Automating Common Data Integration for Improved Data-Driven Decision-Support System in Industrial Construction

To achieve meaningful results, data-driven decision-support systems in construction require the integration of fragmented data from multiple standalone databases. In practice, a manual brute-force approach is often the only available means of integrating structured, yet semantically-ambiguous, construction data. Two common data integration challenges include the identification of (1) key strings (i.e., product identification) partially shared between two data sources; and (2) relationships (overlap, included, or outside) between two 3D object lists based on coordinates. This research has developed a framework that includes two generic solutions to the identified semantic mapping challenges. The proposed framework automatically integrates fragmented and incompatible data (exhibiting similar semantic mapping challenges) from various sources into a tidy format for input into a diverse range of industrial construction applications. Verification and functionality of the framework were confirmed using both artificial data and a real case study of a large oil-and-gas project. The ability of the proposed data integration functions and framework to automate otherwise manual data integration processes was demonstrated. Results of this study are expected to enhance real-time information flow, improve data quality, and promote the use of fragmented data for critical decision support in practice.

Automated summary

This study develops a framework to address data integration challenges in the construction industry. By automating the integration of fragmented and incompatible data, the framework improves information flow and data quality, promoting the practical use of critical decision support.