Further embed digital technologies

While the volume of data relating to UK construction is rapidly increasing, it is often fragmented or not easily accessible. Improving the consistency and quality of data will be transformational in how we can deliver projects and programmes by improving safety, enabling innovation, reducing costs, and supporting more sustainable outcomes.

Contracting authorities and suppliers should apply the UK Building Information Management (BIM) Framework. This includes standards, guidance and other resources that will deliver BIM interoperability and government soft landings (see chapter 12). These include standardised approaches to defining information requirements, generating and classifying data, information security and data exchange.

Adopting the UK BIM Framework will support the Information Management Framework, a common framework of standards and protocols that will enable secure, resilient data sharing across organisations and sectors. In turn, the Information Management Framework will be a key enabler of the National Digital Twin - an ecosystem of connected digital twins across the built environment.

Digital twins are realistic digital representations of assets, processes and systems that have a data-connection with the real world. They will help to improve the performance, sustainability and value for money of projects and programmes by providing data-driven insights that improve decision-making.