Australian builders warn over data ownership control

Concern over data ownership and control is rising sharply among Australian construction technology users, with survey findings showing the issue is more prominent in Australia than in global markets, according to Revizto.

Its Digital Design and Construction Report found 64.4 per cent of 300 Australian architecture, engineering and construction respondents were either very or extremely concerned about data ownership and control when choosing technology vendors. That compared with 37.8 per cent of 2,006 respondents globally.

The figures suggest a shift in priorities in a sector that has been among the fastest adopters of digital workflows. Model-based delivery, shared project environments and digital coordination tools are now widely used across major Australian building and infrastructure projects, including hospitals, transport projects and commercial developments.

Australia's level of digital adoption also appears to be ahead of the wider market. The survey found 29 per cent of Australian AEC organisations operate mostly or fully model-based workflows, compared with 21.7 per cent globally.

Project delivery metrics suggest digital practices are already embedded across much of the local industry. Australian respondents reported average project budget overruns of 9.8 per cent, below the global average of 11.6 per cent.

Governance focus

Revizto chief innovation officer Jason Howden said the debate has moved beyond productivity gains and collaboration features.

"The findings reflect a growing awareness among Australian AEC leaders that control of project data is becoming a strategic issue as projects become more digital and regulatory scrutiny increases.

"With Australian infrastructure projects operating in highly regulated environments, organisations are thinking very carefully about who ultimately controls the information that drives projects. For years, the conversation in construction technology focused on productivity and collaboration. Now it has shifted toward data controls.

"With the increased focus on data sovereignty, cybersecurity obligations and compliance, organisations need confidence that their project information is secure, accessible and governed appropriately. AEC firms are scrutinising the technology platforms they rely on and how those platforms manage data ownership, interoperability and long-term access to project information."

The report suggests several pressures are driving that change. As more project information is created and stored in software platforms over long project lifecycles, buyers are placing greater weight on access, interoperability and the risk of becoming tied to a single vendor's system.

Those concerns are being reinforced by rising software costs. According to the survey, 72.2 per cent of Australian AEC organisations reported increases in software and cloud licensing costs over the past year, compared with 65.8 per cent globally.

Higher costs are also prompting closer scrutiny of technology decisions. Howden said: "If project information becomes locked into proprietary platforms, AEC firms risk losing flexibility in how they manage and leverage insights from their data. Construction projects can run for years, sometimes decades, so the data created throughout a project's lifetime needs to remain accessible and usable even if technology and software are updated during that time."

Access concerns

The issue is not only where data is stored, but whether organisations can retrieve and use it when needed. Modern construction projects rely on digital environments to coordinate architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors and owners, while identifying problems before physical work begins.

Built chief digital and information officer Kurt Brissett said the amount of information collected on projects has not always been matched by direct control over it.

"As a CIO, I see a growing disconnect: we rely on vast amounts of infrastructure data, yet we don't always have full control over it. The issue is no longer just where data is stored, but whether we can truly access it, use it effectively and stand behind it when it matters."

For technology buyers, that means vendor assessment is changing. Alongside workflow tools and collaboration functions, organisations are increasingly examining whether systems support transparent data management, long-term retention and easier movement of information between platforms.

Fragmented digital environments can add another layer of risk, particularly on large projects involving many parties and long timelines. When information is spread across disconnected systems, visibility can fall and responsibility can become harder to trace.

Howden said cost pressures have added urgency to those questions.

"Escalating inflationary pressures in the Australian economy have forced AEC firms to closely evaluate the long-term implications of their technology choices. Technology should support collaboration across project teams, not lock organisations into fragmented ecosystems that restrict flexibility."

The survey findings indicate that Australia's next phase of digital construction may be shaped less by the adoption of new tools and more by the rules around who controls the information those tools generate.

Howden said: "As the industry continues to digitise, project data becomes one of its most valuable assets. Organisations that prioritise transparency, interoperability and strong data governance will be best positioned to deliver the increasingly complex infrastructure projects shaping Australia's future. It will become a matter of competitive advantage."