The digital construction site: data sets the pace

From paper to usable data 

Every day, the construction site generates a large amount of data: machines, sensors, monitoring software, production reports… When this information is put to good use, it enables the transition from a reactive approach to one of anticipation and centralized real-time control.

For a long time, this information was recorded on paper, entered into various Excel spreadsheets, then scanned and archived. Although it was available, it was difficult to make full use of it. Digitization marks a profound transformation here: it turns this data into a concrete, structured, and real-time management tool.

The result:

• easier-to-create reports
• faster analyses
• more regular and reliable communication with the client

This is how the transition from a reactive approach to real-time management takes place. At Implenia France, this dynamic is being driven by Philippe Liotard, Director of Materials since 2019, who oversees the development and integration of digital solutions to support operational activities.

Specific tools on the TELT CO08 construction site 

The Lyon-Turin TELT CO08 tunnel construction site illustrates this approach very well. Due to the very high reporting standards required by the project owner, TELT, several tools were developed that are directly tailored to the needs of the on-site teams. All employees can suggest improvements; an external partner then develops the solution with support from Philippe Liotard.

For example, time-tracking software was introduced to make tracking working hours more reliable and easier. Another tool enables the creation of shift reports as well as real-time tracking of construction progress and equipment availability, thereby providing a clear and continuously updated overview of production.

The central building and facility management system (GTC) ensures overall monitoring of the construction site. It enables the control of systems and the monitoring of key parameters such as airflow in the tunnel—thereby ensuring both safety and performance. The concrete mixing plant is also monitored using digital tools that facilitate production monitoring and enable traceability and quality assurance.

A SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system complements this infrastructure. It enables the monitoring of technical systems, the remote control of specific devices, and the collection and analysis of data in real time or at a later time.

All of these tools are interconnected: Data flows between the various systems via appropriate interfaces (API, middleware). This interoperability not only ensures greater operational efficiency but also a level of cybersecurity appropriate to the construction site context.

Data at the heart of the control system 

An underground construction site generates a large amount of information: sensors, equipment, production monitoring, safety, and environmental data. Without clear organization, this data can become a burden for the teams—particularly due to time-consuming data collection and entry tasks. With a data management strategy, however, it becomes a tool for anticipation and decision support.

The role of the data manager thus becomes central:

• He or she ensures the quality and reliability of the data,
• ensures its traceability,
• and makes it understandable and usable for all project stakeholders.

Digitalization thus promotes better coordination between on-site teams, support functions, and decision-makers.

A lever for the environment 

Digitalization doesn’t just benefit production. From an environmental perspective, it also significantly simplifies the collection and consolidation of data. Maud Le Fol, QSE Manager, emphasizes that these tools centralize environmental metrics and facilitate their analysis.

This not only saves a considerable amount of time but also allows for better management of environmental obligations on the construction site.

A transformation that must be managed today 

Thanks to well-managed digitalization, the underground construction sites of tomorrow will be safer, more responsive, and more sustainable.

But this transformation isn’t based solely on technology; it requires a clear understanding of technical requirements; close collaboration between the construction site and external partners; and a strategy focused on interoperability and creating value from data.

Or, as Philippe Liotard puts it: “In the digital tunnel, the light lies in well-utilized data.”