Be pragmatic!! Part 4 of 6 ways to improve your I&M

Introduction

Often we talk about data more when it is either not as we expect, or we believe it to be incorrect or erroneous (see this blog for more info). It is very important at this point in a project to take a pragmatic view on the complexities discussed in earlier blogs in this series: Monitor the right thing, Engage with specialists early, and The importance of Installation, to gather as much information as possible.

“The sensor must be broken”

As a manufacturer we often hear the famous phrase “the sensor must be broken”, however, I often talk of an example from another industry…. Imagine you are driving down the road and the refuel light turns on. In that split second, you often think a few thoughts: “When did I last fill up, where’s the next filling station, and what snack am I going to get!!”  Rarely however would you think that the sensor was faulty. It is therefore important to think about all the aspects of the project and rule out any other reasons that the data might not be as expected. Returning to the car example, if you were not expecting to have to fill up with fuel quite this early, maybe you have a mechanical issue? Maybe you have more weight in the car? If all of these are investigated and no resolution is found, then this would be the time to question the sensor. However, this is often not the case in the construction world.

Time wasted not assessing the potential cause of the “unexpected” data

We can sympathise, the pace of the construction world often means that decisions need to be made live and against project pressures. However, often more time is wasted not assessing the potential cause of the “unexpected” data instead of discussing that the sensor is broken. This, however, can be made more complex with poor installation or lack of documentation of the installation, the importance of which was covered in our last blog. It is understandable that if there is a lack of confidence in the installation when data questions arise the quality of the data is questioned. This is why the correct process and documentation of the installation process is key.

Sometimes things move!!

As a manufacturer, I am always going to say that the sensors do not fail! However, in 99% of cases, data that is unexpected usually comes down to installation issues, incorrect sensor selection, or that the ground/structure is behaving differently from what is expected. Ultimately, sometimes things move! I remember attending an industry conference a few years back where one of the speakers started their presentation with “Things move!” They then followed with a story of a project where there was conflict over the data showing a structure moving that definitely could not move. What followed was significant spending, and discussion to confirm that the structure was in fact moving. The ground and structures we monitor are incredibly complex, and data is sometimes not as expected. How many large construction and infrastructure projects are delayed due to “unforeseen ground conditions”? But a question we often ask ourselves is why are we surprised? This is why we monitor, we have unknowns that we are trying to clarify and yet when they do not match our hypothesis we often do not accept this reality. It’s better we understand earlier than too late.