Working with a digital building information model thatimpacts on business processes and workflows is a different working paradigm than currently exists.

The concept of a digital model is coordinated, consistent, computable information about the design of a facility (infrastructure or building) that yields reliable digital representations of the building or infrastructure element. These representations can be used for design and fabrication decision-making, performance predictions (including safety and sustainability), cost-estimating and construction planning and facility management.

The outcomes of our recent Sydney Opera House FM Exemplar research project demonstrated that such a digital model can also incorporate facilities management information such as condition reporting, energy consumption and accommodation bookings.

This approach enables different disciplines the property developer, architect, structural engineer, cost planner, constructor and facility manager to link into a single, distributed digital model.

While it is universally recognised that integrated digital 3D rich building models are the future of the industry, there is much work to be done in developing the framework for the development of these systems in Australia and overseas.

Currently there are many different systems used by designers, constructors and facility managers. Developing and adopting standard protocols for the sharing and exchange of information will significantly reduce errors and data re-entry.

It is estimated that the same information is entered on average seven times in different systems before a facility is handed over to the owner organisation. The same information is often re-created several times in different software. This is an enormous impost on the property and construction business and an area where Australia can take the lead at an international level.

The potential is so great that it is difficult to quantify the impact that integrated, intelligent building information and database systems will have on the construction industry.

As the lead research organisation for Australias property, design, construction and facilities management industry, Construction Innovation brings together industry, government and research leaders, and plays a vital role in developing standards and protocols and enhancing our industry capacitys for the digital future.

If you would like to discuss the work Construction Innovation is undertaking in digital modelling, I invite you to contact me. K.Hampson@construction-innovation.info or P.Scuderi@construction-innovation.info