Digital Twin initiative – eComply

What we did and why

The VBA partnered with Land Use Victoria (within the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)), Development Victoria, Brimbank City Council, and Office of Projects Victoria on a digital twin initiative that aimed to develop a protocol and/or platform for an end-to-end digital development process (from planning, approval, occupancy, operation and maintenance, renewal to retirement).

What we found

The project delivered a proof of concept that incorporates planning and building ‘rules’ into an automated approvals platform with digital twin visualisation. Now called eComply, the proof of concept uses the Small Lot Housing Code to show how ‘rules-as-code’ can operate – using a ‘rules engine’ to automatically assess building design/plans through a portal that automatically assesses the design against appropriate planning and building rules. The digital twin component of the ‘rules engine’ visualises the approved design within a development area.

What difference this made

The VBA’s participation helped us learn from and better understand digital twin technology and accelerate our journey towards digitalisation of building information. The eComply proof of concept shows the potential opportunity for the end-to-end digitalisation of the built environment through digital technology, which could deliver significant benefits to the building and construction industry and the Victorian economy.

Further development of the project (led by Land Use Victoria) has now been incorporated within the Government’s Digital Twin Victoria program.