My Experience with the Development of Digitalization in Infrastructure Construction Over a Decade
When I started working in the infrastructure sector in the early 2010s, digitalization was still quite minimal. All plans, documents, reports, etc., were in paper form, stored in various folders. While site measurements were done using GPS devices, the actual marking in the field was done with wooden sticks and plastic tags. Employees recorded their working hours on paper slips, which were then scanned and forwarded. Traveling long distances across Finland for meetings and site visits was common. In fact, the only digital function we had was reviewing and approving invoices.
Nowadays, it seems obvious that employees would register and approve working hours electronically using smartphones. However, in the mid-2010s, this seemed like a distant dream. With the rapid development of ERP systems, this process has become a daily routine. I work for a company with around 200 employees, and according to our estimates, electronic recording and approval of hours saves us the equivalent of one full-time employee annually.
Model-based design has also opened up a vast range of new opportunities, especially in cost estimation. Previously, coordinating the plans of different parties of project posed challenges, and conflicts in designs were often only discovered on-site after work had already started, leading to significant additional costs. Unit quantities for cost estimation were also calculated manually from paper plans. Thanks to model-based design, the plans of all parties of project can now be integrated during the planning phase, and potential issues can be identified before construction begins. Today, most machines are equipped with 3D measurement devices, which allow them to operate more independently.
Future of Digitalization In infrastructure Construction
I believe that in the future, remote-controlled machines will become more common in the infrastructure sector, with the possibility of entire fleets of machines being managed by a single operator. This technology will likely be most useful in large-scale projects, such as highway construction, where the environment is more predictable and less complex. Remote operation can improve efficiency, reduce the need for on-site labor, and enhance safety by keeping workers away from hazardous areas. However, I don’t think remote control would be suitable for urban construction projects due to the complexity and many variables involved, such as narrow spaces, varying traffic conditions, and the need for precise maneuvering in densely populated areas. In urban settings, human presence and real-time decision-making will remain crucial for ensuring the safety and quality of the work
Augmented reality (AR) offers huge potential in fields like infrastructure construction. It can facilitate water management and mass balance planning on construction sites. AR technology enables real-time visualization, which can improve accuracy and reduce errors. It is surprising that this technology is not yet widely used, as it could significantly streamline the construction process and improve site management.
One possible reason for the slow adoption of AR technology might be the cost or the lack of necessary infrastructure on construction sites. In the future, its use will surely grow as the technology continues to develop and becomes more affordable and accessible.
I have many decades of work ahead of me, and I’m excited about the possibilities digitalization will bring to infrastructure construction. It will be interesting to see how new technologies improve efficiency, safety, and planning in the industry over the coming years.
My Perspective on the Greatest Risk in the Infrastructure Sector in an Open Digital Society and GDPR
The greatest risk in the infrastructure sector within an open digital society, in my view, is the information related to critical infrastructure. For example, if precise information about water supply networks and electrical grids falls into the wrong hands, it poses a significant risk to society. The functionality of critical infrastructure (water, electricity, heating) is something we all take for granted today, and any sabotage against these systems would undoubtedly cause chaos. Therefore, it is extremely important that all parties involved in critical infrastructure projects exercise utmost caution in data handling.
Digitalization offers a vast number of opportunities, but it also has its downsides. As information becomes digital, it accumulates more and more, making its management increasingly challenging. Data is also exposed to theft and misuse. With the GDPR regulation, it is essential to exercise extreme caution in handling data, especially personal data. In my field, I have noticed that not everyone has yet realized the seriousness of the matter. Fortunately, there are numerous good online training courses available regarding GDPR regulations.
Artificial Intelligence
I asked ChatGPT to perform cost estimation for an simple infrastructure construction project. The AI was surprisingly good at basic calculations, and the responses were generally in the right direction. However, when doing cost estimation, project-specific variables (such as conditions, season, geographical location, etc.) have a significant impact on the final outcome. The AI clearly struggles to take these variables into account, even though I tried to include them in my questions. I believe that at this stage, AI can be effectively used in the basic calculation phase of cost estimation. After that, the cost estimation should be reviewed and adjusted, taking any potential variables into consideration.
Self Evaluation
It was really interesting to read about the experiences of other students regarding digitalization and to see how similar they were, regardless of the field. I also gained many good ideas from others’ experiences on how to further utilize digitalization in my own work. Personally, I tried an AI application for the first time in connection with this course. In the future, I will definitely explore it more and utilize it in my work when I find it sensible.
I commented on these two blogs: