Starting point: 

How is design data stored, made accessible, or secure, and what are the practical, legal, ethical, and commercial frameworks that allow or prevent the use of architectural data?  

This topic may include consideration of: the potential benefits and limits of current practice, the relevant timescales (years / decades) for different data uses (circular economy) and types of users (individual/society). 

Project Summary: 

Regarded among the largest industry in the world with US$13 trillion revenue in 2023 and expected further growth of US$13.9 trillion by 2037 ⁱ, the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry has been considered the worst performer in the use of technology.ⁱⁱ This parallels with the findings from McKinsey & Company highlighting the AEC’s productivity level, which is among the least efficient compared to total economy and manufacturing.ⁱⁱⁱ  

Although technology may not solve all problems in AEC industry, research and real projects have proven the effectiveness when new technologies are adopted. The Randselva bridge in Norway is the first 2000-foot bridge to have been constructed without any drawings and is entirely based on Building Information Modelling (BIM) workflow.^iv Cost overrun was reduced from 19% to 5% compared to the traditional drawing-based method.^v In an interview, the Swedish engineering consultancy and the designer of the bridge, Sweco, emphasised on the advantage of having all 3D model details embedded with data allowing adjustments to be effective and precise.^vi In addition, a report by Autodesk and Deloitte has indicated firms who are leaders in advanced technology for data usage and analysis have an average increase in profit growth rate by 50%, compared to those who are just beginning to adopt data transferring technologies.^vii  

Therefore, it is a crucial for architecture firms to transition from drawing-based companies to digitalised organisations with automative workflows and improved efficiency. The process of adopting new technologies is unavoidable in the construction 4.0 industry and yet there are still many challenges in the process of adopting them. This research aims to first define these barriers, then through the development and testing of possible solutions outline positive implications for design firms at managerial, senior, midlevel and junior levels. Ultimately the project seeks to present pathways to allow the adoption of new technologies to be effective and proficient.