Connecting Possibilities: Common Data Environment for Dynamic Information Platforms

Common Data Environments (CDE) play a crucial role in the development of building life-cycle information management platforms, such as digital twins. However, the evolution of CDEs has traditionally been driven by the needs and perspectives of building projects and their developers. This work shifts the focus to facility management (FM), exploring the potential of positioning CDEs at the center of digital twin development for enhanced FM outcomes. The literature review highlights persistent challenges in developing CDEs, particularly issues related to interoperability and trust. These challenges are echoed in the survey results, which also emphasize the need for a two-fold approach. Firstly, a system approach which addresses the fragmented, siloed nature of existing FM systems by fostering better integration and interoperability and secondly a place approach recognizing and leveraging CDEs as both physical and virtual spaces that support FM processes and workflows. This perspective positions CDE as a strategic element in building life-cycle information platforms, aligning with broader FM processes and practices. The work is relevant to facility managers as it provides insights to the need to integrate siloed systems to optimize data use and create future proof information management platforms as well as positions CDE as a tool for both physical and digital FM spaces. By taking an organizational and social approach, it also provides insight to construction and building management professions to develop holistic approaches for building information management. Finally, it is beneficial to researcher and policy makers to identify the conceptual framework of CDE and inform policy on digital transformation in FM.