Academic Awards 2025 booklet

45 From Siloed Centralized Information Systems Towards Federated Data Ecosystems: Developing AECO Data Spaces The Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operation (AECO) industry is responsible for almost 40% of all waste generated in Europe’s. Enabling material reuse requires access to lifecycle data, which is often stored in isolated systems. Instead of centralizing data, we need interoperable connections that enable secure data sharing while preserving autonomy, resulting in a decentralized information system (Figure 1). To achieve this, the European Union promotes the development of data spaces: federated ecosystems that allow organizations to share data without losing control. Despite their potential, data spaces are not yet implemented in the AECO industry. In my master’s thesis, I developed a first prototype of an AECO data space that enables building data exchange that relies on a decentralized system architecture (Figure 2). I developed a user-friendly, transparent, and interactive user-interface that translated the complex back end infrastructure into an into intuitive, accessible, and trustworthy experiences for end-users, such as architects, structural engineers, or building managers. Recognizing that technology alone is insufficient, I also conducted a socio-technical system analysis using the multi-level perspective. I identified the opportunities, barriers, and strategies for data space adoption in the AECO industry. The key finding is that only few initiatives focus on decentralized information systems, leading to limited awareness and incentives across the industry. For broader adoption, AECO data spaces must align with widely implemented standards, support existing workflows, and provide clear business value. Centralized Network Decentralized Network Distributed Network Federated Network Figure 1 Figure 2