SOFTWARE INTEROPERABILITY IS CONSTRUCTION FRIENDLY

Software Interoperability Enables Good Coordination

Construction software interoperability refers to the ability of different construction programs to exchange data by the use of a common set of exchange protocols and be able to read and write based on the same formats.

The end goal in the construction software sector regarding interoperability for various stakeholders is to be able to agree on an open standard for the various construction software. Recently, the calls for interoperability of building software have gained significant traction with the primary backers being COSA(Construction Open Software Alliance) and AgcXML.

In the construction industry, where some organizations cooperate intensively on unique projects in temporary alliances, having attuned tools and assets within projects is imperative. Broadly accepted and established technical platforms, preferably centered on open standards, are the prerequisite to facilitate communication and collaboration amongst project partakers without demanding them to have particular proprietary applications.

 Software Interoperability Addition In Modern Construction

Various software solutions are available to the construction Industry.

Open interoperability for construction software products would enable the seamless flow of design, budget, project, assembly and maintenance information, and decreasing redundancy, eliminating disconnects and promoting efficiency throughout the lifecycle of the building. Estimates by the United States National Institute of Standards (NIST), based on the results of a multi-method study conducted in 2002, determined that insufficient interoperability among information technology tools costs the US capital facilities sector USD 15.8 billion on an annual basis, which is correspondent to 1-2% of the industry’s annual revenue. From these studies, it is clear that construction software can offer significant savings on costs, time and decision making processes.

Despite the fact that interoperability is a viable solution for seamlessly exchanging information, there are some challenges to achieving complete interoperability between the various major construction software products. These include intellectual property protection issues, sheer reluctance to share information with stakeholders, contractual and legal matters. With goodwill from industry players, these challenges can be addressed and common grounds found for the advancement of interoperability of the software solutions.

With the advancement of cloud solutions sharing of information between various software products has become even easier. A good example is SaaS software, which offers a sort of one-stop shop where one can find solutions for all of a building firm’s concerns, from transmittals to accounting, as discrete, but flawlessly joined tools in a cloud-based software package. Additional advantages of cloud-based solutions are the security merits and ease of upgradability of software solutions across multiple devices.

Software Interoperability is the future in the construction sector, and the various software developers should endeavor to make software products that simplify workflow for construction experts.