Digitally describing buildings in a format that is understandable and readable by all parties makes the sector more efficient and opens up opportunities for additional standardisation, automation and robotisation. The establishment of digital construction in the construction sector leads to a reduction in the influence of national borders, which is helped by the use of a common digital "language". It creates the ground for new business models and improves productivity and the quality of the built environment.
In Estonia, there are used modern solutions for BIM modeling and construction design management, but the information flow between different parties in the life cycle of the building can be improved. The initial goal is to create the necessary framework for digitisation, i.e. to establish agreements in the form of a unified classification system, guidelines, normative documents, and best practices.
We create a basis for improving services in the construction sector with the help of an e-construction platform, which creates a complete picture of the built environment all over Estonia, i.e. its 3D Digital Twin. High-quality information exchange between the Building Register and other databases affecting construction, such as the Land Cadastre, Planning Register, Real Estate Property Register, etc., must also be ensured.
The more distant goal is to improve the management of the sector's processes with the help of digital construction, to enhance the cooperation between the participants of the life cycle, to significantly save resources and to increase the productivity of construction to at least the EU average level by 2030. The emergence of new digital services together with the ICT sector provides an opportunity to increase exports and win new markets.
Connecting Estonia's 3D Digital Twin with real-time data (IoT) enables better analysis and development of our living environment. Permits are processed based on digital models, artificial intelligence is used to collect information and make better decisions, and blockchain technology ensures data uniformity and security.
The long-term perspective for the economy as a whole is the integration of the built environment with various branches of the economy, new added value, and the services based on digital data throughout the life cycle of the building, i.e. during planning, ordering, designing, construction, and maintenance.
Major projects
E-construction procedural environment
In the first half of 2022, a new e-construction procedural environment is launched, which significantly updates the entry and processing of both the use permit and construction permit and the construction notification.
The services for handling and signing the files uploaded to the Building Register will also be updated (among other things, the possibility of cascade signing of the construction design documents will be created, and the strict requirement for naming files will disappear for smaller projects).
E-construction procedural environment
In the first half of 2022, a new e-construction procedural environment is launched, which significantly updates the entry and processing of both the use permit and construction permit and the construction notification.
The services for handling and signing the files uploaded to the Building Register will also be updated (among other things, the possibility of cascade signing of the construction design documents will be created, and the strict requirement for naming files will disappear for smaller projects).
E-leap in construction
The e-leap in construction is a new support measure for the digitisation of the construction sector, opening in 2022.
Through application rounds open twice a year, participants in the construction sector can apply for funding to create and use innovative digital solutions. The number of services offered by the private sector on the e-construction platform increases with the capacity of the field.
The first application round will be announced in the fall of 2022 – additional information can be found on the webpage ehupe.eehitus.ee.
The support measure will be financed in the years 2022–2025 from the European Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) Next Generation EU with a total of 4.5 million. Beneficiaries must ensure at least 50% self-financing.
Displaying network facilities
The procedure for 5G access points and the display of network facilities are also added on e-construction 2D and 3D maps.
Network owners will also get a separate service for uploading their facilities, with the aim of reducing underground facility demolitions and reducing construction delays due to finding unknown infrastructure.
Developments planned from the end of 2022 onwards:
- the portal for communication between municipalities and the MEAC for discussing and commenting on current legal and technical topics in construction, raising problems and finding answers to frequently asked questions;
- updating the data structure of technical systems, materials and constructions and harmonising information from the Building Register and energy labels;
- calculation of energy labels in the Building Register (so far the labels have been uploaded into the Building Register, the new forms enable more automation of the process and make the information more accessible) and the possibility of energy simulations for building owners;
- the construction guide – a tool that enables citizens to better orient themselves in the legal space of the construction sector and housing administration.
Last updated: 02.07.2023
