Based on its recent analysis of the global digital water consulting services market, Frost & Sullivan recognises Jacobs with 2020 Global Company of the Year Award for transitioning from an engineering and construction firm to a global technology-forward solutions company. With an emphasis on sustainability, Jacobs transformed its portfolio to align with major trends such as environmental resilience, information technology/operational technology convergence, and national security. It specifically focuses on the sustainable management of water resources for various applications across the globe.
“Jacobs leverages advanced technologies such as digital twins, intelligent asset management, drones, and laser scanning, along with in-depth domain knowledge in areas such as smart cities. It employs these technologies to deliver world-class solutions, from water supplies to treatment, conveyance, wastewater treatment, reuse, and return to the natural environment,” said Fredrick Harry Royan, vice president, global environment practice, Frost & Sullivan. “With its strategy around digitally-enabled solutions, Jacobs is positioning itself as a critical partner to public utilities to help them tackle important customer challenges associated with ageing infrastructure.”
One of Jacobs’ most remarkable solutions is the Replica™ Digital Twin Solution Platform. It can be used to assemble models within a customisable interface to simulate fluid dynamics, operations, and controls, as well as water quality and treatment processes simultaneously. Replica also ensures simple and complex hydraulic analysis and control strategy development while improving system design through scenario analysis. It can simulate conveyance systems, pumping stations and treatment facilities to solve challenges related to complex hydraulics, energy efficiency, pump station optimisation, and water quality process control.
Further extending its technological leadership, Jacobs invested in five enterprise-wide technology areas of focus aligned to key disruptors: Cybersecurity, applied geospatial sciences, automated design, Internet of things (IoT), and predictive analytics. In 2017, it acquired CH2M, a global engineering firm operating in infrastructure and government service sectors, especially water. The CH2M acquisition established Jacobs as a leading player in the fields of water treatment and desalinisation, which are increasingly important during these times of climate change.
“Jacobs helps transform big data into actionable information that supports utilities with increasing regulatory pressures, ageing workforces, and failing infrastructure, thus, protecting their assets, improving efficiency within organisations, and leveraging existing information systems,” noted Royan. “It launched a sustainability strategy, known as PlanBeyond, which encompasses people, places, and partnerships. Overall, Jacobs is expected to continue being the digital water service provider of choice by improving people’s health and wellbeing and creating sustainable places to live and work.”
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organisation that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognises a high degree of innovation with products and technologies, and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.
“For more than seven decades, Jacobs has been a leader in sustainable water development and innovative technology services. Our digital water solutions help utilities tackle important challenges associated with operational resiliency, ageing infrastructure and resource optimisation, along with the current pandemic. The Digital Water Company of the Year award represents our commitment to providing a powerful spectrum of solutions for the water industry, from water supplies to treatment, conveyance, wastewater treatment, reuse and return to the natural environment,” said Jacobs global digital market director Dr. Raja Kadiyala. “As the water industry navigates the new normal, digital solutions are becoming more important than ever.”
