Building Digitization Council increases clout on digitization task

New governance structure for digitization of construction industry

The new Building Digitization Council (BDR) is a reality. The Building Digitization Council is the successor to the Building Information Council (BIR) and the administrative core coalition, which had been established for the DigiDealGO program. This new governance structure for the digitization of the construction sector was unanimously approved yesterday. Chairman Joseph Kuling: 'The objectives of the BIR, BIM Loket and the DigiDealGO core coalition were in line with each other. With the BDR, we simplify governance, strengthen support and increase clout. The BDR is the administrative platform for the national digitization program of the built environment'.

Construction plays a key role in the major tasks of working towards a sustainable and climate-resistant Netherlands. For example, the sector aims for 100% energy-neutral new construction of homes and utility buildings from 2020 and a fully circular construction sector in 2050. Digitalization is a crucial condition for achieving these tasks, as articulated in The Construction Agenda. The DigiDealGO (Digitalization Deal for the Built Environment) was endorsed by some forty organizations on April 11, 2019 during the 'Two Years of The Building Agenda' working conference. The new governance structure is important for the realization of the digitization task.

DigiDiner: taking stock of DigiDealGO ambitions

Yesterday the first DigiDiner took place at the Bouw & Infrapark in Harderwijk. Members of the new Bouw Digitaliserings Raad met with the approximately 40 ambassadors of the DigiDealGO. 'The DigiDiner is going to become an annual tradition to jointly take stock of the digitization task,' explains Kuling. 'Digitalization ambitions and goals are becoming more relevant every day. Individual organizations are increasingly noticing that we need to tackle digitization jointly and in cohesion. There are now ten concrete so-called acceleration projects running. There should be many more. The flywheel should get going this year'.

DigiCafe: accelerating projects

Prior to the dinner, the first edition of the so-called DigiCafe took place. The DigiCafe was attended by some 50 BIM professionals from the construction industry. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a number of acceleration projects and to look for connections between them. The DigiCafe takes place quarterly and is organized by the Digiteam. The next DigiCafe will take place on April 2. The acceleration projects on the program then include the ILS Configurator and the open Uniform Objects Library.

The Construction Digitization Council

The BDR is responsible for the strategy to realize the DigiDealGO. The members of the BDR are primarily responsible for the interest of the entire chain. In addition, the BDR together with the Digiteam determines the digitization projects and programs to achieve the desired acceleration. The BDR engages in funding for the DigiDealGO and ensures proper coordination with the BTIC (Construction and Technology Innovation Center).

The BDR consists of seven members, each representing one of the industry's clusters:

- Joseph Kuling, chairman (Construction)

- Ronald van Aggelen - director Root BV (Advisors)

- Jan van Beuningen - manager General Policy and Energy Transition BZK (Government)

- Dorien Jongeneel - Director of Operations and Project Management RWS Major Projects and Maintenance at Rijkswaterstaat (Principals/Users)

- Pieter Litjens - director of CROW (Knowledge Institutes)

- Claudia Reiner - vice president of Technology Netherlands (Techniek)

- Titia Siertsema - chairman NVTB (Suppliers)

- Terry Heemskerk, secretary

- Richard Tieskens on invitation on behalf of Digiteam

BIM Loket facility engine DigiDealGO

The BIM Loket, as a legal body, supports the business and facility aspects of the BDR and the Digiteam. The BIM Loket manages the financial flows of the DigiDealGO and ensures assurance and continuity of the results. The BIM Loket's core task is and will remain focused on accelerating construction information management and the management of open BIM standards.