Skip to content
Get started
Back

The Future of Engineering is in IT

Worksighted Logo
Worksighted Team Nov 20 2018

Engineering companies have always been at the forefront of innovation. Therefore, adopting the latest digital technology should be a no-brainer. As an industry that constantly seeks to create and improve on what’s gone before, it’s vital that companies look to harness the maximum value that emerging IT has to offer. The future of engineering lies in IT.

Developments in technology hold plenty of promise and can solve numerous challenges in the industry. One of the biggest of these challenges is the increase in the volume of data that today’s engineering firms must deal with. Emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and AI allow us to create, harness, and realize the full potential of this data while keeping it fully secure.

Here is a look at some of the great potential for the future that innovative technology provides, and how they’re being used to solve challenges in engineering circles.

The emergence of 5G

 

The fifth generation of mobile networks, 5G is expected to be in widespread use by 2020.

5G technology is a lot faster than its predecessors. In some trial labs, it has been recorded to reach download speeds of over 2.8 Gbps – this is impressive if we consider that 4G peaks at about 90 Mbps. The obvious benefit of this is that digital infrastructures will be faster and more efficient. Downloads will be quicker and connectivity slicker.

How this will affect the engineering industry

Engineering is a dynamic industry, where people need to communicate in real time from different locations. Whether engineers are working on site, in the field, or remotely, they’ll be able to communicate and access information much faster than before. Workers will have access to resources wherever they are, whether that’s a message from your colleague or large-scale datasets that will allow quick and effective decision-making.

Internet of Things

 

The potential for machines to communicate not just with humans, but with each other, sets completely new standards for what many industries can achieve.

How this will affect the engineering industry

Devices and machines can be programmed to communicate with each other and make informed decisions based on the information they share. Technology has been previously programmed for individual, self-contained tasks, requiring a single point of centralized management to coordinate. As IoT-enabled devices become more widespread, these individual tools become less individual, and engineers can focus on building intelligent, adaptive networks that don’t need managing.

An example of this could be in eliminating reactive maintenance, as machines learn to pre-empt when faults will occur. This will allow repairs to be made well in advance, breakdowns to be avoided and more value to be gained from the same infrastructure.

AI in cybersecurity

 

Cybersecurity has always been an important aspect of IT, but in the last few years, it’s become even more of a priority. As devices become more connected, it becomes increasingly difficult to protect them from outside influence. Cyberwarfare, hacking and data breaches are becoming increasingly widespread in the contemporary age.

How this will affect the engineering industry

The more dependent on innovative technology that engineering companies become, the more they’ll have to focus on making their cybersecurity infallible. If the company’s entire physical infrastructure is connected to the same network, they can’t afford for that network to fail. If they process customer data when that whole network fails, they’re in a lot of trouble.

In the last few years, technology like ‘behavioral analytics’ has developed to better understand when IT networks have been breached. This uses big data analytics to track and quantify trends in users’ behavior. From this, it can identify malicious behavior by comparing it against established trends. In engineering and elsewhere, it’s innovative technology like this that’ll help create secure networks that are built for the future.

The future of engineering

Engineering companies looking to stay ahead of their competitors must build adaptive networks that harness the potential of technology now and in the future while keeping their infrastructure secure and operational. Security and compliance, disaster recovery planning, and device procurement are a top priority for many IT managers in the engineering industry. To make the most of the innovation available to them they need the right IT partner. Worksighted specializes in building, monitoring, and maintaining the engineering IT networks of the future. We work with your IT team to understand your unique challenges and provide the most appropriate solutions. We know your industry and have experience providing expert support for construction and engineering businesses across Michigan.

Contact us at Worksighted to find out more about how we can help support your construction or engineering business.  

Have a question?

Our team are here to help whenever you need us. Drop us a line and we’ll be in touch ASAP. 

Get in touch
Worksighted Logo

Worksighted Team