ensures that HDM‑5 will be not only technically rigorous and economically grounded, but also future-ready and intuitive.
From the World Bank side, Binyam Reja, Global Practice Manager, Transport Global Unit, emphasised: “The development of HDM‑5 marks a major step forward in how we support countries to plan, prioritize, and finance road investments. This initiative reflects our commitment to integrating climate resilience, road safety, and sustainability into infrastructure decision making. We are pleased to partner with TRL whose legacy and technical leadership have shaped HDM from the beginning to bring this next‑generation global public good to life.”
Adding to the chorus, Wenxin Qiao, Senior Transport Specialist and Global Lead for Technology and Innovation at the World Bank, said: “The development of HDM‑5 is a collaborative effort to address the increasing complexity of transport infrastructure decision‑making. It is designed to provide users with a technically robust, consistent, and adaptable platform for evaluating the costs, benefits, and long‑term performance of road investments. In close partnership with TRL, we are committed to ensuring that this new HDM‑5 model reflects practical realities and delivers value to both technical practitioners and policymakers, driving lasting impact.”
Governance, Funding, and Collaboration
A robust governance structure underpins HDM‑5. A steering committee chaired by the World Bank, alongside partners like PIARC, the UK’s FCDO, ADB, IsDB, and EIB, provides strategic oversight. Technical support comes via a dedicated committee, while funding is sourced from GRSF, GFDRR, QII, and GFDT.
Heads of development such as HVT have already led preparatory efforts. This includes:
- Gap analysis on functional requirements, emissions modelling, fuel and tyre consumption
- Technical papers defining HDM‑5’s vision, mission and goals
- Integration of road deterioration, crash prediction, and greenhouse gas modules
These early studies lay the groundwork for a more complete, accurate and resilient appraisal tool—especially in low- and middle-income countries, where HDM underpins approximately US$20 billion in annual road investment.
A Tool Sculpted for Tomorrow’s Infrastructure Needs
HDM‑5 represents a generational shift in road infrastructure planning—moving from legacy desktop tools to cloud-first, integrated platforms. Its key attributes:
- Future-Proofed Design: Incorporates climate impact, safety evaluation, carbon models
- Global Scale, Local Impact: Supports policymakers, technical teams, financiers and practitioners
- Enhanced Accessibility: Web-based SaaS ensures continuous evolution, real-time access
- Collaborative Governance: Trusted institutions overseeing transparent and inclusive development
With a release targeted in 2027, the countdown has begun. HDM‑5 is on track to redefine how the world plans, funds, and sustains its road networks.
Building Smarter Roads for a Safer Tomorrow
HDM‑5 isn’t just a software upgrade—it’s a statement of intent. It signals a world ready for smarter, safer, greener transport infrastructure.
With deep-rooted expertise from TRL and globe spanning support from the World Bank and partners, this tool is poised to lead the global road planning narrative as we navigate the challenges of the twenty‑first century—and beyond.
