Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is betting that digitalisation will decide the sector’s future. At the core of this venture is its Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) program, which connects industry players across a project’s lifecycle through shared digital platforms. One of the most ambitious is CORENET X, designed to replace fragmented regulatory submissions with just a single coordinated process.
In this interview with Frontier Enterprise, BCA’s Chief Technology Officer Jonathan Cheng explains how these initiatives are reshaping approvals, why digital twins could redefine infrastructure planning, and where analytics and AI still struggle to deliver on their promise.
What is BCA’s perspective on digitalisation in Singapore’s built environment?
Digital transformation has become an imperative in Singapore’s built environment (BE). BCA promotes IDD as one of the main strategies in Singapore’s built environment transformation roadmap.
The program applies digital technologies across project lifecycles to streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and improve efficiency. The goal is to establish a fully connected digital ecosystem for projects and the firms involved.
What lessons has BCA learned from using digital platforms in the built environment?
BCA works with partners in the BE sector to support the implementation of the IDD program, which has changed how firms in the sector work. Instead of relying on 2D drawings and physical models, the industry now uses digital tools such as building information modelling (BIM) and AR/VR. These tools make designs easier to understand and help avoid unnecessary rework. Platforms known as common data environments also support collaboration by serving as shared workspaces for project data.
One example is CORENET X, a digital platform that replaces fragmented submissions with a single coordinated process. It requires firms in the sector to align their designs before submission, cutting out more than 20 approval touchpoints in current processes. CORENET X simplifies regulatory approvals by reducing steps and giving companies clearer requirements. We expect a 20% reduction in approval time from agencies.
Since its soft launch in December 2023, CORENET X has been used by more than 50 projects — spanning residential, industrial, institutional, and infrastructure categories — and involving over 100 firms.
Progress has been steady, but adaptation remains essential as digital technologies and best practices continue to evolve.
How are digital twins changing Singapore’s infrastructure?
Digital twins create virtual replicas that support better decision-making across the building lifecycle. They enable complex scenario simulations during planning, real-time progress monitoring through embedded sensors during construction, and performance optimisation and predictive maintenance once assets are operational.
The benefits include greater design accuracy, fewer reworks, and improved asset performance. In turn, these gains support higher productivity across design, construction, and maintenance, while aligning with Singapore’s built environment transformation roadmap.
What are the biggest gaps in applying advanced analytics across projects and infrastructure?
Projects and sites generate vast amounts of data, but much of it is unstructured and fragmented across different systems. This creates silos that limit the data’s value and hinder meaningful insights.
To address this, BCA worked with industry partners to develop site management data standards, which set standardised data requirements across key areas of project performance. These standards enable smoother data exchange, support regulatory compliance, and encourage data-driven decision-making across the BE sector.
At the same time, digital proficiency is essential. BCA introduced a digital delivery management accreditation scheme as part of Singapore’s built environment skills framework. The scheme is administered by buildingSmart Singapore and provides a pathway for professionals to build digital competencies and make more practical use of data in projects.
How do you see AI reshaping the built environment?
AI is already showing potential across the sector:
- Regulatory code retrieval: AI-powered platforms can interpret regulatory documents more quickly, helping speed up compliance checks.
- BIM modelling automation: AI agents can generate automation scripts within BIM tools, reducing repetitive tasks and improving productivity.
- AI for visualisation: Sketches or concepts can be converted into realistic visuals almost instantly, helping project teams iterate designs and communicate intent more effectively.
- Site management and workflow optimisation: AI can automate reporting, track progress, and flag issues in real time on construction sites, improving safety and productivity.
These applications can help developers, contractors, and consultants with their productivity and allow staff to focus on higher-value, more complex work.
What role does BCA play in Singapore’s smart city ambitions?
BCA will continue working with industry partners to drive AI adoption, develop relevant capabilities, and foster an environment that enables firms to use emerging technologies effectively.
