In the oil, gas and chemical industry, complexity is a given. Projects are massive and multifaceted. A tidal wave of data is typically generated as projects move from design and procurement through construction and commissioning.
For decades, the challenge has been the same: Data is everywhere, but ownership is uncertain. Information becomes trapped in disconnected systems, leading to data silos, static reports and a heavy reliance on manual exports.
As the next generation of heavy industrial facilities are built, simply managing data will not be enough. Successful project execution will increasingly require data to become a shared strategic asset, enabling a new level of collaboration among owners, engineer-procure-construct (EPC) firms and technology providers.
Balancing Governance With Agility
Within many large organizations, most enterprise systems are designed for consistency, not flexibility. This is a shortcoming for many project teams, because they require flexibility and speed from these systems.
Other challenges may include various data silos, with no single platform connecting them all. This fragmentation can erode trust in data quality and pose barriers to opportunities to perform advanced work such as forecasting, AI modeling or even scenario planning.
The solution is to establish a governed sandbox — an environment where project teams can innovate using flexible, modern tools while operating within the secure, compliant framework of the enterprise.
For increasingly complex oil, gas and chemical projects at Burns & McDonnell, there is a need for a technology platform that can enable solutions to be rapidly built and deployed, using open-source tools and scalable cloud computing.
After evaluating several leading platforms, our multidisciplined team concluded that the Databricks platform was the choice that met multiple criteria. With enterprise information technology still managing infrastructure and governance, this tool allows our business group to focus on innovation with a controlled but flexible sandbox where data lives safely and can be used creatively.
Power of a Data-Centric Platform
When data is treated as a reusable product rather than a disposable report, its value multiplies. By establishing a unified data-centric platform, all stakeholders can work from a single source of truth that creates these benefits:
- Seamless collaboration. Clients, vendors and EPC firms alike can plug into a shared ecosystem that alleviates wasted time moving and translating data between disconnected systems by flowing information through a centralized environment.
- Improved project outcomes. Greater connectivity makes it possible to link design data with real-time cost and schedule information. This helps to predict risks earlier and optimize decision-making throughout the project life cycle.
- Empowering teams. When business users and subject matter experts can access governed datasets through intuitive tools, they can explore information and find answers on their own, without waiting for a developer to interpret the data for them.
What the Future Looks Like
Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly reshape how we design, build and operate facilities. The real potential lies not in generic AI assistants but in highly specific applications trained on clean, connected project data. Imagine an AI tool that could help predict safety risks based on historical site data, optimize equipment procurement by analyzing market trends or capture the insights of a senior engineer so they can be shared across the organization.
These possibilities are within reach, but they depend entirely on the quality of the underlying data foundation. The journey to AI readiness begins with the thoughtful, strategic work of breaking down silos and building a connected data ecosystem today.
By moving from fragmented systems to a governed, flexible platform, we can make information easier to access, trust and use across every phase of a project. This is more than a technology upgrade; it is a mindset shift that builds trust, fosters true partnership and creates a foundation ready for whatever comes next.
