What can be the potential implications of quantum computing on the AEC industry? (3/4)
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If you haven't read any, checking them before proceeding is advisable.
The AEC industry provides the infrastructure that other sectors of national economies apply to generate more value in terms of products and services. Hence, construction products require substantial capital investments and longer times to produce, as they are primarily durable goods and yield the crucial catalyst that can drive growth in many economies.
Over the years, the AEC industry has been consistently criticized for lacking the drive and agility to adopt new technologies to improve value delivery. In most cases, the AEC industry has collectively lagged behind other sectors (e.g., manufacturing and aeronautical industries) in adopting new technologies to improve productivity, except for some recent efforts to apply Virtual construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM), technological advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and other digital tools to reinvent processes and product delivery to meet specific value delivery goals.
A typical example is the structural shift from manual processes to the wide adoption of digital computers and allied digital information and communication tools to enhance efficiency in value delivery. Though the AEC industry was relatively slow in accepting and adopting these tools, they have become powerful imperative tools.
So, what are the potential opportunities for the AEC industry? And how can it benefit from quantum computing?
The opportunities from quantum computing can be examined from the perspective of a)Business management and b)Construction project delivery. For most AEC industry-based businesses, the two areas (i.e., business management and project delivery) are intertwined since construction-oriented businesses often deliver tasks via projects.
a. From a business management view, these opportunities relate to the prospective benefits and tactical uses that may evolve. This includes areas such as the following: Building secure environments for business applications; applying quantum-based simulations in tendering or procuring work; leveraging quantum-based simulations in business process engineering to enhance profitability; building human resource capacity; optimizing tax planning and taxation solutions, accounting, and financial planning via the use of quantum-based tools; business scenario planning, marketing solutions, etc.
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b. From a construction project delivery perspective, the opportunities are likely to be significant in delivering complex construction mega-projects, construction programs, and works in project finance (e.g., in Public-Private Partnerships). These types of work entail significant risks, uncertainties, and many complex variables that often affect project success. Over time, potential advances in quantum computing power and relevant quantum-based algorithms can be applied to explore challenges often faced in complex projects to augment decisions to enhance delivery success.
Another opportunity for AEC industry-based businesses will be potential to apply quantum-related simulations and sampling to explore complex business problems that are currently difficult to solve. For example, procurement is at the core of winning projects and sustaining business survival in the AEC industry. Improved computational power can support businesses to explore and find better ways to compete and win tenders, solve complex customer-related business problems, prepare better proposals, and explore construction financing issues to create better business opportunities.
Other examples in AEC industry-based businesses include harnessing potentially increased computing power from quantum computing to power aspects of AI (e.g., Machine Learning) to augment business decisions and operations in, say, attaining better winning bids without compromising too much profit margins in very tight bid competitions. Also, extant technologies in areas such as Big data, Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twins, BIM, and Blockchain technology can, over time, be supported with the unique potential abilities of quantum computing in an integrated manner to provide better insights into areas that may otherwise be limited by current computing capacity.
From a business perspective, the generic opportunities available to most businesses across industries will also be available to AEC industry-related businesses to explore.
Constructed products enter the operations and maintenance phase after delivery. This is a phase where users experience the real benefits of the delivered product. Synergies generated across the unique potential abilities of quantum computing and tools that enhance property management (e.g., Digital Twins, IoT, etc.) can produce productive benefits. Additionally, increased security via quantum computing can enhance data security, avoid hacking connected IoT, and boost privacy. Property managers can also use potential quantum-based simulated abilities to manage logistics, maintenance planning, and execution issues to maintain environmentally sustainable goals.
Next, we'll talk about the potential challenges in harnessing the potential power of quantum computers in the AEC industry.
Stay tuned...
