Autodesk has acquired Datum360, a software company that specializes in providing an end-to-end cloud-based connected data platform. Folks in the AEC/O world will likely not have heard of Datum360 as the cloud-based SaaS platform is mostly used in heavy industries like process, utilities, resources and infrastructure.
Datum360 essentially aims to make all engineering data and assets easily accessible, facilitating enhanced decision-making and efficiency across large organizations. Autodesk’s aim with this acquisition is to address the growing demand for connectivity between model data (often geometric, but sometimes associative) with other types of project data (eg: a product specification or cut sheet).
Democratizing AEC/O Data
The AEC/O industry has long had a “data value” problem. Valuable data historically and consistently remains trapped or landlocked behind proprietary file formats. As the industry transitions more to cloud-based software solutions, APIs for those cloud solutions begin to open up and democratize the type of data that largely has remained siloed inside of desktop-era engineering and design applications. (see, Architosh, “Perspectives on Architosh AIA 2024 BEST of SHOW Honors,” 16 June 2024, for more on the importance of the social and democratization of information technologies).
Autodesk has acquired Datum360 to further democratize AEC/O industry data from its legacy industry leading apps to its new industry cloud solutions.
The acquisition of Datum360 empowers Autodesk to accelerate the democratization of their industry clouds and legacy industry-leading AEC industry software applications. Autodesk’s AEC Data Model API is now generally available, making granular data accessible to Autodesk Docs users. Together with the API release and acquisition of Datum360, Autodesk advances its promise to its AEC/O customers to deliver more open data connectivity.
“Datum360 and Autodesk are united by our shared mission to help our customers make their data a competitive advantage,” says Steve Wilson, Datum360 CEO. “By integrating our technologies, we’re not building a single source of truth, but a single source to go to and search for that truth.”
Architosh will be publishing a feature report on this development in the near future.