There has been much discussion across the construction industry about moving away from silos in different phases of the design and construction process and instead utilizing key project data 
through integrated systems and technologies in an effort to eliminate common problems such as re-entry of data as well as provide time-savings.
For this reason, data interoperability is extremely important in the construction process because as more data can be readily accessed and shared, projects then become more streamlined, more consistent and more efficient – providing value not only to project owners, but across interworking teams and contributors.
According to a recent report by the CMAA on interoperability and integration in the construction industry, interoperability is defined as, “the ability to have one piece of software exchange information with another.” This is important as it’s becoming increasingly beneficial to take advantage of cloud-based technologies and data management platforms during construction processes. Having high interoperability among data sets and systems helps eliminate a series of common construction hurdles, adding immediate value to many project efforts.
Common Hurdles
The ability to share and access construction data across various platforms helps solve common issues found in construction projects. The CMAA defines common problems in this arena to be:
- Manual input or management of data points
- Tedious duplication of important processes
- Slow production speeds due to paper based data exchanges
As various systems are used during different stages of the construction process, the potential for data loss without proper integration could be devastating for project success. Teams are managing multiple technology platforms, both cloud-based and on-premises systems, such as BIM software, PMIS tools, Asset Management software and GIS tools. By implementing proper integrations among systems, construction projects not only become more streamline, but data becomes more reliable and ultimately a more valuable end product can be delivered to customers and project owners.
Moving Forward: System Integration and the Construction Process
It’s important to have a key understanding of the construction process as well as the available technologies in order to make the most out of a data integration. A few tips to keep in mind when integrating construction technologies before an upcoming project:
- Make sure the systems, such as BIM software and GIS tools, have pre-built integration capabilities in place for various tools or have proper API capabilities to build custom integrations for ideal interoperability.
- Have a key understanding of how cloud-based solutions vs on premises solutions work within your businesses environment, so be sure to consult an internal or external IT professional.
- Get buy in from all of the key stakeholders involved on the implementation and integration of various construction technologies, as this technical ecosystem is designed to benefit all involved in the construction process so transparency is key.
For more information on data interoperability in construction management, please read the in-depth report from the CMAA available here.
This blog post is by Tim Kelly, Product Manager at Assemble Systems. If you enjoyed this post, please help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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