Development of a cloud-based Common Data Environment for purposes of a construction company

Abstract

The topic of the Common Data Environment (CDE) is based on the idea of linking a collaborative project space with the cloud technology. It should then be possible for all project participants to move increasingly towards an integral and collaborative approach of project management. This means that methods of the BIM process can be used more frequently in later project phases in addition to the planning phases, and the eciency and performance of the construction process can be optimized by involving all actors during a project.
Taking up this fact, in the following work, a systematic and technically oriented approach is chosen to propose a structure, in the sense of a system architecture, on the basis of an extension of the current consideration of a cloud-based environment. By interpreting selected BIM application cases, the proposed structure should show to what extent an implementation is useful for a construction company and which aspects have to be considered during the conception and implementation.
The rst step was to develop a conceptual understanding of the model of a CDE, based on a review of relevant literature and current technological developments. Furthermore, these ndings show a reference value, with regard to the requirements and methodologies of the BIM process, for the subsequent recommendation of a new structure.
In the second step of this work, the dierent core components to be considered for the realization are presented, and a detailed explanation of the proposed structure is given. In addition to the denition of system architecture and database structure, this also includes the design of user types, their areas of responsibility and eects on the business organization.
Furthermore, this proposal will be analyzed by a rst implemented prototype, and further development possibilities will be presented.
Finally, the proposed structure will be used to classify the CDE issue regarding the digitization of the construction industry and to show the extent to which such a development is relevant for research and the construction industry through presenting opportunities and risks.