Ecosystem interoperability for the architecture, engineering, construction & operations (AECO) sector

Substandard performance between information systems and applications remains a problem for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) sector leading to significant economic, social and environmental costs. The sector suffers from poor interoperability because it lacks a holistic ecosystem for exchanging data and information. Through qualitative research involving AECO sector industry partners’ views and opinions, this research extends understanding of issues which affect ecosystem interoperability in the AECO sector. Research questions guided a literature review, survey, semi-structured interview, focus group meeting, and interpretation of the results. The authors believe that incorporating AECO sector industry partners' views is essential for meaningful proposals to emerge. Open questions asked of industry partners received candid responses and confirmed key issues including: the need for the Industry Foundation Class (IFC) to be fully interoperable; the side effects and impacts of vendor lock-in; integration problems caused by multiple Common Data Environments (CDEs); handover data and information challenges; the impacts of poor interoperability on sustainable development. Through engagement with industry this research offers better understanding of interoperability challenges in the AECO sector and has generated more meaningful actions and solutions capable of improving the sector’s data and information ecosystem.