Application of Big Data and Machine-learning (ML) Technology to Mitigate Contractor's Design Risks for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Projects

The risk of project execution increases due to the enlargement and complexity of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) plant projects. In the fourth industrial revolution era, there is an increasing need to utilize a large amount of data generated during project execution. The design is a key element for the success of the EPC plant project. Although the design cost is about 5% of the total EPC project cost, it is a critical process that affects the entire subsequent process, such as construction, installation, and operation & maintenance (O&M). This study aims to develop a system using machine-learning (ML) techniques to predict risks and support decision-making based on big data generated in an EPC project's design and construction stages. As a result, three main modules were developed: (M1) the design cost estimation module, (M2) the design error check module, and (M3) the change order forecasting module. M1 estimated design cost based on project data such as contract amount, construction period, total design cost, and man-hour (M/H). M2 and M3 are applications for predicting the severity of schedule delay and cost over-run due to design errors and change orders through unstructured text data extracted from engineering documents. A validation test was performed through a case study to verify the model applied to each module. It is expected to improve the risk response capability of EPC contractors in the design and construction stage through this study.