Day 3 - Wednesday May 16, 2025
The AECOOM industry has an ideal opportunity to improve its fragmented workflows, poor data interoperability, and slow adoption of digital technologies and standardized practices. This summit will focus on how to improve productivity. Improving productivity requires embracing digital transformation through openBIM, standardized processes like ISO 19650, and integrating collaborative technologies to streamline workflows, enhance data interoperability, and by equipping the workforce with cutting-edge skills and tools.
This event’s theme emphasizes the alignment of BIM and GIS and use of advanced technologies with standardized practices to foster efficiency, collaboration, and resilience in the AECOOM industry.
Keynote: Empowering the Digital Workforce
Claudia Cozzitorto
Securing BIM Data: Digital Signatures for Trust & Integrity
Patrick Drolet
Notarius
As digital collaboration becomes the norm in the construction industry, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of Building Information Models (BIM) is more critical than ever. While BIM and openBIM standards, such as the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), have improved interoperability and data exchange, challenges remain in verifying data at the object level.
This presentation explores the potential of digital signatures as a solution to enhance trust, transparency, and traceability in BIM workflows. By securely signing BIM objects, digital signatures can ensure data integrity, authenticate contributors, and create a verifiable record of model changes. Additionally, the session will highlight how integrating digital signatures within IFC-based BIM processes can support compliance, reduce legal disputes, and improve collaboration across stakeholders.
Attendees will gain insights into the practical challenges of implementing digital authentication at the object level within BIMs and how emerging solutions could shape future best practices for secure digital project delivery.
The Roadmap for the Digitalization of National Construction Codes and Development of a National Common Data Framework
Farzad Jalaei & David Minicola
National Research Council (NRC)
This session unveils the findings of this groundbreaking report, which builds on international research and best practices in digital construction from countries leading in BIM and data standards. Central to the roadmap is the use of OpenBIM principles to ensure compatibility, transparency, and collaboration across diverse systems and stakeholders. The report outlines strategies to enhance data management, improve BIM compatibility, achieve interoperability within Common Data Environments (CDEs), and leverage API-driven solutions for seamless data exchange. This presentation highlights how these initiatives align with global standards to foster efficiency, resilience, and innovation in the Canadian built environment.
This presentation aims to introduce the Roadmap for the Digitalization of National Construction Codes and its significance for the Canadian construction industry. It will highlight the development of a National Common Data Framework, emphasizing its role in standardizing data management, enhancing BIM compatibility, and enabling interoperability within Common Data Environments (CDEs). By showcasing practical applications and referencing international research and OpenBIM principles, the session will explore how these strategies streamline workflows, improve collaboration, and future-proof Canada’s built environment. Finally, it seeks to engage stakeholders in adopting the roadmap’s recommendations to drive digital transformation across the industry.
Future Trends & Opportunities with Spatial Data
Prashant Shukle and Gitane De Silva
Panel
Spatial data and related technologies have long powered the disciplines of geomatics (and its many names likes geospatial, hydrospatial) and buiilding information management. These disciplines have enabled people to better understand the natural world, the built infrastructure we place upon it, and, increasingly, the relationships between the two.
The various goods and services provided by these different “spatial” communities has been global in nature and have provided economic, environmental and social benefit across the globe. These spatial or data disciplines have grown and become embedded in such traditional and emerging areas that include but are not limited to: architecture, earth observation, climate and change monitoring, engineering, construction, oil and gas, mobility and transportation and infrastructure, to name just a few.
2025 has seen dramatic shifts. New trading and tariff instruments are being considered; national security and defence concerns have come to the fore; and the technology, data and information’s rise continues with guardrails that are being dismantled before they are even put up.
This session is intended as an interactive conversation to begin the hard work that will be required for the Canadian spatial community to find its voice in upcoming national action plans to respond to a new world order.
Digital Twins in Canada: Defining, Scaling, and Standardizing for the Future
Panel
Digital Twins hold enormous potential for the buildings and infrastructure sectors, but their implementation faces key challenges. What is a Digital Twin? The industry lacks a clear consensus, leading to misinformation and confusion. While Digital Twins can scale, not every project requires every possible capability—so how do we manage this effectively? More importantly, the industry is not ready—foundational work in data standards, interoperability, and governance is still needed.
In response to these challenges and opportunities, buildingSMART Canada (bSC) is launching the Digital Twin Domain, a strategic initiative to guide the development, standardization, and adoption of Digital Twins across Canada. By aligning industry efforts, fostering collaborative research, and advocating for open standards, this initiative aims to lay the groundwork for scalable and interoperable Digital Twins.
As we move forward, collaboration is key—between owners, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders. By building strong data foundations, embracing open technologies, and fostering knowledge-sharing, Canada can position itself as a global leader in Digital Twin innovation for the built environment.
Does Canada Need a BIM Mandate?
A Panel Debate
As digital transformation reshapes the global construction industry, many countries have implemented BIM mandates to drive standardization, efficiency, and improved project outcomes. But does Canada need one?
This panel brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology experts to debate whether a national BIM mandate is the right approach for Canada. Advocates argue that mandates drive consistency, enhance productivity, and align Canada with international best practices. Skeptics caution against rigid regulations, highlighting the need for industry-driven adoption, flexibility, and investment in workforce readiness.
Join us for a dynamic discussion on the potential benefits, risks, and practical considerations of a BIM mandate in Canada. What can we learn from global experiences? How do we balance innovation, compliance, and market readiness? And ultimately, what path should Canada take to support the future of digital construction?