What is Big Data
Big data is used to describe data sets that are too intricate or complex for traditional relational databases to acquire, maintain, and handle the data with low latency. Advanced analytics systems are required to process and manage these massive or complicated sets of data (either structured or unstructured).
“According to a Forbes report, the big data market is projected to be worth $99.31 billion in 2021.”
Significance of Big Data in the Construction Industry
The pandemic expedited the adoption of technologies in the construction industry, which is transforming the building business model, enhancing collaboration and productivity, and increasing wages and profit margins.
“Businesses that make use of big data analytics reported an increase in revenue of 8 percent.”
The construction industry is a major business that generates massive amounts of data. Unfortunately, these repositories are typically unorganized and difficult to access without the appropriate tools. This is where big data plays a crucial role in assisting the construction industry.
Construction businesses use big data to collect, analyze, and use massive volumes of data to solve business challenges and provide vital, informed insight for future operations.
Businesses employ Big Data to increase productivity in real-time, but it is perhaps even more important in preparing the path for disruptive technologies to be embraced in the future.
“In the years 2021 and 2022, the value of big data is predicted to rise by $30 billion, which makes it as one of the world’s most beneficial commodities.”
Every industry is attempting to implement the most up-to-date big data processing and storage solutions in order to stay competitive.
Why Construction Industries Employ Big Data
Big data is being employed at every level of the construction process, to boost efficiency and productivity. By employing data analytics tools, everyone involved in the construction process can access and extract information from massive data repositories. Big data aids construction businesses in completing projects on time, precisely bidding, and building more effectively.
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Planning and Budgeting
Big data may now help project teams in the initial stages of the construction process, thanks to developments in analytics technology. Big data tools also enable more precise material, labor, and machinery cost estimations, lowering the likelihood of exceeding the budget later in the construction process.
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Design
Big data transforms the construction industry from the early phases of the design process. Data can be collected and executed to facilitate the design process. Businesses can generate digital models a during the design stage and forecast any potential issues before construction begins by employing data-driven techniques like BIM and AI. Historical big data can be evaluated to identify trends and probabilities of construction risks, allowing new projects to be guided toward profitability while avoiding pitfalls.
“97.2 percent of businesses are making an investment into big data and artificial intelligence (AI).”
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Real-time Alerts
Construction companies are starting to use project management software, which makes communication and coordination effortless by swiftly processing incoming data. It notifies teams of any issues or schedule changes immediately.
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Maintenance
Big data assists construction firms in future renovation projects by effectively collecting and storing of the actual construction data. Long-term maintenance is facilitated by employing permanent sensors, which keep track of temperature patterns and energy storage.
Benefits of Big Data Analytics in Construction
Big data has the potential to revolutionize the sector by providing game-changing advantages. Construction firms that use big data report improved productivity, profitability, and overall project expenditures. Below listed are a few big data benefits that will assist you in building an effective digital structure in your construction firm.
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Risk Mitigation
The collection and analysis of big data from construction firms might help identify potential risks and challenges. It is feasible to overlay project-centric information with corporate data to identify trends by gathering both structured and unstructured data.
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Digital Technology Prioritization
Construction and engineering businesses can use big data to collect and analyze cost-related data, site-based transactions, plan modifications, and more. It is practically difficult to detect critical data items without digital technology, allowing for quick responses to potential problems and the application of favorable outcomes to future projects.
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Enhances Building efficiency
Construction costs include material waste and remedial work, which account for 35 percent of total expenditures. By presenting explicit data and detecting potential structural flaws before they occur, data analytics technology helps to minimize construction time and material costs. This enables to make faster and more informed decisions.
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Leverage Predictability
In collaboration with disruptive technologies like AI and ML, big data systems can provide significant information and insight before a project is even started. The capacity to pivot based on data insights greatly influence the reduction of cost and time overrun.
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Enhances Safety
Construction workers are more likely to get injured. Advanced technologies like smart construction wearables and safety management software are evolving progressively in the industry. These gadgets use big data to collect health and activity information, detect safety hazards, and notify construction personnel when safety regulations are violated.
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Eliminates Waste
According to Transparency Market Research, construction waste generated worldwide would nearly double to 2.2 billion tons by 2025. Businesses are shifting to analytics solutions as a result of a recent focus on the concepts of lean construction to reduce material waste. These solutions provide real-time information to the entire project team, allowing for more efficient supply and utilization of supplies, plants, and equipment.
Wrapping Up
Big data is at the forefront of construction industry innovation. As the construction process becomes more digitized, its prominence will continue to expand. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from the potential of big data as data analytics tools evolve and become more accessible. Proficiency with recent technologies and the ability to improve operations by utilizing big data paves the way for the next generation of technology and its truly disruptive potential in the construction industry. The construction sector should embrace the digital age and realize the potential of technology to improve operations in 2021 and beyond.
