The transformational role of data for democratized digital project delivery

Most investments in infrastructure projects take the form of (municipal) bonds, government and private debt and private equity, a form of financing that cannot be easily converted to cash. This limits the type of investor who will engage in projects. Data provides near real time insights into performance, structural health and use, much like share prices update as new information becomes available to inform buyers and sellers. As a result, data from physical infrastructure is setting the stage for a new software-as-a-service (SaaS)-like business and financing model where data contracts can be securitized, licensed and used for new infrastructure applications and services. By envisioning data as the informational stock (or collateral) of infrastructure, better pricing of its value, and improved liquidity of investments, are already starting to change designs and financing mechanisms that maximize performance delivery. Ultimately, by decreasing reliance of financing on the tax base of communities, access to quality infrastructure services will become more democratized, as data-driven revenue starts contributing to the
funding mechanism.

A panelist discussion will follow the lecture. Our distinguished panelists include: Britany Affolter-Caine, Executive Director, Michigan's University Research Corridor; Mayank Gupta, Director, Data Analytics & Digital Solutions, WSP; Tim Sylvester, Founder and CEO, Integrated Roadways.

• Peter Adriaens
• Democratized Digital Project Delivery
• finance
• data
• infrastructure
• Britany Affolter-Caine
• Mayank Gupta
• Tim Sylvester