Construction data & the path to AI
Construction sites look radically different today than a decade ago – drones, wearables, virtual reality, sensors and robots. We can scarcely imagine the technology ahead and its potential to transform the way we design, engineer, build and operate infrastructure.
The volume of data produced by these new technologies will only grow. Data is increasing exponentially as the digital universe doubles every two years – the world generated more data in the last two years than in our entire history. Yet less than 0.5% of the data produced in construction is actually used
1
. Which begs the question, ‘What are we leaving on the table? Does the unused data have value? What role will data play in Construction 4.0?'
Data, data everywhere but not a drop to drink
Data is everywhere – from GPS, estimating, weather, plant and equipment, sensors, email, IoT devices, design, engineering, BIM, existing software systems. According to Aconex, large infrastructure projects average 12 million workflows, 130 million emails and 55 million documents
2
. The construction industry is awash with data. Data is ‘the new oil’, but not all data is created equal. Unstructured ‘field data’ is often difficult to process, limiting its value to decision makers. When data is structured and analysed, it can improve business processes, streamline operations and improve productivity. The more accurate, reliable and timely the data, the more useful it is.
Value of construction data
Data can be captured and analysed to improve processes and business outcomes, streamline operations and improve productivity. The industry is already capturing and analysing data to detect risks, reduce costs, predict trends, reduce waste, improve safety, prevent overruns and gain greater visibility of real-time operations. Recognising the role data plays in making smarter and faster decisions is not new. Many top-tier construction companies already employ data scientists and business intelligence teams to analyse data and provide actionable insights. However, information is perishable and can lose its value over time. When it takes a PhD and data science team to interpret data, the time lost to decision-makers limits the value of this data. Speed and velocity of data is as much an issue in harnessing the value of data as is the quantum of data. How then do we derive valuable or ‘actionable insights’ from data? How do we manage the digital universe in construction when the data load is doubling every two years?
Enter machine learning
Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) apply advanced analytics to process massive amounts of data to gain insights and make better strategic decisions. AI is a prediction machine and uses its predictions for estimation and optimisation. It does so through an unmatched ability to spot correlations in data, to find patterns among millions of parameters that humans are simply unable to process. Machine learning is able to identify patterns between data sets, for example, correlate injuries with location, time and day, or predict defects before a human. For construction, this means being able to process the enormous amounts of data flowing to and from construction sites. Simply, predictive analytics is able to process current and historical data to forecast future outcomes, providing the insight humans need to take smarter, faster and safer decisions – that’s actionable insight! Predictive analytics allows construction businesses to assess probability of project success, manage risk and predict profitability, predict high-risk activities using lead safety indicators to prevent workplace injuries, predict quality issues and environmental hazards. Predictive analytics can help evaluate the performance of people, benchmark projects and regions and subcontractor performance. Predictive analytics is already changing the way the construction industry bids and tenders, providing valuable insight within the pre-contracts environment to make better informed data-driven assessments.
What does the future hold for construction data?
The pace of data generation won’t diminish, nor will the industry appetite to gain a data advantage. We recently launched
Novade Insights
, our latest predictive analytics platform turning construction business intelligence into actions. Novade produces construction management software using field operations as our lens – we focus on site-based construction processes such as quality, safety and productivity. Novade Insights aggregates data from multiple data streams and allows our construction clients to interact with the information and mission-critical leading indicators they need in a visual dashboard to monitor progress and performance in real time, make predictions and diagnose safety and quality issues to take action. The leap from
Descriptive Analytics
(describing what the situation is) to
Predictive Analytics
(anticipating what will happen) is a game changer in construction. The development of predictive analytics tools and business improvements will be felt across the entire supply chain. The final leap from
Predictive Analytics
to
Prescriptive Analytics
(machines recommending what to do) will transform the way the construction industry operates in ways we can’t yet comprehend, and it is tantalisingly within our sights. It’s now a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ AI and machine learning will revolutionise the construction industry.
Fig. 1 Construction: Insights on the Path to AI
As we push beyond predictive analytics on the path to AI, we are only limited by our imagination. What business problems can be solved when businesses apply advanced analytics to their data? What insights will the industry gain? How much time and money will be saved? A faster, smarter and safer way of working for 200 million construction workers. Sites performing at maximum efficiency with data from everything and everyone available in real time. Sustainable construction, no wastage, efficient and optimised. And an industry where everyone goes home safely every day and profits are maximised. This is just the beginning. ———— Read more about
Novade Insights
. At Novade we are leading the charge towards AI and machine learning technologies to cement our place as the leading field management software helping to digitally transform the construction industry from the ground up.
1
Brian L. Hill. (2017) “Digging for the Big Data Gold in Today’s Construction Projects” https://www.xperagroup.com/blog/digging-for-the-bigdata-gold-in-todays-construction-projects
2
Famous, Gabriele. (2018) “Three Technology Trends Shaping the Future of Design and Construction in 2018.” Aconex Group.
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