The Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) has set out how the Information Management Framework for the built environment will be delivered, which will enable the development of the National Digital Twin (NDT)
The CDBB has published the Roadmap – the next output of the Digital Framework Task Group (DFTG).
The goal is to achieve effective information management that enables secure, resilient data sharing and that puts the right insight in the right hands at the right time to make the right decisions. All this will underpin the National Digital Twin – an ecosystem of digital twins, connected via securely shared data. According to CDBB, the NDT has the potential to multiply the savings and efficiencies by facilitating interconnections between organisations and across sectors.
The National Infrastructure Commission’s 2017 report ‘Data for the public good’ highlighted the need for a strong national programme to create standards and a national focus for the best possible use of data in the built environment. The government’s response was to ask CDBB to lead the development of the Information Management Framework and create the DFTG chaired by Mark Enzer, chief technical officer of Mott MacDonald, to lead the national approach to the next generation of digital applications.
The Roadmap is split into five connected streams:
- The ‘Approach’ stream considers and defines the overall strategy for delivering the benefits of effective information management across the built environment.
- To establish the structures and processes for managing the development, adoption and ongoing oversight of the Framework, there is a ‘Governance’ stream.
- The ‘Commons’ stream develops the necessary support for effective information management via guidance, tools and standards.
- An ‘Enablers’ stream seeks to identify and address the key potential blockers.
- Finally, a considerable ‘Change’ stream is needed to facilitate the adoption of the Framework across the whole ecosystem of the built environment.
At the heart of CDBB’s programme is the drive to enable the National Digital Twin, where the digital models sit alongside actual schools, hospitals, road and rail networks to help planning and to better inform decisions.
The next stage for CDBB is to launch the Digital Twin Hub (DT Hub), a collaborative, learning community for those who own or develop Digital Twins. CDBB and the DFTG have announced that Samuel Chorlton of the Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure (DAFNI) will chair the Steering Group that will establish the DT Hub.
Robin Webb, deputy director, Infrastructure and Procurement, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: “The Digital Framework Task Group has done an impressive job in a short time in laying out the path to a National Digital Twin for infrastructure, and to realising the benefits for society of a smarter built environment.
“The publication of the Roadmap is an important and exciting further milestone on the journey, and I congratulate Mark Enzer and the Group, and CDBB on it.”
Publishing the Roadmap, chair of the DFTG and Roadmap Working Group, Mark Enzer added: “The Gemini Principles provided the conscience of this Information Management Framework and today’s publication takes us one step further – providing a map of the first years of the journey that will lead to delivery of the Framework for the built environment.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those involved, especially the members of the Roadmap Working Group – their time and expertise has been absolutely invaluable.”
