What is the Victorian Digital Asset Strategy?
The Victorian Digital Asset Strategy (VDAS) is a holistic and strategic approach for the application of digital engineering (DE) to Victorian Government physical assets.
The vision of the VDAS is to create, deliver and enhance digital assets that inform the delivery and whole-life management of world-class, effective, and efficient physical assets across Victoria to the benefit of current and future Victorians.
How does the VDAS work?
The VDAS approach has been developed to enhance the value and performance of our physical assets and its digital equivalent throughout each stage of the physical asset’s lifecycle. The VDAS guidance document will provide detailed information to Victorian Government asset stakeholders about how to implement DE processes to improve digital asset and information creation, management practices, capability and maturity across Victoria.
How will the VDAS be implemented?
The VDAS Guidance articulates value and process associated across three major levels. Following these three operating levels provides a consistent approach to DE and BIM.
Part A: Strategic
Provides insight on the planning, delivery, operation, and maintenance of assets, and highlights how the VDAS can meet government acts, policies, and other obligations
Part B: Organisation
Details guidance and advice valuable to those involved in the management, direction and portfolio management of major assets and projects
Part C: Application
Provides project-level advice articulates through front-end implementation and handover phases of the asset lifecycle
What are the drivers and background for the VDAS?
The VDAS aims to effectively and consistently coordinate many of the elements critical in planning, delivering, operating and maintaining Victoria’s critical state infrastructure. These elements include data, information, assets and decisions across the physical asset’s lifecycle.
Without the introduction of the VDAS, we would continue to use many of these elements in a siloed, paper-based, non-repeatable and non-integrated fashion. The VDAS provides an opportunity to reform information management, processes and elements.
What are the benefits of a VDAS approach?
There are many benefits from employing the VDAS approach, including:
- enhanced value and performance of physical assets and its digital equivalent throughout each stage of the physical asset’s lifecycle
- maximised usage of data and information for optimum delivery
- enhanced insights and decision-making through visualisation, real-time integration with cost and schedule, and innovative technology such as 4D and 5D modelling, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
- improved construction practice resulting in better safety, and reduction in construction time and waste
How can the VDAS assist our organisation?
The VDAS is accompanied by templates, proformas and tools to assist and support organisations with DE and BIM implementation.
When would you consider applying the VDAS and at what stage of the project?
It is recommended for the VDAS to be implemented at the beginning of a project, however the VDAS Guidance document also provides direction on how to implement it at differing stages of a project lifecycle. For example, establishing a detailed 3D model can speed up processes in the construction stage and can be used for efficient management and maintenance of assets.