Policy Brief 2
Design & Architecture, Parametric and digital design, BIM/ Digital twins
Digitalisation is often an act of implied consumption instead of a purposefully assumed choice of a certain digital solution. The increased attention span around AI is drawing focus away from other digitalisation trends. Overconfidence in AI literacy levels is more risky then an overall low AI literacy level. Digitalisation changes behaviours in the workplace and increased consumption of digital solution exacerbates the change patterns.
Key findings
Multiplicity of digital solutions
Multiplicity of digital solutions that offer overlapping functionalities and only marginal additional ones makes it time consuming for users to choose the best solution for their needs, in the absence of an instrument that can live facilitate comparison across solutions, providers and sectors.
Legislation and standards
Legislation and standards can be a push factor for digitalisation, as obligations on reporting emissions rates forces the adoption of digital solutions.
Balancing digital and analogue
An approach balancing the digital and the analogue is needed, for both security and inclusion purposes.
Novel technologies
Novel technologies are currently best deployed in projects or controlled environments, where course corrections can be made based on results and feedback.
Right person with the skills needed
The challenge is not in the existing tools or the lack thereof but rather in finding the right person with the skills needed to use them in the right way and in a timely fashion, since time is an important factor for projects with strict deadlines.
Power imbalance
There is a power imbalance between decision makers and consumers of digital solutions and technology itself is perceived as a power agent.
Geopolitical trends and tensions
Geopolitical trends and tensions are reflected in the technological domain, with digital products becoming representative of a specific approaches to innovation.
Strategic autonomy
Choice of value centric technological development enables strategic autonomy and alignment with EU values, as ethics and technology become intertwined.
Recommendations
Developing an online instrument
Developing an online instrument that enables a fast choice of a digital tool for a specific problem through live comparison between tool functionalities and providers is the most pressing identified need of the NEB community.
Life cycle project collaboration
Digital solutions allowing for entire life cycle project collaboration from any device and including all information are needed, clustered solutions and solutions allowing for citizen engagement.
Focus on market drivers
There should be less focus on policy initiatives and more focus on market drivers.
AI literacy programs
Development of target group specific AI literacy programs is needed, including skills, competences and knowledge adapted to different roles that interact with AI systems (developer, deployer, end-user). These should be made publicly available so that both literacy and trust are built throughout the ecosystem through transparency and accountability mechanisms.
Interoperability
Interoperability and the principle of cascading effects must be kept in mind when choosing a digital solution.
Data capture during post-occupancy
Initiatives on digitalisation should not be limited to the conceptual, construction or repurposing phases. They should also include data capture during post-occupancy in order to make living spaces continuously adaptive environments.
Better showcasing
Better showcasing of project results focusing on digitalisation is needed.
Desirability and ethics
Reflection on the desirability and ethics of technological uptake must precede technology deployment.
Focus on the “WHY”
First Focus on the “WHY” of technological development and only after consider ways of implementation.
Interaction and digital inclusion
Collaborative, adaptive, digital mapping solutions for changing needs and changing environments are needed. Digitalisation regeneration by means of digitizing the public space for stimulating interaction and digital inclusion is encouraged.