Research

Generally

ProDigial is a three-year research program (October 2020 – November 2023) that analyses the factors and develops methods and operating models that improve productivity in the infrastructure sector. A key part of the research are concrete pilot projects in Finnish cities, in which new means and operating models are tested. The projects will be used as test platforms for the developed operating models, and the analysis of test pilots will provide inputs for development activities as well as new information. Lifecycle thinking is strongly present in the research program. Productivity and the use of digitalisation are examined from a lifecycle perspective. 

Goal

The main objective of the ProDigial research program is to increase productivity in the infrastructure sector by utilizing digitalization.

The research program is divided into four research entities:

  1. Lifecycle information
  2. Acquisition and cooperation
  3. Change in operating culture
  4. Improving productivity

The research entities are divided into a total of 13 work packages:

Pilot projects

The concrete pilot projects of the research program are:

  • Espoo: Situation awareness of the development of new city district, case Kera area
  • Helsinki: Operations model of snow treatment, case Taka-Töölö & Meilahti areas
  • Jyväskylä: Information management plan in the infrastructure project, case Ylämäyrämäki area
  • Kuopio: The data flow for asset management in the infrastructure lifecycle, case Savilahdentie-Volttikatu intersection
  • Lahti: Operations model of the quality indication in the infrastructure construction site, case Hennala area
  • Lappeenranta: Operations model of information flow during planning process, case Koulukatu street
  • Oulu: Operations management of street and green space maintenance
  • Tampere: A two-week street construction project, case Satakunnankatu-Rongankatu intersection
  • Turku: Co-operation between the actors in construction process, case Kirstinpuisto area
  • Vantaa: Co-operative design process, case Vehkala area
  • Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency: Utilization of digitalisation in railway maintenance
  • Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency: As built material to the maintenance needs, case Kirri–Tikkakoski motor highway

Methods

At the beginning of the research program, a review of the literature is carried out, in which previous research and good practices, models, methods and techniques are mapped. In the next step, bottlenecks in different research entities will be identified, after which new tools and operating models will be developed and tested in concrete projects. Their effects on productivity are mainly analysed using qualitative methods: case studies, expert interviews, think tanks, observation and benchmarking. In addition, statistical analyses and other quantitative analyses are performed.

Results

The research program will provide concrete means and operating models to improve the productivity of the infrastructure sector and measure it throughout the lifecycle by utilising digitalisation. In addition, in-depth information is obtained for different levels of decision-making.

Reporting

The results are reported visually and appropriately for different uses. This makes the results easily accessible to everyone. In addition, research produces dissertation articles for international research journals. The practical application of the research results will be ensured through seminars and think tanks organised for the collaborators of the research program.

Implementation

The research results are applied in practice not only in concrete projects but also by organising seminars and workshops in cities and state organisations. The implementation of the research results is planned in close cooperation with the subscriber organisations.

Schedule

October 2020 – November 2023