Towards an information landscape fit for environmental policy in the built environment

The information landscape in the built environment is currently unfit to support global environmental policy ambition. This research proposes a holistic requirements framework to support reform. An inductive Design Science Research methodology is used to develop a decision-support system prototype representative of the envisaged information landscape, and to evaluate this via thematic analysis of stakeholder focus groups. Stakeholders assess the prototype as a promising approach to supporting the policy trajectory in the built environment, and provide constructive criticism. Key insights include: the perceived importance of state influence on the private sector through legislation and exemplary leadership, the incompatibility of proprietary data with life cycle information management practices, and the need for technical and contractual mechanisms to support performance-based procurement. Previous research has focused primarily on analytical tools and data structures; this study expands that scope to encompass the broader socio-technical and techno-economic considerations needed to guide a meaningful paradigm transition. The study provides a pragmatic, practice-informed perspective on sustainability transition planning in the built environment. The prototype illustrates a potential harmonisation between governance and practice, and the findings from the focus group study inform a research and development roadmap towards an environmental policy-aligned information landscape.