Building smarter with cloud solutions

State and local governments are urgently working to solve problems with their critical infrastructure. They face mounting pressure to deliver projects on time and on budget, while also ensuring safe and efficient use of their assets.

Microsoft and our global ecosystem of partners help meet these objectives by increasing productivity and controlling costs to improve the planning, design, and construction of new infrastructure projects, while better supporting operations and maintenance of existing assets.

In order to build better, we need to build smarter by integrating cloud-based solutions to drive improved outcomes at every stage of the capital infrastructure asset lifecycle.

PLANNING

• Streamlined planning and procurement: Increase collaboration and information sharing to improve procurement planning, drive stakeholder consensus, and reduce operational costs.
• Data-driven decisions: Cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions provide real-time data insights to help teams make informed decisions that optimize resources, predict outcomes, and simulate potential scenarios impacting new infrastructure.
• Proactive risk management: Access and analyze large datasets to identify and mitigate potential risks early in the planning phase.
• Centralized permitting: Consolidate permit applications, reviews, and approvals in a centralized system to reduce processing times and eliminate the need for physical paperwork.

DESIGN

• Enhanced collaboration: Facilitate real-time collaboration among architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms and stakeholders to enable multiple disciplines, share information, and create a cohesive plan.
• Increased visibility: Cloud-based building information modeling (BIM), digital twin, computer-aided design (CAD), and geographic information systems (GIS) solutions increase visibility to improve decision-making and streamline processes throughout the design phase.
• Data integration: Manage large volumes of data from various sources for a more comprehensive approach to design that considers all relevant factors.
• Flexibility and scalability: Adjust resources and increase agility to accommodate changes and contingencies in project size and complexity.

CONSTRUCTION

• Improved efficiency: Connect the job site to the back office and improve communication with extended project teams to keep stakeholders accountable, while maintaining timeline, budget, and quality standards.
• Real-time data access and mobility: Access and share real-time data from any location to monitor the progress and performance of the project.
• Resource tracking: Improve resource and inventory management, including automated alerts for preventive maintenance of machinery, monitoring equipment usage, and optimizing the supply chain for materials.
• Enhanced safety: Increase safety with cloud solutions that identify on-site hazards, utilize AI to predict potential risks, and enable compliance and safety protocols.
• Portfolio management: Gain insights across a portfolio of projects to monitor progress, mitigate potential issues, and standardize management for greater efficiency, consistency, and quality.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

• Advanced operations: Centralize data and applications to reduce the time and effort required to manage infrastructure assets, dispatch technicians, and adjust schedules or workloads.
• Predictive maintenance: Prepare for inspections, prevent downtime, and extend the lifespan of infrastructure components by analyzing data from sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to predict equipment failures and service requirements.
• Enhanced security:Securely manage and control sensitive data, while protecting your infrastructure assets from cyberthreats.
• Automation and standardization: Automate routine maintenance tasks and enforce standardization across processes to save time, improve efficiency, and reduce errors.
• Analyzed performance: Build an ongoing retrospective analysis to determine whether a completed project delivered the expected public outcomes.