Construction data dictionary now available in the UK market
Published on December 8, 2022
A UK data dictionary allows users in the construction industry to access the same information in an industry-agreed and structured format.
The purpose of a data dictionary is to enhance the “golden thread” in the construction industry by providing information from trusted standard-based data models. The new UK data dictionary is structured to support the implementation of ISO 19650, the international standard for managing information over the whole life cycle of a built asset using building information modelling. The dictionary holds content based on information sources like BSI (British Standards Institute), RIBA stages, Uniclass and more.
Benefits for the whole construction value chain
By getting access to the ready-to-use content in the data dictionary, various construction industry actors can apply it in their own organisations, taking substantial leaps towards standards-based management of their data, ensuring interoperability and repeatability. Most importantly it can support actors to prepare for complex environmental legislation and will help them face the challenges of transitioning to a circular economy.
The data dictionary enables any software and model authoring tools to exchange, map, or standardise information across organisations and projects on a global scale.
Contractors and other built environment actors can use standardised data in projects to improve business processes, such as cost calculations, design, purchasing, carbon footprint calculations and more. It could improve cross-border collaboration, better the data management, and streamline processes for managing environmental requirements. It would also allow for development of solutions that use machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Interconnected data dictionaries
As the dictionary holds a common machine-readable language, it can provide common purposes, milestones, classifications and introduce the concept of data templates for construction objects. In the dictionary you will find content like Uniclass, RIBA stages, data templates based on British standards, properties and all its attributes. The data can be reached by an API to ensure machine-to-machine readability.
The data dictionary is available through the Define software tool, and the content will continue to expand as more dictionaries are published and existing content is further enriched. In addition to the UK data dictionary, there are also other dictionaries published using Define. Several workgroups with industry representatives from national associations, standardisation bodies and industry organisations are working on developing new content. Molio (Denmark), CAS (The Czech Republic), CEI-Bois (The European Confederation of Woodworking Industries), and the national standardisation body, Standards Norway, are some examples.
For the UK data dictionary, a separate workgroup has been established to ensure governance and interoperability. All construction industry stakeholders are welcome to join and collaborate on creating a common digital language for the construction industry.
If you would like to learn more about the data dictionary and the workgroups, more information is available in this page or get in touch with us.
