Infrastructure projects play a crucial role in defining societies and how they operate in everything from the planning of bridges, roads, and buildings to the construction of airports, transport hubs, and other utilities. As one might imagine, these projects often involve significant investment in terms of time, money, and resources, so the planning phase takes on greater importance to ensure things are done right.
Infrastructure projects involve many different skilled personnel, but perhaps none plays a more important role than that of civil engineers, who are typically pivotal in the work’s planning, design, and deployment.
How tech is enhancing and improving infrastructure projects
As with almost all areas of business and commerce, in recent years, the web, tech, Big Data, and computers have become increasingly valuable tools in engineering projects, particularly when it comes to planning, designing, and managing infrastructure works.
Analytics and how data can be used to help guarantee project success
As the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds continue to blur and we store more data online, so we’re gaining a greater understanding of our environments. By harnessing the power of this data and utilizing advanced analytics techniques, decision-makers can make more informed choices, optimize resources, and enhance project outcomes. Below are just a few ways that analytics are changing modern infrastructure-build projects:
Data-driven decisions: Similar to other industries, data science and analytics are allowing today’s project managers to make more informed and educated choices when it comes to building works. By studying historical project data, trends, and demographics, today’s project managers can accurately assess feasibility and budget estimations while also having a clearer idea of potential risks. For example, GIS mapping (Geographic Information System mapping) can be used to blend maps with existing data to create and analyze location information.
Predictive Modeling: By using predictive modeling, teams can plan ahead and anticipate possible future scenarios, thereby readying themselves for any potential bottlenecks or other problems further into a project. This data can then be used to adjust or reallocate resources (often before issues arise), thereby increasing the likelihood of project success.
Risk management: No matter the size of the job, all projects carry inherent risks that can often delay the build, increase costs or impact their overall success. This, in turn, can affect Return on Investment (ROI). However, by studying previous data and identifying these potential pitfalls, a project team can mitigate their potential effects. This wealth of data also allows project managers to devise contingency plans (worst-case scenario solutions) which helps ensure the resilience of the project and serves to minimize possible disruptions.
Optimize resources and increase efficiency: Today’s data-driven world allows managers to quickly isolate areas of inefficiency – for example, the rate of consumption of materials, the effectiveness of labor, or how different types of equipment might be being used. This information lets teams identify and solve areas of inefficiency so they can stream operations, reduce costs, mitigate waste, and increase overall productivity. Better yet, this can be done on a daily (or even hourly) basis to help ensure the punctual and cost-effective delivery of projects.
