Modular process patterns in the design phase

Numerous stakeholders contribute to building projects during the design phase, prevailingly dealing with digital objects. The design phase is characterised by project-specific heterogeneous workflows that are not standardised. Available software tools still do not sufficiently support digital management of these building design workflows across the industry. However, single activities within the workflows are similar and constitute patterns that could allow for modularisation and eventual standardisation. An analysis of design protocols found on a document-exchange platform is performed to identify the processes within the workflows, including information about actors, activities and assets, and subsequently to recognise the patterns. High digitalisation potential is recognised on the activity level, due to numerous similarities and iterations detected between the analysed processes, mainly depending on the constellation of stakeholders. The results reveal information granularity that suffices for digitalisation of communication process flows. The proposed modular patterns represent the first step towards design workflow automation, facilitating the use of technologies such as blockchain and smart contracts.