Jon Chiglo plans and monitors transportation with big data
Jon Chiglo (BCE 1997) is an optimistic, can-do person. When people say, “you can’t do that,” he takes it as a challenge. “Well, we’ll see,” he says, “we’ll figure it out.” He believes the outlook for the engineering consultancy industry is very positive concerning infrastructure, renewables, and transportation. “I’m really looking forward to the next 10 to 15 years,” he says.
Chiglo is the Chief Operating Officer at WSB, a design and consulting firm that has a clear commitment to technology. “Our commitment to using technology and advancing it is ingrained in our strategy for growth, talent recruitment and retention, and creating a sustainable business. We are committed to improving value of our services for our clients,” says Chiglo. “That is why we have such a strong focus on technology and staff training.”
Value of AI / Big data
One project that convinced Chiglo, and many other people, about the value of big data is working on I-94 between St. Paul and Minneapolis. WSB’s traffic team started using data generated by cell phones to track where vehicles move. With that information they were able to analyze day-to-day movements of thousands of vehicles. They could analyze origins and destinations, traffic volumes, vehicle profiles, and turning movements. They were able to combine cellular data with data on land use, the census, demographics, employment data, and economic activity in the region. Analyzing all that data allowed them to also look at issues of equity and community impact.
“The availability of data really helped us improve the value of the services that we were providing on that project. We have used cell data on other projects, but that was the first time that I had seen that type of information being used to such a large degree. There are a lot of opportunities out there when you look at the different data sources that are available. Big data is going to help us be more predictable in our outcomes.”
Internal Tools
WSB is looking at big data from an outwardly facing perspective, how they can provide more comprehensive services to their clients, and from an inward perspective, how they can use technology to more proactively manage their own performance and have more predictable outcomes. About five years ago, WSB brought in a data analyst to help manage their internal data. “We use technology to manage our data warehouse. Then we use Power BI to create dashboards to help us manage performance on a day-to-day or even hour-to-hour, basis. We have important data and metrics about all our projects readily available,” says Chiglo. “All this information is used to help the company communicate better, provide more transparency in how things are flowing, and to get needed information into the hands of our managers in a timeframe that allows them to manage their resources and their teams effectively. It helps improve overall performance of the company.”
More and more firms are working with big data. WSB is committed to using technology to benefit their clients, recruit and retain staff, to become more consistent and more predictable in their outcomes, and to improve their internal processes.
“We’d like to think that we are best of class when it comes to how we use technology, that may or may not be the case. We focus on solutions that help add value to our services for our clients and for our own business practices. For that, we’re willing to be—and we want to be—at the bleeding edge of technology. We are willing to take that risk in a calculated way. But I continually talk to our staff about making sure we’re managing risks effectively. We cannot sacrifice quality, we have to get it right. We manage the risks and implement new technologies, build new partnerships, and add different practices that support our goals and deliver for our clients.
“Engineers are not typically risk takers. But we take on risk in a responsible manner to drive success. In a lot of ways, I think that has invigorated a lot of our staff. When we first started doing a lot of three- and four-dimensional design, we talked about our staff being pioneers in the industry, especially in the transportation industry.
“Thinking back to when we were still doing Leroy hand drafting and moving to a two-dimensional CAD system. Now, we’re in three-dimensional; we were at the leading edge of that a few years ago. We continually add value to what we’re doing to stay on the leading edge.
“We want to drive and use that technology to create solutions and manage risks that have been issues for our industry for many, many years in the two-dimensional realm. That’s where the biggest benefits lie is being able to manage those longstanding risks in a more straightforward, reduced-risk environment.”
Coming Up: 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D
Structural engineers seem to have embraced 3D design and have been using it for a while. For some reason, transportation designers are still largely working in 2D. Chiglo has been learning and promoting the benefits of 3D in transportation design.
“Because of technology, we can provide a clearer picture with 3D than what we were able to do with 2D tools. So that’s a way we are helping clients manage some of their risk more clearly or more effectively.”
Chiglo calls this revolutionary. “When we started doing it a lot of folks were saying, “what they’re doing isn’t possible. We were able to show them the results.
“We’re still getting that reaction in some parts of the country. We have a project we’re working on where we will analyze their 2D design in a 3D environment through our digital construction management team. There is still skepticism, in time, as clients see how risks are being more effectively managed, clients and contractors will want three dimensional models on all projects.
“It’s revolutionary because of the comprehensive review of the project that can occur. In 2D, a lot of people design drainage separate from the roadway and bridge. And there’s not a system in two dimensions that you can bring all of that together. But in 3D, you can bring all the different design features into one model and look at them collectively, see how they interact. You can understand how drainage systems conflict with bridges or utilities in a very visual, obvious manner. Those conflicts have been challenges in 2D design for many years, and now, in a 3D environment utilizing a Digital Twin, risks are quickly identified and mitigated.
“Three dimensions most of us are familiar with. Four-dimensional design includes schedule, so in a model, you can link a schedule to the attributes of your model, and then as you progress the schedule, you can see that structure built right in front of you. These tools improve constructability, quality of design and communications with the public.
“Five-dimensional design includes revenue. 5D allows you to show the revenue that’s generated by a contractor’s operations or the payout curve from a client perspective. Sometimes, especially with tight budgets, it is important for toll authorities, contractors, or owners to understand when they have to buy more bonds to pay for that work, or understand revenue that has been generated. 5D allows them to make more well informed decisions on how to manage their finances.
“In some realms people are talking six-dimensional design, which means you can build asset management-type attributes or applications into the design.”
Chiglo observed, “If you’ve gone through a two-dimensional design, created cross sections, laid out the project, run all the computations, developed the typical sections, and then move into a 3D system, you will see a lot of efficiencies that you can gain in going from a 2D system to a 3D system. You will have more time to think through the alternatives or design enhancements. 3D efficiencies allow more time to question and challenge the model and use critical thinking as you progress through a design. I believe reflection is inherent in the process.
“There are a lot of benefits to what we’re trying to do regardless of the project you’re working on. I’d say it’s revolutionary.”
Necessary Discussions
Many experts agree that while there is some risk that new AI tools could be misused, most feel the overall contributions will be helpful to engineering, offering efficient processing of data and automating repetitive or mundane tasks.
Chiglo acknowledges that the industry needs to continue serious conversations about risks, so the technology does not get abused. Engineers and technicians need to have critical thinking skills and an engineering background to challenge the tools and determine when something isn’t right. Chiglo often says, “We cannot be dependent on the technology. The technology should be assisting us not telling us what should be done.” When AI is a tool in the hands of capable engineers then the capabilities of AI can help engineers be more efficient at developing potential solutions.
Still Learning
Jon Chiglo is aware of many things that are not yet known about AI and how AI might be used in engineering. Including unknown developments, like what happened in February with the Chinese releasing the AI software that took a lot of people by surprise. “There’s so much money being invested in AI and it’s advancing so quickly,” observes Chiglo, “there’s a lot to be discovered, and a lot to be discussed about how it will ultimately be utilized in our industry.”
WSB keeps up by attending conferences, running pilot projects, and conducting research with the U of M. They also establish partnerships with technology companies. Partnerships allow WSB to understand where technology development might be headed, and they give WSB opportunities to help support and influence that development.