Interoperability

Interoperability is the key word in digitalization. Although many administrations are still setting up new databases and collecting information from scratch, the definition of links and data interfaces is a challenge for a successful entry into the digital world. There is no world-wide database, which stores all information of the internet, but there are many databases, which understand where to find the requested information.

Asset managers must understand this principle, otherwise digitalization becomes extremely cost intensive and inefficient. Of course, the assessment of data quality is a critical task and requires an understanding of the information to be used in the different processes. A focus is to link different data sources and to find a common language for the exchange of information.

Data Around the Globe

Within the last decade the methods used to communicate with data has changed progressively. Visualization or mapping of data has become paramount in management systems. Furthermore, the number of different data sources is growing and terms like Big Data, Smart Data, and Fast Data have become buzz words in the challenging world of digitalization.

Basic data The combination and communication of data from different sources will define new requirements for modern asset management. Databases will become communication platforms between different sources, where the origin of the data does not change. Thus, an asset management database must be able to communicate with a multitude of basic information sources, such as spatial information from BIM or from network information systems (e.g. GIS).
Live data Live-data from different sources has become more prevalent. For example, a bridge engineer inspects a bridge and sends the data through a live-link into the database. This is not a large task, but if 100 engineers are doing this simultaneoulsy and a fleet of drones collects data, then the effort will increase significantly. A specific requirement for databases will be the incorporation of live-data into the decision processes, either stored temporarily or for real-time decision making.
Spatial data Since Google street view, spatial data has become standard in many systems. Spatial data from 3D video or scanning systems (e.g. LIDAR - light detection and ranging) have become a standard in data collection and must be incorporated into the analysis processes.
BIM data Building information modeling (BIM) has become a standard in the design and construction processes of infrastructure assets. In many countries public tenders for road design projects test how BIM will work successfully in this field. Thus, a modern asset management solution should be able to edit, view and adjust this data and to link it with existing information from the assessment and analysis (condition, maintenance treatments, etc.).

Selection of Data

The amount of data is still growing, and modern asset management systems should avoid producing data graveyards, where data will be stored only. By 2025, IDC Market Research believes worldwide data will grow 61% to 175 zettabytes, with as much of the data residing in the cloud as in data centers ¹. The selection of data is a challenge for all parties to be incorporated:

Useful data: the selection of useful data requires a high flexibility in the design of databases. New types of tables, attributes and relationships must be checked and should be implemented if necessary. The objectives of using specific data must be defined from the beginning, considering future needs and demands;
Big data: the amount of data from permanent data collection processes will increase significantly during the next years. New methods of data collection in the different fields are under development or testing. One example is the use of drones for condition inspection. It is an inexpensive and easy technology and will increase the amount of data in the short term. Therefore, procedures need to be developed and implemented to select the right information from Big Data sources;
Smart data are pre-selected digital information, which are based on intelligence filtering procedures. Big Data needs to be transformed into Smart Data in any case;
Fast data: as-it-happens information enables real-time decision-making. This type of data needs to be linked with automated or semi-automated decision processes. Work-flow based data management will be necessary to handle Fast Data in an efficient way.

New Technologies

The management, assessment and analysis of a high number of different data is a critical factor in digitalization. New technologies can support users and enable them to handle data in an efficient way.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Artificial intelligence can support users on multiple levels, considering experiences from previous processes. The “machine” will be able to support processes like data selection, data preparation and data analysis based on lessons learned before (from instructors or previous processes). Self-paced learning can significantly reduce the effort in managing data, where the quality of the result is the main indicator for the quality of the approach.
Augmented Reality (AR) - The combination of digital information with the real world is the main objective of Augmented Reality (AR). In this way data from asset management systems can be forwarded on site and provided to the user in an easy to consume way. For example, the road operator views work orders for an asset on his smartphone, executes the request and closes the order. The system guides the operator to the right asset, through the right process and finally collects the effort to fix the issue. Furthermore, AR enables the user to view information on-site, through digital projection of data on the corresponding asset (finding damages, subsurface utilities, etc.).
Visualization - The next generation of visualization allows the user to communicate interactively with data and analysis results. The user will be able to view relationships and search for data at various levels of detail. Modern Business Intelligence (BI) systems and dashboards support this form of data visualization, using different types of graphs and dialogues. The communication between systems and users through different user interfaces is a large challenge for both the system designer and the operators. Close cooperation between developers and engineers is essential.

Conclusion

Digitalization in asset management is the future. Sustainable and future oriented maintenance planning underlines the motivation of moving into the digital world. The integration of new technologies (e.g. AI) will enable us to manage the increasing volume of data in different processes.

Digitalization has benefits but also risks. A clear understanding of how digital information can be used in the different life-cycle phases of road infrastructure assets is an essential requirement for an efficient and successful step into a future oriented digital solution.

¹IDC Market Research. https://www.networkworld.com/article/3325397/idc-expect-175-zettabytes-of-data-worldwide-by-2025.html