This latest podcast was recorded in Oslo, Norway at the 2023 buildingSmart International Standards Summit, the annual gathering for all those leading the development and adoption of open data and digital systems across the global infrastructure sector.

Clearly the built environment sector faces many challenges such as the need to raise productivity, drive towards net zero and boost the economic and social value gained from the vast public spend being committed by governments around the world.

The use of data and digital systems, underpinned by new tools such as artificial intelligence and a new ecosystem of digital twins are set to become critical in the race to deliver the more effective, efficient, useful and sustainable infrastructure assets needed to secure the future. 

Open data is data that can be freely used, re-used and redistributed by anyone, unencumbered by the constraints of software vendors of assets owner requirement is central to making this happen. OpenBIM underpinned by the IFC data standard are some of the buildingSmart concepts being used to try to redefine the world of digital engineering to ensure that data can be shared effortless and without cost up and down the supply chain. 

To discuss this issue, my guest is Patrick MacLeamy, former chairman and founder of buildingSMART International, and former chief executive of global architecture practice HOK and the man who for the last 30 plus years has been devoted to the principal of open data - and to not only persuading the infrastructure sector to embrace the concept but to also providing the tools to enable it to happen.

Resources
buildingSMART international website

Industry Foundation Classes (IFCSs) explained

UK Government guide to BIM