GHD Digital’s Dr. Nipa Basu Leads the Way in Data Science and Sustainability for Engineering Firms

Dr. Nipa Basu is the Global and North American Practice Director for Digital Intelligence at GHD Digital, a global environmental, design, and construction engineering firm with over 10,000 employees. GHD was founded in Australia and is headquartered in Irvine, California. With a 94-year history, the company has expanded its focus to include data science and artificial intelligence (AI) over the past five years.

Dr. Basu, who has a background in economics and a strong background in data science and statistics, oversees a team of 100 professionals in various data-related areas. During an interview with me, she discussed the differences between her previous role as Chief Analytics Officer at Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and her current position at GHD. While both companies focus on geographic information systems (GIS) and data management (DM), Dr. Basu noted that the engineering services focus of GHD requires a different approach.

Despite being still catching up on their digitization journey, engineering firms like GHD have a unique advantage in understanding the environmental and sustainability needs of their clients. GHD is at the forefront of corporate sustainability efforts, providing valuable insights into environmental, social, and governance (ESG) improvements. Dr. Basu emphasized the importance of data collection, quality, sharing, and real-time analytics to drive industry benchmarking and progress towards ESG goals.

The experiences shared by Dr. Basu during our interview are encouraging for the future of digital intelligence and data science in engineering firms like GHD. With a focus on harnessing the power of data to drive industry advancements in ESG practices, Dr. Basu’s team is paving the way for innovation within this sector.

Overall, it’s clear that digital intelligence and AI are becoming increasingly important for engineering firms looking to stay competitive in today’s rapidly changing landscape. By embracing these technologies and leveraging their unique strengths as experts in sustainability efforts, companies like GHD can help lead the way towards more sustainable solutions for our planet’s future needs.

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