As Australia’s AEC sector deepens its Digital Transformation, a new concern is rising alongside innovation: control over project data. New research from Revizto suggests data ownership, interoperability and governance are becoming strategic priorities, as organisations weigh the long-term risks of fragmented platforms against the competitive advantages of transparent, governed digital collaboration.
Australia’s architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector is widely recognised as one of the most digitally advanced construction markets in the world.
Model-based workflows, digital collaboration platforms and integrated project environments are now embedded across major infrastructure and building projects. From hospitals and transport networks to large-scale commercial developments, digital tools are transforming how AEC project teams coordinate increasingly complex work.
However, as the industry moves deeper into Digital Transformation, a new and increasingly critical issue is emerging: the control of project data. ‘Bridging the Gap’, Revizto’s 2026 Digital Design and Construction report highlights just how rapidly this concern is escalating in Australia, with 64.4% of the 300 Australian AEC respondents, out of 2,006 globally, indicating they are ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ concerned about data ownership and control when selecting technology vendors, compared with 37.8% globally.
Jason Howden, Chief Innovation Officer, Revizto, said: “The findings reflect a growing awareness among Australian AEC leaders that control of project data is becoming a strategic issue as projects become more digital and regulatory scrutiny increases.
“With Australian infrastructure projects operating in highly regulated environments, organisations are thinking very carefully about who ultimately controls the information that drives projects. For years the conversation in construction technology focused on productivity and collaboration. Now, it’s shifted toward data controls.”
Australia’s strong focus on data governance reflects the maturity of its digital construction environment. According to the survey, 29% of Australian AEC organisations now operate mostly or fully model-based workflows, compared with 21.7% globally.
Project performance metrics reinforce the same trend. Australian AEC respondents reported lower average project budget overruns at 9.8% compared with 11.6% globally. This indicates that Australia is already moving well beyond early digital adoption. Digital collaboration is now embedded across the project lifecycle, connecting architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors and project owners through shared digital environments.
Kurt Brissett, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Built, reinforces the findings. “As a CIO, I see a growing disconnect: we rely on vast amounts of infrastructure data, yet we don’t always have full control over it. The issue is no longer just where data is stored, but whether we can truly access it, use it effectively and stand behind it when it matters,” he said.
Modern AEC projects rely on these environments to visualise projects in 3D, detect clashes before construction begins and coordinate decisions across multiple disciplines. Technology platforms create greater visibility across projects and improved decision-making across teams by bringing architects, engineers, contractors and owners into a shared environment where project issues can be identified early and resolved more efficiently.
“If project information becomes locked into proprietary platforms, AEC firms risk losing flexibility in how they manage and leverage insights from their data. Construction projects can often run for years, sometimes decades, so the data created throughout the project lifetime needs to remain accessible and usable even if technology and software have been updated during this time,” Howden said.
The growing importance of data governance is also being reinforced by rising technology costs. According to the survey, 72.2% of Australian AEC organisations reported increases in software and cloud licensing costs over the past 12 months, compared with 65.8% globally.
For CIOs and digital leaders in the AEC sector, these shifts are reshaping how technology partners are evaluated. Beyond functionality, organisations are increasingly prioritising transparency, interoperability and long-term data accessibility when selecting collaboration platforms. AEC leaders are also recognising that fragmented collaboration environments create risk. When project information is distributed across disconnected systems, visibility declines and accountability becomes harder to maintain.
But the next phase of transformation will not simply be about adopting new tools. It will be about governing the data those tools generate.
“As the industry continues to digitise, project data becomes one of its most valuable assets. Organisations that prioritise transparency, interoperability and strong data governance will be the ones best positioned to deliver the increasingly complex infrastructure projects shaping Australia’s future. It will become a matter of competitive advantage,” Howden said.
The next phase of transformation will not be won by organisations that simply deploy more tools. It will be led by those that understand the strategic importance of collaboration, transparency and governed project data.
