Define hackathon to unite construction software vendors and support them in enabling the free flow of standardised data

Published on October 27, 2022

On the 8th and 9th of November, Cobuilder hosts the Define hackathon to unite construction software vendors and support them in enabling the free flow of standardised data

Participants can join the event virtually via a video link. The goal of Cobuilder’s hackathon is to provide participants with a walkthrough of the latest version of its Define Templates API service, support them in connecting to the data dictionary and enable the free flow of standardised data within their systems and solutions.

During the hackathon, participants will explore a use case of querying environmental data and Cobuilder’s experts will demonstrate how environmental product declaration (EPD) properties for various building components can be accessed to obtain the necessary information for life cycle assessment (LCA) calculations.

By attending, industry stakeholders will be able to see in practice how Define can help their clients solve issues with environmental data by structuring it in the same format and enabling its use through common data models.

About Define and the APIs

Define is a data dictionary that enables organisations to implement a common digital language based on standards. Its creation and use in construction is a prerequisite for the adoption of modern digital technologies, such as machine learning, the internet of things, artificial intelligence and more.

Define Templates API enables users to integrate with various external systems or digital solutions. Through it, they can access common data structures, called data templates, and the properties developed in the data dictionary. This facilitates the export of high-quality, trusted data approved by experts and structured according to industry standards.

Benefits for the software vendors and their clients

By integrating with a standard-based data dictionary, such as Define, software vendors expand their core value proposition by enabling a common machine- and human-readable digital language as part of their construction data software – be it 3D-object libraries, PIM and CDEs or BIM authoring tools.

Additionally, the common digital language provides the software vendors with data modelling capabilities, prevents information silos, and leads to improved data interoperability for their clients.

The free flow of trusted, high-quality data improves decision-making and enables the industry to work more efficiently with complex environmental requirements, reduce waste and become more circular.

If this event triggered your interest and you would like to join, please, register at the official event page.