Jacqueline L. Mulhern
Data as Infrastructure
In the digital age, the significance of data has grown exponentially, and its potential is now regarded as a vital component of critical infrastructure. As hardware and infrastructure advancements capture the limelight, data emerges as a key catalyst for reimagining how we manage and utilize information. With this new data paradigm, societies can optimize their resources, tackle complex challenges, address environmental concerns, and maximize social welfare for the greater population.
Data has become integral to developed nations' infrastructure, deserving recognition as a "public good" that must be effectively managed and leveraged for the greater good. Moreover, data is assuming new roles in real-time infrastructure performance, design, and maintenance, revolutionizing how we approach critical systems.
Tip 1: Upgrade Systems for Real-time Awareness and Action
Utilities are now embarking on a transformational journey toward remote, digital data transmission from edge devices empowered by artificial intelligence. By embracing edge computing, executives gain real-time situational awareness, enabling them to take prompt action and predict the need for future interventions. This modern infrastructure setup eliminates the latency associated with cloud computing, delivering immediate insights when needed. It is worth noting that, due to security concerns, some government entities opt for a hybrid approach, combining on-premises cloud computing with edge devices. Furthermore, a more stringent regulatory framework necessitates the availability of complete data sets, making regular reporting possible.
Tip 2: Improve Data Quality
Every piece holds importance in the world of data, but when all data is considered important, none of it is. Ensuring high-quality data is paramount to making informed decisions about critical infrastructure. Utilities must undertake a data cleansing process, which goes beyond erasing outdated information and replacing it with new data. Instead, a balance must be struck to maximize dataset accuracy without compromising the integrity of existing data. Ayyeka's AI Data Curator offers an innovative solution by automating this typically lengthy and tedious task.
This process can also be called "future-proofing" data models, necessitating adopting a modern and flexible data architecture capable of accommodating the evolving trends across different data systems. By creating and managing data properly, its utilization becomes feasible. For instance, a landfill in California, USA, implemented remote air quality monitoring to enhance nearby residents' quality of life.
Tip 3: Empower Infrastructure Assets with Unparalleled Capability
To extract maximum value from data in critical infrastructure, digital solutions must be implemented. Manual inspection of field assets is time-consuming and poses risks to worker safety, especially during natural disasters. It is imperative to upgrade outdated tools and systems that have been in use for decades. Tel Aviv, Israel, for example, has implemented smart city initiatives that remotely measure and transmit data on water quality and sewer overflows. This proactive approach ensures water safety while providing real-time data for forecasting flooding during extreme weather conditions.
Effective data utilization is the cornerstone of informed decision-making across industries such as oil and gas, energy, environment, and water. The days of manual data collection have become obsolete, and the critical infrastructure sector must prioritize upgrading data collection, management, and utilization. By embracing cutting-edge technologies and practices, societies can harness the true potential of data, paving the way for smarter, more efficient systems that benefit both the present and future generations.