SPECIAL FOCUS: CONSULTANTS’ FORUM
cessing application software tools. Big data is only usable if it can effectively be cataloged, sorted, and leveraged for a particular output. Now that we have the data digitized, we need our technical experts to contribute and provide input on what our data can tell us, and what would be useful for an output. Then, someone who understands how to use and manipulate that data to provide the output needs to be involved. This person and skillset will typically not be within a consultancy. With the digitization completed, and the individual(s) in place to manipulate and interpret the data, we can begin to utilize the information to provide cost-savings and a return on the investment (ROI) incurred in the digitization process. Digitization is a positive step, but the ROI comes with the application of the analysis.
Typically, we think of how big data can build communities in the context of things like smart cities. But the digitization of environmental data can lead to more efficient development, stronger designs, and smarter resilience measures. Credit: Yingyaipumi, stock.adobe.com
Capturing the value of converting records to digital formats THE PROCESS OF DIGITIZATION There are two things to consider when we talk about digitizing. Digitizing information is one thing, but being able to catalogue, manipulate, analyze, and By Corey McNair leverage our data (via dashboards, models, digital twins, etc.) is critical to reallmost every business, govern- izing the full potential of our libraries. ment or institution office has one: Given the amount of information in the a room filled with boxes of old consulting industry, this entails implerecords, meticulously organized menting big data principles. to ensure anyone needing to access the Digitizing information starts with records has the ability to do so. Each building a system using formats that box carries thousands of points of data, can be catalogued. A secure but accesseparated from additional data points sible location for the data to be stored related to the same geographical area. is vital, as it needs to be easily accessible But, as how we use digital tools to to employees (as it was in the file room), assess, design, engineer, construct, oper- but also easily shared with any internal or ate and maintain our built and natural external party conducting future analysis. environments evolves, we realize how Depending on the volume of data genvaluable those same documents would erated from the digitization process, you be in an accessible format, informing may create what is defined as “big data”, our decisions, and leading to smarter, or data sets that are so large that they canstronger assets. not be managed by traditional data-pro-
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32 | December 2021
HOW CAN WE NOW USE THIS DATA? The analysis of big data has practical and valuable applications throughout the environment sector. From a land management and assessment perspective, digitizing our historical geotechnical ground condition information (boreholes) and incorporating big-data analytics principles could provide a comprehensive fingerprint of existing conditions across large geographies. We can have access to real-time information on soil and rock characteristics to generate insights that inform fact-based decision making. This can be highly effective when investigating potential land use, the cost of development, and potential risks associated with site conditions In the water sector, big data analysis is already being used by municipalities throughout North America to track emerging contaminants in wastewater streams. Even the slightest increase in the presence of a contaminant can have significant impacts on human, plant or animal health. The use of data analysis, with the incorporation of decades-long data sets, can help understand when/ how contaminants emerge in the wastewater, making it easier to track their potential source. This has been the case more recently
Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine
