Submitted by Angela Walters on Fri, 25/01/2019 - 14:07
Following the formation of the Digital Framework Task Group (DFTG) Alexandra Bolton, Deputy Director of the Centre for Digital Built Britain, sets out the next steps in defining the Information Management Framework for a digital built Britain.
In addressing the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) Data for the Public Good report, the Government tasked CDBB with the creation of the DFTG to draw together key organisations and initiatives to steer and guide the successful development and adoption of a digital framework for infrastructure data.
The DFTG was convened in July last year with Mark Enzer, Chief Technology Officer for Mott MacDonald, as Chair. The task group brings together experts from industry, academia and government to advise on how effective information management can unlock value for organisations, the UK economy, and society. Mark Enzer in his CDBB Blog setting out the remit, stated that the DFTG would support the move towards developing a National Digital Twin – a federation of digital twins that will enable better decision-making in the delivery, operation, maintenance and use of infrastructure. The National Digital Twin will be built on data, and so first we need to create an Information Management Framework that will be the foundation for the twins. If we get this framework right and enable secure interoperability across the various sectors of economic infrastructure, we will achieve much of the National Digital Twin.
The Information Management Framework provides the necessary building blocks to enable effective information management across the built environment, enables secure resilient data sharing and provides the basis for the National Digital Twin. Simply put, it is about having the right information for the right people at the right time.
The Group has made an important contribution to the development of a National Digital Twin for the built environment with the publication of the Gemini Principles in December 2018. This marked its first output, laying down proposed principles to guide the National Digital Twin and the Information Management Framework required to enable it. Establishing agreed definitions and values from the outset will make it easier for the industry to share data later. Based on the NIC’s notion of Data for the Public Good, the nine foundational Gemini Principles are: public good, value creation, insight, security, openness, quality, federation, curation and evolution. Comments and feedback on this significant document are positively welcomed, and should be sent to enquiries@cdbb.cam.ac.uk.
The next output of the DFTG will be the Roadmap, due to be published on the CDBB website soon. The Roadmap will establish the prioritised route for delivering the Information Management Framework for the built environment. It will include core streams identifying the approach, governance, shared norms and values, enablers and ultimately change – to facilitate adoption of the framework across the whole ecosystem of the built environment.
CDBB is scheduling a series of workshops around defining the Information Management Framework in the following months, and I urge you to visit our website for upcoming details. In addition, plans for a Digital Twin Hub are in the pipeline: this will be a collaborative web-based community of those who are making serious progress with digital twins, to include asset owners, cities and universities. All of these developments will be announced on the CDBB website and if you have not yet connected with the Centre, please do. We look forward to working together towards a shared vision of a digital built Britain that will deliver benefits to all.