Construction
Technology
Digital transformations will require a wide range of technologies:
Business Applications
Building-Information Modelling (BIM) is becoming mature at Level 2 (3D modelling), the challenge now is to add scheduling and budgeting to create BIM 5D and then sustainability for 6D. Standalone design software packages are now leveraging common file formats and open data sharing.
Digital collaboration and project management tools that leverage Building-Information Modelling (BIM) and a common data environment (CDE) can produce savings of up to 10% of the contract value through clash detection, and reduce project life span and material costs by about 20%.
Construction firms are looking to partners to help them re-platform applications, introduce SaaS applications, or to create an API environment to surround legacy applications to allow modern digital platforms to be introduced and remote working to be allowed. Containerisation of legacy applications will be a necessary step in the large-scale migration of workloads to public cloud and allow workloads to shift across a hybrid multi-cloud architecture.
Data, Analytics, AI & Automation
Data is the core for future success in the construction industry. Some of the largest infrastructure projects require an average of 130 million emails, 55 million documents and 12 million workflows yet 95.5% of all data captured goes unused.
Establishing a common data environment (CDE) across the project ecosystem is key. This allows analytics and AI to be used to improve visibility and predictability of outcomes driving a 15 to 25% productivity improvement and a 10% engineering saving.
The development of a Digital Twin alongside the infrastructure build, using real-time data collection, storage and analysis, will enable the utilisation, operation and cost of the built asset to be optimised throughout the life-cycle.
Compute & Cloud
Cloud adoption in 2019 was low at 10% in the US, but 85% plan to leverage hyperscale infrastructure from cloud providers in computing, data storage and security to deliver scale, reliability, and customer experience.
Most major ISVs have moved to deliver SaaS based applications and are leveraging the cloud (and cloud providers) to create cloud-based ecosystems. Construction companies spurred by COVID-19 are seeing the benefits of the flexibility of the cloud and will continue in developing multi and hybrid cloud architectures. Cloud is the ideal environment to store, compute, analyse and share Digital Twin data.
Cloud Providers like Microsoft provide IOT and Digital Twin toolkits to support the design of a Digital Twin environment.
Networking & Communications
In the jobsite of the future everything will be connected (i.e. construction machines, operators, drones, other vehicles) and data from the construction site will be stored in a cloud platform for further analysis. 5G networking could enable more real-time video-based connectivity.
Digital Workplace
COVID-19 has shown the potential of remote working across the design & build phases. A modern collaborative digital workplace is critical to a remotely located workforce. It ranges from access to HR applications and core applications (Project Management, BIM etc) to e-mail, instant messaging and enterprise social media tools and virtual meeting tools.
Internet of Things & Industry 4.0
Designers will increasingly leverage the real-world to inform design and to demonstrate the impact on the surrounding environment. This includes drones and LIDAR for surveillance, inspection, and topographical surveys.
Virtual Reality (VR/AR) can be used to provide an immersive design experience and to support project delivery and quality control. Construction Software ISVs have integrated geospatial information systems (GIS) and 3D modelling software to allow easier integration. Sensors will need to be designed into the build to allow measurement through the lifecycle of the building. One example is using augmented visualisation of underground services to plan and manage works more effectively by mapping and viewing underground services in 2D or 3D augmented reality (AR) via smartphone and tablet screens, prior to excavation.
Construction companies are increasingly using autonomous construction vehicles and heavy equipment to improve productivity. These automated vehicles are equipped with sensors, cameras, and GPS. Real-time data obtained from these devices helps in remote monitoring of a jobsite and reduces construction time. Vehicles connected through IoT, telematics and RFID tracking technologies are also helping the construction industry to be more collaborative, efficient, and safe. This market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from 2021 and reach $15 trillion by 2023.
Security, Compliance & Data Privacy
Construction has been named the fifth most at-risk industry for a cyber attack and is still not doing enough to prevent being hit in the future. The sector was given a risk score of 39, higher than financial services, energy and government.
Security extends not just for the design & build but into the long-term operational lifecycle of the infrastructure. Security issues include access management, data privacy and IPR management. 22% of construction companies have been a victim of a hacker, the highest percentage since the survey’s inception in 2014.
As technology such as IoT is introduced more potential attack surfaces are opened, this is serious as the impact of breaches in infrastructure could be critical (e.g. power stations or transportation networks). The issue is compounded as the operational lifetime of the built asset could be decades.
A blockchain based platform could help improve project execution, connecting the ecosystem to allow the smooth scheduling of work and initiating payments based on digitally approved work, contractual terms and smart contract actions. One of the key advantages of such a platform is the high level of transparency and trust for all parties involved
IT Governance & Management
In a period of intense digital transformation the effective management of Dev/Ops is crucial in delivering the desired change and ensuring operational resilience.
Effective management of IT assets and licences over their lifecycle is essential to good cost management.