Digital Built Week

Digital Built Week
Name	Digital Built Week
Status	Active
Genre	Conference and exhibition
Frequency	Annual
Venue	Various convention centres
Country	Australia

Digital Built Week

Digital Built Week is an annual industry conference and exhibition focused on digital construction, building information modelling and infrastructure technology, convening practitioners across architecture, engineering and construction. The event assembles professionals from multinational firms, government agencies and research institutions to showcase software platforms, project case studies and standards for digital delivery. Delegates include representatives from firms involved in major infrastructure programmes, academic laboratories and standard-setting organisations.

Overview

Digital Built Week brings together delegates from Atkins, AECOM, Arup Group, Foster + Partners and Skanska alongside public authorities such as Transport for New South Wales, City of Melbourne and Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. The programme features sessions on Building Information Modeling, digital twins, geographic information systems, infrastructure projects and interoperability standards like Industry Foundation Classes and Open Geospatial Consortium specifications. Exhibitors often include vendors such as Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Trimble Inc., Hexagon AB and Dassault Systèmes, and research partners from universities such as University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales and RMIT University.

History and Development

The conference evolved from earlier initiatives in digital construction and BIM adoption championed by professional bodies like Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Engineers Australia and Royal Institute of British Architects regional chapters. Early iterations built on programs influenced by policy frameworks such as the National Building Information Modelling Initiative in Australia and procurement reforms following projects like Sydney Metro and WestConnex. Over time the programme expanded to include exhibitions mirroring global events such as Smart City Expo World Congress and International Builders' Show with increased emphasis on digital delivery and lifecycle asset management.

Events and Programmes

Programme components include keynote presentations, technical workshops, panel discussions and live demonstrations. Typical tracks cover topics linked to Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia guidance, standards development with ISO/TC 59/SC 13 affiliates, case study presentations concerning projects like Crossrail and High Speed 2, and demonstrations by platform providers such as OpenBuildings Designer, MicroStation and Revit. Ancillary events often include hackathons involving participants from CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation labs, and certification sessions run by BuildingSMART International.

Organisers and Partners

Organisers and strategic partners have included trade bodies and professional associations such as BuildingSMART International, Australian Institute of Architects, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia and event organisers who previously ran industry gatherings like Sydney Build Expo. Corporate partners have featured names such as Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and consultancy firms including Deloitte, PwC and KPMG advisory practices focused on digital transformation. Academic partners include research centres at Monash University, University of Sydney, and collaborative labs allied with CSIRO.

Impact and Industry Significance

The event influences adoption trajectories for technologies used on projects like Gorgon gas project, Adelaide Airport redevelopment and urban renewal schemes connected to Barangaroo. It fosters procurement dialogues between asset owners such as Sydney Water and contractors including Lendlease and John Holland Group, and has been cited in industry roadmaps addressing digital skills pipelines tied to vocational providers like TAFE NSW. Outcomes often shape interoperability efforts aligned with ISO 19650 information management standards and accelerate uptake of digital twin initiatives modelled on deployments in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Notable Projects and Case Studies

Presentations have profiled major infrastructure and building projects including Sydney Metro City & Southwest, Melbourne Metro Tunnel, Crossrail and international exemplars such as Grand Paris Express and Gautrain Rapid Rail. Case studies frequently highlight collaborative delivery using platforms by Bentley Systems on rail projects, Autodesk workflows in large‑scale residential programmes and Trimble solutions for survey and machine control on tollway schemes like WestConnex.

Attendance and Participation

Attendees are drawn from a wide spectrum: designers from Grimshaw Architects, engineers from Mott MacDonald, contractors from BAM Group, asset owners like Transport for London representatives, and policy delegates from bodies such as Infrastructure Victoria. Participation includes exhibitors, government delegations, university research teams, industry suppliers and professional delegates seeking continuous professional development credits from organisations like Engineers Australia and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Awards and Innovations

The event often showcases awards and innovation challenges recognising achievements akin to the Engineering Excellence Awards and technology prizes promoted by BuildingSMART International and national industry awards such as those run by Master Builders Australia and Infrastructure Partnerships Australia. Innovations highlighted include advances in parametric design platforms, automated clash detection tools, reality capture pipelines using technologies from Leica Geosystems and developments in sensor integration for digital twins used in assets monitored by Network Rail and Sydney Trains.

Category:Construction conferences