Dalux — Digital Products Award Winner 2024

The Power of Centralized Digital Information

Data, data, and more data!

Technology has empowered users to obtain an endless amount of data through-out the built lifecycle. Every stakeholder, department, and project team engages software tools and processes to achieve their information management needs. This leads to numerous data silos resulting in tireless hours searching for information, poor decision making based on partial information, costly errors, and higher project risks. Dalux removes these silos by providing one platform that connects all stakeholders during design, construction, and facility management. Dalux leverages BIM as its core to seamlessly integrate project workflows and to realize the power of centralized digital information.

Impacts of Data Silos

The adoption of technology to digitize the built industry has dramatically grown, often with a multitude of point solutions that has led to software fatigue and low adoption by the end user. This poses several challenges including team silos, overlap in similar processes, duplicated and disconnected data, and poor communication. These challenges incur additional labour hours, extra costs, higher projects risks, and inherently decrease the value of software tools.

In particular, the use of BIM is typically one area that is siloed from other project workflows. This is often due to the need for technical specialists to use the software, limited user licenses to reduce costs, and mobile performance issues on-site. The VDC / Digital Department may take the lead in managing and coordinating the models, but the full advantages of BIM data is not realized. The lack of integration and prioritization on BIM during the design and construction phase can lead to incomplete, inconsistent, and inaccurate models for project handover. Consequently, the building owners experience challenges with leveraging BIM during operation and maintenance of their facilities, as well as during implementation of digital twins.

Speaking One Language

International Standard ISO-19650 is an overarching framework that provides the crucial link to connect various data silos. The information management concepts and principles facilitates defining a standardization through-out all phases of the built asset. This assists with determining the required level of detail and maintaining data consistency between project parties and different software solutions. In addition, the developed guidelines identify a clear process of exchanging information between various platforms.

Using open formats is vital to bridging information and to seamlessly transfer data. Open formats include models (IFC), documentation (PDF), point clouds (E57), imagery (JPEG, JPG, PNG), geospatial – GIS (KMZ , KML, GML, XML), alignments & surveying (LandXML), surveying points (XY coordinate table), custom map layers (WMS & WMTS), and assets (COBie).

Integration Made Easier with Dalux

A common data environment (CDE) is dedicated as the central depository for data produced by different parties. The Dalux platform offers a CDE that complies with ISO-19650 standards, supports open formats, and integrates with other softwares via plug-ins and APIs. Dalux has championed technological development to support the growth of BIM and open formats in accordance with industry needs and government mandates. Being headquartered in Denmark, one of the earliest adopters of BIM, Dalux has been at the forefront when BIM was legislated in 2007 and when the IFC format was required for exchange of models for all public projects above 2.7mil Euros in 2011. Dalux prioritizes the ease-of-use of BIM and integrations in all workflows in order for anyone to use BIM as a primary tool and leverage valuable data.

Since Dalux offers solutions for the full lifecycle of a built asset, the integration of data is made that much easier. All modules are developed in-house to maintain consistency and connectivity of information. This also bridges the gap between consultants, contractors, and owners, which increases transparency and accountability to all parties. In addition, everyone can be assured that accurate data and historical records are transferred from the design phase through construction to facility management.

A centralized node is a key component during the exchange of data in order to ensure one location is dedicated for a comprehensive and holistic view of information. This concept is fundamental to the design of the Dalux platform. The Dalux Locations module brings together design drawings and models, object properties, different map types, customized GIS data, point cloud scans, 360 reality captures, augmented reality, location based registrations (inspections and tasks), and assets. The cloud-based platform has a user-friendly interface that allows for visualization and real-time communication in the office, or on-site with the mobile app.

Benefits of One Integrated Platform

The single source of information within Dalux provides numerous benefits including enhanced collaborative communication, accurate real-time data, efficient standardized processes, and integrated information through-out all project phases. With high labour shortages and turnover, anyone can quickly access the latest information with the full model visualization in order to have a greater understanding of the work to be done.This results in financial benefits by minimizing costly errors and re-work, removing software sprawl, reducing labour hours spent searching through duplicated and disconnected information, and preventing legal claims.

This expanded use and adoption of BIM places additional emphasis on the accuracy, level of detail, and completeness of the model elements and properties. The validation of the model creates increased confidence in the data, which can then be used for emerging technologies such as digital twins and artificial intelligence, and subsequently sustainable decision making.

Data for Empowerment

Dalux’ integrated platform for the entire built lifecycle overcomes the need for one centralized location to access all digital information. An overwhelming number of specialized point solutions can be challenging to manage and leads to data silos, poor user adoption, and inefficient workflows. By using open formats and ISO-19650, the information can be standardized for exchange management in one common data environment. The user-friendly interface and integration between design, construction and facility management ensures complete and accurate data is shared between all parties. Dalux bridges data silos even further with the expanded use of BIM in design coordination, reality capture comparisons, links to model objects, and utilizing object properties. Dalux brings digital innovation to easily access and utilize data for the empowerment of all stakeholders.