A steering committee of major international construction industry stakeholders has been set up to facilitate the implementation and development of a common digital language
The initiative is coordinated by Norwegian software provider, Cobuilder, with the language implemented via the digital data dictionary, Define. Define helps organisations meet international standards for data management in the construction industry.
This common digital language will help organisations to automate processes, improve operational efficiency and work more efficiently towards their sustainability goals. It will also serve as an enabler for further adoption of modern digital technologies.
Define enables construction organisations to structure data in line with international standards
Define enables organisations within the construction industry to structure their data in line with all relevant international standards for data management. Data can then flow freely between different systems and BIM-authoring tools, allowing for a universal machine-readable language. Interoperability is ensured through connections to other data dictionaries, such as buildingSMART Data Dictionary.
Members of the steering committee include Lignum, a Swiss based company representing the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries, CEI-Bois, and Molio, a Danish Information centre.
Hansueli Schmid, project manager at Lignum, said: “I am very happy to be part of the Define steering committee. Members of CEI-Bois started an initiative called TIMBIM and are using Define to develop a common foundation for digital product templates within the European woodworking industries.
‘Provide product information in a digital and decentralised way’
“With common digital property definitions, manufacturers in different countries will be able to provide their product information in a digital and decentralised way, which is machine-readable and interoperable. We firmly believe that data standardisation is essential for the digital transformation of the construction industry.”
Bjarke Fjeldsted, CPO at Molio, which in the past year has been working to develop and implement a common digital language in the Danish construction sector, said:
“The main take-away from our ongoing digitalisation work is that major changes that affect the entire construction sector can only take place if the industry is ready to engage and participate actively in the process.
“At Molio, we are committed to continuing our efforts together with our national construction sector but at the same time in close cooperation on the international level. We see our work together with our international peers as an important step to develop the necessary tools that will aid the global construction industry in its digital journey.”
‘Define data dictionary will empower people to ‘think globally and act locally’
Anthony Brophy, business development director at Cobuilder UK, said: “The Define data dictionary will empower people to ‘think globally and act locally’ while working towards a common goal. This trusted data solution will enable organisations to bring forward their digitisation initiatives and facilitate a consistent data exchange methodology.”
With a deep understanding of the UK construction industry and its pain points, Antony believes that better data management is key to increasing productivity and moving the industry forward.
Join the Define community and workgroups
All construction actors who would like to participate in the process are welcome to join the Define community and workgroups. The input of these workgroups plays a decisive role in identifying the needs and priorities for future development.
Technical implementation and ongoing maintenance for the Define tool are carried out by Cobuilder, a Norwegian software provider with a long history of delivering standards-based digital solutions for the international construction industry.
