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Capturing the value of converting records to digital formats – Cover Story
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
By Corey McNair
Almost every business, government or institution office has one: a room filled with boxes of old records, meticulously organized to ensure anyone needing to access the records has the ability to do so. Each box carries thousands of points of data, separated from additional data points related to the same geographical area.
But, as how we use digital tools to assess, design, engineer, construct, operate and maintain our built and natural environments evolves, we realize how valuable those same documents would be in an accessible format, informing our decisions, and leading to smarter, stronger assets. 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 leverage our data (via dashboards, models, digital twins, etc.) is critical to realizing the full potential of our libraries. Given the amount of information in the consulting industry, this entails implementing big data principles.
Digitizing information starts with building a system using formats that can be catalogued. A secure but accessible location for the data to be stored is vital, as it needs to be easily accessible to employees (as it was in the file room), but also easily shared with any internal or external party conducting future analysis.
Depending on the volume of data generated from the digitization process, you may create what is defined as “big data”, or data sets that are so large that they cannot be managed by traditional data-processing 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.
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
with the detection of the coronavirus in wastewater streams. Analyzing them, and using big data analysis to trace volumes of the virus, have led researchers to better appreciate the source of a potential outbreak. Such was the findings of a University of Calgary study conducted in the spring of 2021, which also suggested that similar detection and analysis could be used to detect outbreaks of other harmful diseases.
PUTTING DATA TO WORK IN DESIGN
We are at the beginning of a monumental shift in the consulting market. Technological uptake and application will drive efficiency and evolution of the industry. By putting our new and historical data to work in the design process, we can provide significant benefits in project development.
With a fulsome understanding of how above ground, ground level and below ground factors can impact cost and risk, we can influence design decision making
Digitizing historical data can be valuable in understanding the source of present and newly discovered chemicals. Credit: kozorog,
stock.adobe.com
before any significant design is completed.
By lowering risk, saving time, and informing cost optimizing decision making, we can help clients maximize their return on investment and more than pay for any additional cost of digitization.
We have already begun seeing digitization in all phases of design (advisory, conceptual, detailed, construction); however, it is typically piecemeal. Not all processes are being conducted using digital platforms, losing the valuable efficiencies that full digitization creates.
Digitizing our processes, procedures, and collaboration will improve project quality, as well as the overall cost of infrastructure development. When we effectively catalogue, manipulate, analyze and leverage our data, we can make smarter, more resilient and efficient decisions for developing and rehabilitating our assets.
Corey McNair is the vice president, Ontario Earth & Environment, at WSP in Canada. Email: corey.mcnair@wsp.com
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