Opinion

The foundation for smarter digital delivery is structured data

Neil O'Reilly

Technical director, Informed Engineering

24 November 2025

Structured data is not a standard. It is a strategic enabler to be more efficient, sustainable and intelligent as it will unlock measurable productivity gains across multidisciplinary teams, declares Neil O’Reilly from Informed Engineering.

Abstract image for the benefits of structured data Image: 65539810 © Nils Ackermann | Dreamstime.com — Image: Nils Ackermann | Dreamstime.com

Having delivered numerous infrastructure projects across multiple sectors, I have seen first-hand how the Level of Information Need maturity level varies, or is just unknown at times. If this is left undefined, or limited structured data is applied, it may either make or break the digital delivery.

Across large infrastructure programmes, one thing that consistently determines whether digital delivery truly works is the maturity and clarity of the Level of Information Need. Too often it is undefined, inconsistent or simply assumed. When that happens, projects do not fail because of effort, they fail because the data is not structured, aligned or sometimes even not trusted.

Even in a CDE, the drawings, models, pdfs and emails are still scattered, disconnected and can be interpreted differently. Everyone is trying their best, but they are not playing from the same script. The result is confusion, duplication, rework, higher cost and a lot of digital opportunities missed.

Why structured data changes everything

“One thing that consistently determines whether digital delivery truly works is the maturity and clarity of the Level of Information Need. Too often it is undefined, inconsistent or simply assumed.”

Neil O’Reilly

When data is structured, it becomes useful, not just available. It shifts from passive information to intelligent, connected, validated insight. It makes delivery measurable, repeatable and scalable.

As a result, structured data allows us to:

standardise how the information is created, used and exchanged;

connect data across tools, disciplines and connected systems; and

control quality through validation, automation and traceability.

The difference is profound. Suddenly, we are not searching for information, we are using it, knowing it is trustworthy. Design validation, progress tracking, quantity take-offs, machine control/digital setting out and asset handover into operations all become structured, faster, clearer, consistent and more reliable.

Digital delivery (not just the finish line)

But what it does not define is how that information is used or how Level of Information Need is matured over the asset, federated asset or component lifecycle. That responsibility sits with the project parties, and it must start at concept, not after design is already underway. When Level of Information Need is late to be defined or unclear, cost and effort can escalate quickly.

It answers three essential questions on every project:

Who needs what information?

When do they need it?

In what format should it be delivered?

Use and usage should also be considered: Level of Information Need is a deliverable with measurable value and dictates the hurdles lying ahead. For employers, asset owners and operators, structured data alignment means project parties can start to trust the information they receive and start to look at improved collaborative engagement.

The key benefits are (but not limited to):

visibility and control over project performance;

validated, reusable data at handover for operations and maintenance;

digital twins and the adoption of predictive asset strategies; and

the support of sustainability, compliance, and long-term value through reliable data foundations.

The benefits specifically for employers, asset owners or operators are:

better visibility and assured decision-making;

reusable, validated data at handover;

the foundation for digital twins and predictive operations; and

long-term value through reliable information supplied.

For design consultants, working within a structured framework enhances coordination and clarity, not just its use internally. The key benefits are:

reduced design ambiguity and duplication;

parametric, intelligent, reusable information;

automated model validation, reporting and decision-making;

improved internal consistency and external collaboration; and

the demonstration of digital maturity, increasingly a key differentiator in project delivery.

For contractors, structured information supports delivery with confidence and certainty, with opportunities for upskilling the supply chain for additional gains, such as:

improving programme predictability and pricing through reliable data;

machine control with possible reduction in drawing output;

reduction in waste, rework and manual checks;

integrating field and office data for real-time decision-making; and

delivering consistent, high-quality output aligned with the employer’s expectations.

Culture first, technology second

From my experience, digital transformation only works when information management is treated as a shared responsibility with buy-in from all levels. Structured data is not a software feature – it’s a shared behaviour.

“Structured data is not a standard: it is a strategic enabler to be more efficient, sustainable and intelligent as it will unlock measurable productivity gains across multidisciplinary teams.”

Neil O’Reilly

Digital transformation only succeeds when information is a shared responsibility, not an IT burden or compliance task. When the structure is clear, consultants deliver to it, contractors protect it and owners benefit from it. That builds trust and trust builds a culture of capability, giving us the much-needed results with high-performing environments where innovation thrives in aligned ecosystems.

Structured data is not a standard: it is a strategic enabler to be more efficient, sustainable and intelligent as it will unlock measurable productivity gains across multidisciplinary teams. It’s not just a box-ticking exercise, it’s central to how we deliver value.

By embedding structured data principles into everyday delivery, we move beyond compliance and towards a connected, data-driven industry where digital delivery adds measurable value at every stage, creating a space for others to thrive.

That is the future of digital engineering, in my opinion, and it starts with how we structure information today.

Keep up to date with DC+: sign up for the midweek newsletter.

Topics:

Data digital delivery Informed Engineering

Story for Digital Construction Plus? Get in touch via email: [email protected]