Inspiratia InfraTech Takeouts

As the production and consumption of data by asset owners and users increases,
this creates issues around how that data can be best put to use. As it stands,
there is no consensus in how to approach this, suggesting work is required
before a best practice emerges. Solutions will naturally differ between sectors
but the issue is taking up increasing amounts of the time of those engaged in
technological applications for infrastructure.
For one, Transport for London (TfL) – the public body in charge of the UK
capital's underground, bus and trunk road networks – sees value in free data
sharing. TfL's Gareth Sumner said that the creation of an API allowing unfettered
access to its data had already saved money. Furthermore, TfL is actively seeking
relationships with companies that could derive value from the free flow of data,
in quid pro quo arrangements.
Dealing with
data
Highway owner Hochtief takes a different approach, in that it does not foresee
free data exchanges on its smart road projects. For instance, the group receives
significant data from car manufacturer VW but does not get this for free, and so
predicts a data marketplace will arise to deal with these transactions.
But what is currently lacking is a well-defined framework within which
information can flow from one party to another. Key to this occurring is ensuring
that data protection requirements are adhered to.
Anne Kemp of Atkins highlighted this as a crucial issue, saying, "The nightmare
of this is when we're talking about individuals and GDPR, when we put no more
than five datasets together we can identify an individual. We all need to be
much more aware of it and learn how to do this."
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