CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Jul 19, 2023 – Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company, today announced the findings of its latest Geo-professionals Data Management Report, which looks at the trends, challenges, and opportunities in geoscience data.
Jo Knight, Chief Customer Officer, Seequent, said, “As civil infrastructure projects become larger, and budgets become tighter, it’s more crucial than ever for organizations to garner greater value from their data. Our aim is for the Geo-professionals Data Management Report to shine a light on common and emerging challenges amongst the subsurface community, so we can collectively address them. It is an initiative Seequent feels passionately about, and one which now spans over 12 years.”
The report revealed that across the civil sector, there is a remarkably high level of readiness to embrace cloud technology, with 85% of respondents indicating they are ready – the highest of all geoprofessional industries surveyed. Despite the positive outlook, the report identified barriers hindering the full potential of cloud adoption. Reliability, lack of skill/capability, and cost were identified as primary obstacles. Additionally, many respondents said that internet access was a significant challenge.
More than 700 geo-professionals from sectors that work in the subsurface responded to the survey, including 120 civil engineering professionals. Other respondents included those from the mining, energy, and environment sectors. The report is the only one of its kind.
Other findings for the civil industry included:
• A staggering 67% of civil professionals acknowledge that they have data organized in various systems, indicating a lack of centralization. The report also highlights a substantial amount of time spent on data management, with 24% of respondents devoting more than 30% of their working hours to this.
• Indeed, data management practices in the civil sector were found to be behind other sectors. Only 13% of respondents reported having an established framework for data management, in stark contrast to the mining sector’s 39%.
• However, the report also revealed a promising statistic, with 35% of respondents that indicated their intention to implement a data management framework within the next 12-18 months.
• In terms of decision-making, 17% of respondents said they did not have access to necessary data, although this figure was lower when compared to other industries.
• Regarding technology adoption, 41% of civil professionals considered themselves early adopters of new technologies, suggesting a willingness to embrace innovation.
Pat McLarin, Segment Director, Civil, at Seequent, commented, “The report makes for fascinating reading and casts a sharp light on the deficiencies in data management across the civil sector. It also underscores the importance and urgency of implementing sound data management practices underpinned by digital workflows.
“It is reassuring to see that there is a readiness to adopt innovative technology and a strong appetite for change. Cloud-based solutions have progressed significantly in terms of cost efficiencies and reliability, and we need to do more to present their ease of implementation to the civil sector.”
The Geoprofessionals Data Management Report is in its sixth edition. Field work was undertaken in May 2023, with a total of 704 responses. The highest response rate was from the Americas, and the civil industry made up 17% of the respondents overall.
Read Seequent’s Geoprofessionals Data Management Report Sixth Edition.
About Seequent
Seequent builds world-leading subsurface software, helping to create a better understanding of the earth to ensure a better world for all.
We are constantly evolving at the forefront of technology to transform how geo-professionals work, eliminating barriers to understanding the earth’s challenges by connecting teams with the tools they need.
Every day, our customers in over 100 countries work to develop mineral resources more sustainably, design and build better infrastructure, protect the environment, source renewable energy, and help resolve historical challenges such as groundwater contamination and ageing infrastructure.
Our integrated earth modelling, geo-data management, and team collaboration software enables our customers to see a more complete picture of the earth: because with more understanding comes better decisions – for people and the planet.
Headquartered in New Zealand with global reach, Seequent is The Bentley Subsurface Company. Together, we are helping build a more resilient world. For more information, visit www.seequent.com.
About Bentley Systems
Bentley Systems (Nasdaq: BSY) is the infrastructure engineering software company. We provide innovative software to advance the world’s infrastructure – sustaining both the global economy and environment. Our industry-leading software solutions are used by professionals, and organizations of every size, for the design, construction, and operations of roads and bridges, rail and transit, water and wastewater, public works and utilities, buildings and campuses, mining, and industrial facilities. Our offerings, powered by the iTwin Platform for infrastructure digital twins, include MicroStation and Bentley Open applications for modeling and simulation, Seequent’s software for geoprofessionals, and Bentley Infrastructure Cloud encompassing ProjectWise for project delivery, SYNCHRO for construction management, and AssetWise for asset operations. Bentley Systems’ 5,000 colleagues generate annual revenues of more than $1 billion in 194 countries. For more information, visit www.bentley.com.
