Irvin Bishop, Jr., EVP & Chief Information Officer at Black & Veatch.
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Most Americans don’t ever think about the centuries of engineering and trillions of dollars that have gone into creating the infrastructure systems that allow us to live our comfortable modern lives. Even when we feel like we have had a bad day, most would consider whatever is stressing us “first-world” problems.
Before our mobile phone chimes awaken us each morning, we are already using power, water and communications networks to keep us warm, our food cold, our lights timed, our messages queued and hundreds of other activities that will shape our day. Our lives are built on vast networks of critical digital infrastructure.
Unfortunately, infrastructure is one of those words, like “digitalization” or “transformation,” that many people hear but don’t fully understand. This is often because it is hard to conceptualize things we cannot see. When they work best, infrastructure systems are those we use every day but don’t bother to think about. These systems are invisible but invaluable. Viewed through a political lens, this may be why government programs have historically focused on visible infrastructure projects like roads and bridges, which present a pleasing photo op, versus the digital infrastructure elements.
Fully Connected, Fully Immersed
Just a decade or two ago, most Americans’ interaction with technology and data occurred through distant, singular transactions at a keyboard, but today, few things are static, and we’re seeing fully immersive experiences via smart interfaces with exciting new capabilities. Our world is moving rapidly toward a fully realized digital vision, where data is created, shared and analyzed, enriching our interconnected experience and making it more tangible and valuable.
This digital universe is built upon the dense fiber networks and wireless communications that automate and control our power and water supply, the 5G towers streaming music to our mobile phones, the solar panels on our roofs adding carbon-free energy to the grid and much more.
In just a few decades, we have moved from Pong to the hundreds of connected devices that link us and inform our lives—the fitness watch that tells us how well we slept, the app-enabled coffee machines that jump-start our morning and the virtual reality experiences that take us out of our daily lives and whisk us into immersive virtual experiences.
Everything we touch relies on reliable power, water or communications infrastructure, and with more devices coming online every minute, we need more bandwidth, more sensors and more artificial intelligence (AI) to effectively run these networks. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocates billions of dollars in funding to support, expand and improve these systems, allowing us to accelerate the digitalization of these essential systems.
Greater connectivity, a better understanding and use of data and an ever-expanding world of devices and technologies will accelerate our digital future, helping industries, businesses and communities become more resilient and able to stand up to disruption, whether it’s from new market entrants, new business models or global pandemics.
Digital Solutions, Future Opportunities
Imagination is the only limiting factor, so where do we see the future heading?
Communications Are Critical Infrastructure
Resilient, reliable networks are vital in this digital world, with more Americans than ever learning, working, accessing telehealth and socializing online. 5G networks will support connected devices at a remarkable scale, and 5G’s gigabit speeds will reshape data and connectivity into innovation. Connectivity is critical to advance healthcare, social mobility and economic equality, reduce the digital divide and improve the community’s quality of life.
Safe, Sustainable Mobility
The transportation sector accounts for nearly one-third of carbon emissions, so industry leaders are embracing the concept of digital mobility centered on the use of advanced technology to reduce traditional challenges like traffic and driver-error-caused accidents. Mobility will continue to evolve as communities develop tech-enabled innovations—interactive reservations, smart parking, vehicle routing, app-based payments and electric vehicle car charging and sharing all with the goal of improving air quality and moving more people and goods safely and efficiently.
Smarter, More Sustainable Water
Climate change is stressing water resources around the globe, but smarter infrastructure will help manage the threats to our water supply. Advanced technologies such as digital twins that supply usage data, support predicative maintenance, improved leak detection and climate change planning all rely on data-driven digital systems.
Renewable Energy Integration
Residential solar and electrification are taking off, forcing consumers and utilities to embrace advanced digital systems to integrate these technologies onto the electric grid. Not only do utilities need to monitor and manage their communities’ power supply and demand, but they must also adjust as needed to balance the increased demand from electric vehicles. To prepare, utilities are digitalizing their distribution grid, deploying smart devices and viewing data as a vital resource.
Interconnection Is Everything
Our world is evolving more quickly than anyone ever imagined, and success is starting to be measured by how well an industry or community can innovate and embrace technology. Advanced communication networks will continue to reshape the world and soon static infrastructure will be a thing of the past. Everything will be interconnected. It’s wise to take the digital perspective now to not only survive—but thrive—in this new world.
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