digiDeal 1: Supporting the design process with environmental data

digiDeal 1. In brief

Providing environmental data via an API or other easy, publicly accessible method, allowing users to view data and adjust the environmental performance early in the design process.

Background

Supporting the design process with environmental data ensures that designers, such as architects and advisors, have direct access to environmental data from the early stages of the design process. This data can be provided in aggregated form or at an appropriate level of detail, so that the environmental effects of design choices can be considered from the outset.

A key challenge is that, in the early stages of design, the level of detail is often low, meaning that much data is missing or still uncertain. A balance must therefore be found between data availability and the associated precision or uncertainties. Additionally, technical connections - such as APIs and DSGO services - and authorisation must be properly organised to clarify who can access which data.

The approach includes developing an API that allows design software to retrieve relevant environmental data. Through aggregation functions and interpolations, a useful indicative environmental overview can be provided even with limited data. Furthermore, an authorisation model is being developed so that data owners retain control over who can access which data. Finally, pilot projects are being implemented to gain practical experience and test functionality.

The expected results are that designers can make faster and more environmentally conscious decisions. This leads to fewer errors and less rework, as environmental aspects do not need to be verified only at a later stage.

Result

Digitally unlocking (machine-readable) data (currently visible in the viewer) from Stichting NMD for users;
Digitally unlocking (machine-readable) category 3 (raw) data from Stichting NMD for users;
Investigating and, if applicable, defining which (anonymous) aggregated environmental data can be made available for designers and parties wishing to work with environmental data at a high level of abstraction. This will make it possible to develop the environmental impact of a project progressively, from design to execution.