Digitalization continues to make inroads into the construction industry - opening up new opportunities and increasing efficiency. However, this progress also brings new challenges, such as dealing with artificial intelligence (AI) and the increased requirements for cyber security to protect sensitive (construction) data.
In the following expert interview, we asked Karoliina Torttila exactly how technology is changing in the construction sector and why cyber security is playing an increasingly important role. Karoliina is Director AI at Trimble and shares exciting and highly topical insights on a wide range of issues relating to cyber security and AI from her expert perspective.
You can watch the full interview in the video below with German subtitles or read it on this page.
How is technology changing in the construction industry?
Karoliina Torttila:
Construction technology is becoming ever more comprehensive and networked, generating more data than ever before. AI can help us to deal with these huge amounts of data and turn them into information.
Can the Internet of Things also contribute to improvements in the construction industry?
Karoliina Torttila:
The Internet of Things is very important for the continuous monitoring of the construction site: this applies to building materials, workers, construction machinery and then later to rooms and entire buildings. It provides us with this continuous data, which is supplemented by snapshots of data from remote sensing - it's definitely a valuable part of the equation.
How does digitalization affect cyber security?
Karoliina Torttila:
The digitalization of the construction industry is inevitable. We need real-time and accurate site data for the design process. We need it to track the progress of construction sites, for the maintenance of these assets and for dealing with the end of life of buildings. In maintaining and creating these data sets, we also need to be aware of the fact that they become valuable not only to the construction industry, but also to malicious actors in other sectors. For this reason, in parallel with the digitization of construction, we must be very careful to ensure that they are protected from external access.
What is the difference between IT security and cyber security?
Karoliina Torttila:
IT security looks more inwards, while cyber security is also aware of external threats to our digital assets and thinks ahead about how we can proactively protect digital assets.
Why is cybersecurity important and what is its main purpose?
Karoliina Torttila:
We cannot encourage the construction industry to create and share datasets if we cannot also promise that we will take care of the data. For our industry to move forward, it is important for this continuous digitization process and this open collaboration between stakeholders that they can trust that their data is secure.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of cyber security?
Karoliina Torttila:
Cybersecurity is often seen as something that slows down technological progress and the development of technology. But in some ways, it can help us achieve a better end result from the start, because cybersecurity forces us to think through many scenarios of how products and systems are used.
Why is cyber security a necessity in the construction industry?
Karoliina Torttila:
It is important that not only the pioneers in construction embrace the technology, but the entire sector. After all, we are one of the sectors that has seen the lowest productivity gains in recent decades and at the same time suffers from a massive labor shortage. So we need to do more with fewer people, and technological progress is the only way to achieve this. So people need to have confidence in these technologies so that we can use them on a large scale.
How can artificial intelligence be used in the field of cyber security?
Karoliina Torttila:
Artificial intelligence is great at pattern recognition, and therefore it offers us new opportunities to fight cybersecurity attacks on a large scale, and in a very creative way.
Why is artificial intelligence a double-edged sword in cyber security?
Karoliina Torttila:
Artificial intelligence is changing both the cyber threat landscape and the cyber security landscape. It's a very interesting time for this area. But I think that by working with partners like Microsoft, AWS, Google and others in the ecosystem, we can work together to ensure that artificial intelligence is ahead of the curve when it comes to cyber threats.
Into the digital future with software solutions from Trimble
Driving digital transformation in the construction industry requires appropriate software solutions such as Viewpoint For Projects and Viewpoint Field View. Together, these two tools help to leverage the previously untapped potential of digitalization in the construction industry. At the same time, we guarantee the protection of sensitive (construction) data in our tools and in the exchange of data between the various stakeholders:
Viewpoint For Projects - the construction management software
ISO 19650 conformity for international standards in information management
Optimization of construction processes through precise planning and analysis
Improving communication and coordination between project participants
Support for data-based decision-making
Access to construction documentation from anywhere - both online and offline
Viewpoint Field View - the construction site documentation app
Efficient defect and task management in real time
Customizable forms for mobile devices
Digitization of information to increase efficiency
Real-time communication between office and construction site
Creation of configurable project models with detailed tracking options
Would you like to find out more about our digital software solutions for the construction industry? For more information and to arrange a personal demo appointment, please click here: https://www.viewpoint.com/
