Kalle Vaismaa is on the move - and that's a good thing, because the Finnish infrastructure industry's own digital professor should make the industry jump to a new level of productivity. The change is big, the expectations are high and it takes five years. What does a digital pro have time for?
Text: Sari Okko
From the beginning of February 2019, elected to speed up the promotion of the digitalization of the infrastructure sector Kalle Vaismaa is excited. The digital professor has been traveling between Tampere and Helsinki at a brisk pace for the past few weeks, meeting financiers and getting an overview of the project.
"I like challenges. The work is very interesting", Vaismaa sums up.
Even today, according to the professor, the work has absorbed so much that the suitcase, which is now in active use, was forgotten at the previous meeting. "I can find so many distracted professors," Vaismaa smiles.
The infrastructure sector needs a digital leap
Behind the new industry professorship established at the University of Tampere are designers, contractors and software companies working in the infrastructure sector. All involved stakeholders are united by a common interest in bringing the industry's digitization and Finnish expertise to the forefront internationally. At the same time, it is hoped that the professorship will increase competitiveness and generate new business both at home and abroad.
Vaismaa is a giant in the research and business world. Experience has been gained in the development of service activities based on new technology, e.g. Tampere University's Transportation Research Center on Verne and the possibilities of digitalization from the projects carried out at WSP Finland Oy.
"Now the aim should be to promote the productivity leap in the infrastructure sector with the help of digitization. It is not as easy to digitize construction sites as factory production, but there is plenty of potential," summarizes Vaismaa, who is from Pälkänee.
Kalle Vaismaa is the Finnish infrastructure industry's own digital professor. Photo: Jonne Rennvall
Additional speed to processes
Vaisma's own career leap took the professor to a rather traditional industry, which needs the development of both tools and processes, but also to influence the attitudes of professionals in the field. Vaismaa plans to blow tailwinds into the entire chain and life cycle of infrastructure construction, as well as promoting cooperation on a large scale.
"In order to create a digital gap, we have to get all relevant actors involved. Without the will to change and international cooperation, the renewal of the industry will not succeed."
According to Vaismaa, digitization is at a good pace, e.g. in design and construction information modeling. Additional momentum should be gained in the next few years for asset management and maintenance, which are the longest in the life cycle of infrastructure.
"For example, the collection of data and its better utilization are emphasized all the time. The automation of work machines and increasing intelligence are also changing the traditional processes of the infrastructure sector. In general, digitality should make everyday life easier, so that there is interest in using it," Vaismaa reflects.
Flight altitude correct
The University of Tampere is a natural home for the digital professorship, as the building has strong expertise in infrastructure construction and the development of information management and digital applications.
A significant set of projects is assembled around the professorship, and project funding is comprehensively sought from both client organizations and public funding sources. Pilot projects are an essential part of development work.
Vaismaa has rolled up its sleeves quickly in order to reach the appropriate "flying height" as quickly as possible. Two big projects are already underway: we are trying to get the project related to the utilization of information management started by the end of the summer, and the project related to the application of new technology towards the end of next year.
"Future development requires a more international ecosystem than the current one, more uniform standards and open data transfer formats, and to some extent more global software families. Here we could be trendsetters at the Nordic level."
Add digital to courses and diploma theses
Vaismaa trusts in the power of networking, so he has set out to promote cooperation between universities both at home and abroad. Digiprofa strives to include digitization as widely as possible in teaching as well, so that the growth of Finland's future digital-oriented experts can accelerate.
"Starting next fall, digitization will be included in existing courses more strongly than before. In the future, the goal is to produce more and more diploma theses related to the digitization of the infrastructure sector."
Expectations for the digital professorship are high, but digital professionals are not confused by the challenges. "I have received a very good reception. The stakeholders are very committed and involved in developing the overall picture with me", thanks Vaismaa.
Finland in 2024?
So what will Finland's infrastructure sector look like in five years?
"Hopefully different. At least we have received a lot of additional information about what should be done and by what means in order to get the industry up and running. Five years is quite a long time, and during that time a lot of progress can be made in terms of processes, technologies and software, for example."
Funders of the digital professorship: A-Insinöörit Civil Oy, CivilPoint Oy, Destia Oy, FCG Oy, Graniittirakennus Kallio Oy, NRC Group Finland, Pöyry Finland Oy, Ramboll Finland Oy, Roadscanners Oy, Sitowise Oy, Sweco Oy, Trimble Solutions Oy, Wihuri Oy SITECH Finland and YIT Suomi Oy.
The story was previously published in Infra magazine 2/2019