Seamless and Trustworthy Information Exchange in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations Industry: the Governance and Development of a Data Space

The digital transition in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operation (AECO) industry has increased
data generation throughout the building lifecycle, highlighting the need for more effective information exchange.
While existing systems like Electronic Document Management System (EDMS)s and Common Data Environment
(CDE)s support project-based collaboration, they fall short of facilitating cross-project and cross-sector data sharing.
To address this, the European Union (EU) promotes a single European data market through data spaces, enabling
secure data exchange across industries under shared policies and standards. However, practical implementations in
the AECO industry remain scarce due to challenges in data ownership, security, interoperability, and governance.
This research focuses on organizing and governing a data space tailored for the AECO industry, aiming to promote
seamless and trustworthy information exchange within and across projects. The study adopts an extended V-shaped
systems engineering approach, beginning with an industry analysis, informed by stakeholder workshops that build
upon the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and Transition Model Canvas (TMC). The industry analysis revealed
four key themes: Data Quality, Governance and Ownership; Interoperability and Standardization; Transparency
and Trust; and Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement, resulting in 33 stakeholder requirements and 45
system requirements. The system blueprint was developed using Unified Modelling Language (UML) diagrams
and a comparative analysis of four system architectures. The final architecture integrates the Mongo Express
React Node.js (MERN) stack for front- and back-end development, International Data Space Association (IDSA)
standards for metadata exchange, and Digital System for the Built Environment (DSGO) principles for decentralized
storage. Using this, a prototype AECO data space was developed, integrating a hierarchical structure of six data
spaces—personal, project, team, client, element, and building——demonstrating improved collaboration and data
sharing through a real-life project. While the prototype met essential requirements, gaps remain in unified open data
standards, advanced security mechanisms, and adoption incentives. Stakeholder feedback highlighted the need for
streamlined metadata entry and better integration with existing tools. Recommendations for future development
include unified data standards, proportional data pricing models, and cross-sector case studies to drive adoption.
This study offers a framework and prototype to advance AECO data spaces, addressing technical and organizational
barriers, with future research needed to enhance interoperability, security, and stakeholder engagement.