WO2022165562A1

WO2022165562A1 - A computer implemented system for managing a building asset

Info

Publication number: WO2022165562A1
Application number: PCT/AU2022/050070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Hawkins; Chris DeVoy
Original assignee: Building Assurance Technologies Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-02-08
Filing date: 2022-02-08
Publication date: 2022-08-11
Also published as: AU2022217666A1

Abstract

A computer implemented system for managing a building asset to be constructed by a developer following approval of a development application, comprising: a server computer system implementing one or more computer applications, at least one of the one or more computer applications being configured to: implement a contract uploading phase comprising providing contracted parties with access to an interface for allowing a contract document to be uploaded; performing a machine-based evaluation of each uploaded contract document to identify compliance activities necessary to satisfy one or more contractual, regulatory and/or legislative requirements associated with the contract; implement a compliance activity monitoring and reporting phase, comprising: allowing each contracted party to enter progress related information for an assigned compliance activity via an interface; and generating a report based on the progress related information entered by the contracted parties.

Description

A COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A BUILDING ASSET

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a system and computer implemented method for managing a building asset through its lifecycle, and particularly, but by no means exclusively, to techniques for managing the assurance, risk and compliance processes carried out during the development, design, engineering and construction of the asset according to best practice procedures.

Background of Invention

In Australia, a Development Application (“DA”) establishes the construction methodology and relevant parameters required to build an asset to a particular set of building codes, standards, designs and engineered detail. The contractual requirements for each stakeholder associated with the construction are comprehensively set out in an associated head contract and various subcontracts, tied to specific relevant forms of governance, including:

• Compliance to the contractual terms and conditions, including any special terms and conditions added to the contract.

• Compliance to the Building Code of Practice, and any trade specific legislation

• Compliance to project specific safety plans.

• Compliance to any International Standards Organisations (ISO).

• Compliance to the engineered design of the facility.

Whilst all key stakeholders are contractually bound to comply with these various compliance requirements, such requirements are often vast, complex and hard to interpret. Without the proper training and understanding of the relevant legal framework (which are unique to the specific trade), such requirements can be readily misunderstood or misinterpreted, posing a significant risk to the entire project due to non-compliance.

On a global scale, the industry is riddled with issues arising from non-compliance, including leaking balconies, fire hazardous materials being installed on high rise apartments, major structural failures due to poor construction practices and the list goes on. These issues in turn can lead to disproportionately high insurance premiums, unsafe working environments (potentially leading to the death and permanent disability of construction workers on site), increasingly low levels of consumer confidence, loss of investment and increased cost of construction.

In order to address some of the above compliance issues, the head contractor will typically implement an (often bespoke) internal management system which they use to micro-manage each trade or consultancy required to construct the asset (i.e. , as per the subcontracts). While such systems do go some way to resolving the non- compliance related issues discussed above, they are often costly to purchase and require staff to be employed and appropriately trained to use and monitor the system. Further, such systems have no way of readily addressing non-compliance issues arising from a misinterpretation or misunderstanding of a contract by a stakeholder.

Contract management and compliance issues continue to pose a major issue for the industry and its reputation, and many businesses suffer from closures due to a lack of education, a lack of standard process and a lack of the necessary tools required to properly address the matter. The construction industry is an extremely competitive marketplace, with very small profit margins. It is not uncommon practice for builders and subcontractors alike to substitute specified products with cheaper inferior alternatives or to effectively engage with contractually vulnerable trades, lacking the contractual skills or knowledge to properly defend themselves or to carry out the necessary due diligence required of them to meet their obligations under the contract. These contractors generally adhere to the head contractors contractual obligations, but fail to mitigate their own risk. Our operational process has been built with the intent to use modern technology such as Blockchain to incorporate and maintain supply chain integrity with the foresight that this information will be crucial to the accurate calculation of the embedded carbon footprint of a project.

Summary of Invention

In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided a computer implemented system for managing a building asset to be constructed by a developer following approval of a development application, comprising: a server computer system implementing one or more computer applications, at least one of the one or more computer applications being configured to: implement a contract uploading phase comprising providing contracted parties with access to an interface for allowing a contract document to be uploaded; performing a machine-based evaluation of each uploaded contract document to identify compliance activities necessary to satisfy one or more contractual, regulatory and/or legislative requirements associated with the contract; implement a compliance activity monitoring and reporting phase, comprising: allowing each contracted party to enter progress related information for an assigned compliance activity via an interface; and generating a report based on the progress related information entered by the contracted parties.

In accordance with another aspect there is provided a computer implemented system for managing a building asset to be constructed by a developer following approval of a development application, comprising: a server computer system implementing one or more web-based applications, at least one of the one or more web-based applications being configured to: implement a contract uploading phase comprising providing contracted parties with access to an interface for allowing a contract document to be uploaded; implement an artificial intelligence-based contract evaluation process, comprising: performing a machine-based evaluation of each uploaded contract document to identify compliance activities necessary to satisfy one or more contractual, regulatory and/or legislative requirements associated with the contract, the machinebased evaluation utilising one or more artificial intelligence engines trained based on precedential contract data, the identified compliance activities being automatically associated with the corresponding contractor; implement a compliance activity monitoring and reporting phase, comprising: allowing each contracted party to enter progress related information for an assigned compliance activity via the interface; and generating a report based on the progress related information entered by the contracted parties.

In an embodiment the method further comprises automatically determining a timeframe for each contracted party to enter progress related information for an assigned compliance activity.

In an embodiment the timeframe is automatically determined based on the machinebased evaluation and/or information entered by the contracted party via the interface.

In an embodiment the method further comprises automatically alerting the contracted party when the progress related information has not been entered within the timeframe. In an embodiment the method further comprises allowing the contracted parties to enter documentary evidence associated with the compliance activity via the interface.

In an embodiment the method further comprises performing a machine-based evaluation of the documentary evidence to determine if it is compliant and alerting the associated contracted party if the documentary evidence is not compliant.

In an embodiment the machine-based evaluation of the documentary evidence utilises one or more Al engines.

In an embodiment the method further comprises automatically selecting one or more compliance document templates from a pool of templates associated with an identified compliance activity for completion by the contracted party.

In an embodiment the compliance document templates are downloadable via the interface and wherein the progress related information for each compliance activity comprises the associated completed compliance document.

In an embodiment the method further comprises assigning a weighting to each compliance document.

In an embodiment the method further comprises determining a compliance score for each contracted party based on a number of outstanding compliance documents and corresponding weighting.

In an embodiment the method further comprises establishing an operational process determined from the implementation of a standard best practice protocol according to an associated ISO guideline.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic of a computer platform, in accordance with an embodiment; and

Figure 2 is a schematic illustrating a process flow for managing compliance and assurance activities using the system of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Embodiments described herein relate to a system and computer implemented method for digitally managing quality assurance and compliance activities for a building asset. More specifically, embodiments outlined herein enable key stakeholders (i.e. , such as contractors and tradespeople) to clearly understand their contracted requirements and manage their compliance activities in real-time. In addition, the system and method are configured to capture, evidence and store (harvest) all compliance activity relating to a Development Application (DA) and associated contracts during construction by every stakeholder. It will be understood that embodiments are suitable for managing any form of building asset, including both residential and commercial properties, capital works, utilities, or infrastructure developments.

With reference to the system schematic of Figure 1 , a centralised building asset management system 10 according to the present invention comprises an administrator server system 12 implementing one or web based and/or native mobile applications accessible by various stakeholders 11. According to the illustrated embodiment, the stakeholders may include a system administrator 14, developer 16, builder/head contractor 18, other building practitioners (e.g., engineers, designers and certifiers) 19, Government agency or regulator 20 and subcontractor(s) 22a to 22n.

More particularly, according to the illustrated embodiment, the server system 12 comprises a web server 30 that hosts: (a) a building assurance application 32 accessible by the developer 16 and/or Government agency 17; and (b) a contract compliance application 34 accessible by the builder/head contractor 18, construction practitioners 19 and subcontractor(s) 22. As will be described in subsequent paragraphs, the building assurance application 32 is configured to implement a building assurance interface 32a for facilitating two-way communication between the management system 10 and developer and/or Government agency 16,17. Similarly, the contract compliance application 34 is configured to implement a contract compliance user interface 34a facilitating two-way communication with the builder 18, other building practitioners 19 and subcontractor(s) 22. As shown in Figure 2, the building assurance application 32 implement application logic 33 including logic for report generation, workflow/task management, user management, security management and project compliance audit management. The contract compliance application also implements application logic 35 for report generation, workflow/task management, user management, security management and contract compliance audit management.

The system administrator 14 has access to the applications 32, 34, along with various shared services 17, via an administrator interface. As is evident from Figure 2, the server system 30 also implements various shared service modules, including an audit services module 47 and compliance services module 49.

According to embodiments described herein, the applications 32, 34 are accessible by way of a browser on any suitable network-enabled computing device 24, over a communications network 26. The communications network 26 may be any suitable fixed and/or mobile communications network, e.g., the Internet or a private intranet, and may use any suitable protocol for the exchange of electronic data, e.g., TCP/IP, NNTP, HTTP, etc. In an alternative embodiment, the application(s) can additionally or alternatively be implemented as native mobile applications installed on a personal user computer device (e.g., mobile phone, tablet, etc.), as will be well understood by persons skilled in the art.

The web server 30 implements a data store 36 storing various libraries, including a building assurance library 38, contract compliance library 39 and compliance library 40. The web server 30 is also configured to communicate with various remote external services 42 over the network 26, via Application Programming Interfaces 44. According to the illustrated embodiment the services 42 include an Artificial Intelligence (Al) compliance engine 46 and an Al evidence audit module 48. The integration services module may also be configured to store chain of title, proof of purchase, carbon counts and other pertinent data for immutable tracking. In an alternative embodiment, the external services 42 may be locally implemented by the server system 12. It will be understood that the data store 36 can take on any suitable digital form, from a standard SQL database to a distributed cloud store. In a particular embodiment, the building assurance library 38 is configured to store project data, building DNA specifications, certifications, ITPs, stakeholder data, compliance score and evidence data. Correspondingly the contract compliance library is configured to store product/manufacturer data, project data, subcontractor data, certification data, ITPs and evidence data.

It will be understood that prior to implementation of the system, the developer 16 is required to submit a development application for approval by the relevant Government body, as is well understood in the industry. As stated in the preamble, the development application details the legislative and regulatory guidelines for the asset’s DNA. This may relate to the design, engineering, safety, standards, codes of practice, specification, finishes, terms and conditions, and scopes of work relating to each stakeholder involved in the construction of the asset. This information is then stipulated into the governing head contract and various subcontracts. According to the illustrated embodiment, contract terms, the relevant (ISO) and industry safety standards, and legislative and regulatory guidelines are uploaded to the system 10 (in this case entered by the administrator 14 via the admin interface 19) for subsequent storage as compliance library data stored in library 39. This is illustrated in Figure 2 as S1.

With particular reference to Figure 2, the system 10 (and more specifically the building assurance application 32) is configured to implement a “head contract uploading phase” which involves an initial step of granting the developer 16 or Government agency 18 (depending on who is identified as the initial client) with access to the building assurance interface 32a. For ease of explanation, the following description will assume the developer 16 is identified as the initial client. According to the illustrated embodiment, granting access involves sending a digital communication to the developer 16 with a link to an account creation page (i.e., implemented by the web server 30) for creating a secure and unique account, the details of which are then stored in the building assurance library (“BAL”) 38.

As will become evident from subsequent paragraphs, the BAL 38 captures and stores all compliance related activity for the building asset, together with the processes used during construction by every stakeholder (including, certifiers, engineers, architects, builders and the trades) to monitor and evidence that their scopes of work have been carried out in accordance with the relevant contractual and regulatory standards. The information stored in the BAL 38 can be used to successfully maintain the asset through its lifecycle. For example, once the “Certificate of Occupancy” has been met, information in the BAL 38 may advantageously be accessed by Government regulators, developers, builders, certifiers, insurers, real estate agents, body corporate, asset managers, buyers or sellers of the asset, among others.

Once an account has been created, the developer 16 is prompted to download a copy of the DA and enter digital contact information for the head builder/contractor 18 and any other relevant stakeholders that have been engaged at that time (e.g., the architect, engineer, certifier etc.). In a particular embodiment, the developer 16 is asked to respond to a questionnaire (referred to herein as a “contract brief’) that prompts the developer for the contact information and/or development description, as well as other information (which may vary depending on the implementation) pertinent to the build, such as:

• What is the DA approval number?

• What is the Block and Section number for the Development?

• Is this a single storey, 2 storey or multi storey development?

• What is the main purpose of the facility?

• Are there any affordable housing requirements?

• Are there any requirements to make the units or parking spaces adaptable?

• Engineer - Name, contact, email address etc

• Architect - Name, Contact, email address.

• Superintendent - Name, contact, email address etc

• Building certifier - Name, contact, email address etc

• Head Contractor - Name, contact, email address etc

• What is the NaThers rating on the project?

The entry of the information is indicated in S2 of Figure 2. In a particular embodiment, the information entered by the developer 16 is stored in a CSV maintained in the BAL 38.

The next step is referred to as the “stakeholder onboarding process” and involves the building assurance application 32 establishing the necessary user permissions for data security and inviting the relevant contracted parties onto the platform (and more specifically the contractor interface implemented by the contract compliance web application 34) via a series of emails or other suitable digital communication, e.g., SMS messages. Automated instructions and templates are generated based on the output of a machine-based contract evaluation for assisting each contractor/subcontractor to complete their respective compliance matrix, as will now be described in more detail.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the first contracted party to be invited via the building assurance application is the head builder/contractor 18 (whose details were previously entered into the CSV file by the developer 16 and used by the builder assurance application 32 to issue the invite along with a unique user identification number). The head builder/contractor 18, in turn, is granted access to the partially populated CSV file via the compliance (BAL) interface.

After being granted access to the contract compliance application 34, the head builder/contractor 18 is required to upload a copy of the head contract. The system 10 (and more specifically the building assurance application 32) subsequently performs a machine-based evaluation of the contract to identify critical contractual obligations and compliance activities/reporting standards necessary to satisfy any contractual, regulatory and/or legislative requirements associated therewith (see S3 of Figure 2). The evaluation also provides a point of reference for the subsequent head and subcontracts. In addition, the building assurance application 32 selects one or more predefined templates for completion by the builder 18 to satisfy the identified compliance activities. As shown in Figure 2, the operating procedures, report templates, user data and workflow/task data are stored as application data 32b for access by the application 32. Correspondingly, operating procedures, report templates, user data, workflow/task data and response matrix data are stored as application data 34b by the contract compliance application 34.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the machine-based evaluation involves selecting and utilising one or more Al engines 46 to accurately identify and interpret specific terms in each contract that, together with the responses to the contract briefs, are used to generate a “compliance matrix” specifying the necessary compliance activities for the relevant party to follow, set out in readily understood language. According to the illustrated embodiment, based on the output of the evaluation, one or more prequalified compliance document templates are selected (from a stored of prequalified templates stored as application data by the application 32/34 based on the output of the machine-based contract evaluation and any other relevant information provided by the builder (which may include answers to contract brief questions, entered via the contractor interface).

More specifically, the Al engine(s) 46 is/are trained based on a precedential contract dataset derived from a pool of contract precedents and related compliance activities and reporting requirements. The training data enables the Al engine 46 to automatically evaluate a contract and determine which compliance activities need to be completed, the relevant time frames for completion of those activities (based on industry and ISO standards), along with the necessary reporting standards for satisfying the relevant legislation, safety compliance standards and contractual obligations.

In a particular embodiment, the contract dataset may be dynamically updated based on automatically or manually determined changes in the relevant law/standards and/or based on new upload precedents. In a particular embodiment, the Al engine(s) 46 are configured to interrogate public repositories (e.g., via API calls) of contract precedents, legal findings, regulations, legislation, engineering and design changes and the like to ensure contracts are up to date, legally compliant, and the like.

Once a new subcontractor has been engaged, the builder/contractor 18 accesses the compliance interface 34a and enters the relevant contact details, prompting the application 32 to invite and onboard the newly subcontracted party.

For each newly subcontracted party, the compliance interface prompts the subcontractor 20 to download certain relevant documentation and respond to a specific contract brief. The contract brief presented to the subcontractor may, for example, ask the questions such as:

• Project Name

• Client Name

• Project Manager

• Site Manager

• Value of the Contract

• Is retention to be withheld: Yes/No

• Is this cash retention or secured retention? • What percentage is to be withheld?

• Has this been capped?

• What is the date to issue progress claims?

• What ISO or Standards have been specified to follow?

• What documents are required to accompany each claim - Insurance certificate of currency, ITP’s, Stat dec etc.

The subcontractor 22 may be asked to upload documentation such as: a copy of the subcontract; a copy of the program; a copy of the submitted shop drawings; a copy of the AS built drawings; information relating to the procurement of materials and relevant warranty and maintenance information. The subcontractor responses and documentation are subsequently stored in the BAL 38. This is schematically illustrated in S5 of Figure 2.

Responsive to receiving an uploaded contract, the building assurance application 32 performs a machine-based evaluation to identify compliance activities and reporting standards necessary to satisfy any contractual, regulatory and/or legislative requirements associated therewith (as per S2 of Figure 2). By way of example, the identified information may comprise the contract terms and conditions, program, standards, specification, scope of works, special conditions, contact details for site management, safety systems, shop drawings, reporting functions, etc.

In addition, the building assurance application 32 selects one or more prequalified compliance document templates (stored as application data 32b) for completion by the subcontractor to satisfy the identified compliance activities. The templates are automatically selected based on responses to the contract brief and output of the machine-based contract evaluation. By way of example, the compliance document templates may comprise:

• Project Establishment

• Safety forms (Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS), Risk Assessment, Incident report, Covid plan.)

• Internal Test Plans (ITP’s)

• Weekly Progress reports

• Monthly Management reports • Defect Management

• Works to complete

• Notice of Delay

• Extension of Time request

• Variations

• Operation and Maintenance Manuals

• Statement of compliance

• Certification of works

The system 12 will subsequently establish a step-by-step best practice process required by the relevant stakeholders to remain compliant to all governing compliance instruction, including issuing workflow prompts of the actions that are required to be taken to remain compliant to the contract. The best practice process is determined using various preprogramed application logic implemented by both the assurance application 32 and contract compliance application 34.

The compliance document templates are accessible to the contractors via their own compliance interface. Completed compliance templates can be downloaded for completion and subsequently be uploaded via the compliance interface, with the ability to evidence a corresponding activity by attachment of photos or documents/instructions, including e-signing and voice recognition technology. The uploaded documentation is appropriately indexed and saved in the contract compliance library 40. A time frame for uploading the completed compliance documents is also automatically determined by the application 32 (again based, at least in part, on the application logic, contract brief responses and machine-based evaluation), indexed and saved in the contract compliance library 40.

Once a contracted party has been onboarded, the centralised building asset management system 10 implements a “compliance activity monitoring and reporting phase”. During this phase, the system 10 (and more particularly logic implemented by the building assurance and contract compliance applications 32, 34) is configured to determine whether the contractor has uploaded the relevant compliance documentation in accordance with the automatically determined time frame. If not, the application 32 is configured to automatically send an alert message to the builder/head contractor 18 (or other relevant stakeholder) notifying them that a compliance document is outstanding. The status of this workflow information is provided to the relevant parties in real time. The application 32 may also be configured to automatically contact the contractor/subcontractor prior to the event reminding them that documentation is soon due. By way of example, an alert message may be sent via a series of email prompts/alerts provided on the mobile application to the site/project manager.

The compliance activity monitoring and reporting phase is also overseen by the Al evidence audit module 47 that automatically monitors and evaluates uploaded compliance documentation for quality assurance throughout the project. For example, the audit module 47 with the aid of the Al engine 48 may perform a scan of the documentation and/or evidence to make sure that it is of sufficient quality and will be deemed compliant according to the relevant standard. The audit module 47 may be trained based on a pool of compliant and non-compliant documentation and regulatory standards information. If the audit module 47 determines that an uploaded document is not compliant, the application 32 is configured to automatically contact the relevant party and request that they upload compliant documentation. An alert may also be sent by the application 32 to the builder/head contractor 18.

Further, the building assurance application 32 is also configured to display cumulative and/or individual compliance activity progress data for each contracted party. The progress data may take the form of a score (implemented by the compliance services module 49) that is based on a number and corresponding weight of any outstanding documents. The progress data can be viewed by the developer via the building assurance interface to identify and ensure compliance is being maintained and met to the standard required under the contract and legislation. The score may readily allow the developer 16 or head builder/contractor 18 to identify areas of the build that are outstanding to achieve full compliance.

As shown in Figure 2, authorised third parties can access data stored by the applications 32/34 via API calls, e.g., to allow prospective unit buyers to access warranty and maintenance data prior to purchase.

Further Detail of System Configuration

The web server 30 can be any form of suitable server computer that is capable of hosting suitably programmed web applications for communicating with stakeholders via suitably configured client computing devices over the network 26. The server 30 may include typical web server hardware including a processor, motherboard, memory, hard disk and a power supply. The server also includes an operating system which cooperates with the hardware to provide an environment in which software applications can be executed. In this regard, the hard disk of the server is loaded with a processing module which, under the control of the processor, is operable to implement engines for delivering the afore-described applications and modules.

In an alternative embodiment, the computer platform may be implemented as a cloudbased application (i.e., in a secure web-based cloud environment), using techniques which will be well understood by persons skilled in the art.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the client computing devices take the form of general-purpose network enabled computers equipped with a browser. It will be appreciated, however, that the devices could be any suitable form of network-enabled computing device. For example, the devices may take the form of a special purpose device including a smart phone, tablet, or the like. Details of such devices (e.g., processor, memory, displays, data storage devices) are omitted for the sake of clarity.

At least one of the following advantages arises through implementing one or more embodiments of the invention as described herein:

• Utilise machine learning to accurately interpret contract terms and content, allowing key stakeholders to better understand their contractual obligations;

• Create accurate auto populated responses which serve to improve the understanding of the contract reader;

• Improving over time as more contracts are entered into the system to provide increasingly accurate results;

• Effectively identify specific timelines required within a construction industry context for each contract requirement to accurately measure on a points basis the contract party’s compliance in real-time;

• Using Al or machine learning to better educate best practice construction methods throughout the industry according to ISO protocol;

• Provide the unique ability to collect specific compliance data from the truth of source and make it available for commercial consumption; and • Through API development, provide a means in which the regulators and other third parties can engage with all key stakeholders in the industry regardless of the size of the project.

While the invention has been described with reference to the present embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that alterations, changes and improvements may be made and equivalents may be substituted for the elements thereof and steps thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt the invention to a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the central scope thereof. Such alterations, changes, modifications and improvements, though not expressly described above, are nevertheless intended and implied to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment described herein and will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the independent claims.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A computer implemented system for managing a building asset to be constructed by a developer following approval of a development application, comprising: a server computer system implementing one or more computer applications, at least one of the one or more computer applications being configured to: implement a contract uploading phase comprising providing contracted parties with access to an interface for allowing a contract document to be uploaded; implement an artificial intelligence-based contract evaluation process, comprising: performing a machine-based evaluation of each uploaded contract document to identify compliance activities necessary to satisfy one or more contractual, regulatory and/or legislative requirements associated with the contract, the machine-based evaluation utilising one or more artificial intelligence engines trained based on precedential contract data, the identified compliance activities being automatically associated with the corresponding contractor; implement a compliance activity monitoring and reporting phase, comprising: allowing each contracted party to enter progress related information for an assigned compliance activity via an interface implemented by the system; and generating a report based on the progress related information entered by the contracted parties.

2. A computer implemented system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising automatically determining a timeframe for each contracted party to enter progress related information for an assigned compliance activity.

3. A computer implemented system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the timeframe is automatically determined based on the machine-based evaluation and/or information entered by the contracted party via the interface.

4. A computer implemented system in accordance with claim 2 or 3, further comprising automatically alerting the contracted party when the progress related information has not been entered within the timeframe.

5. A computer implemented system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, further comprising allowing the contracted parties to enter documentary evidence associated with the compliance activity via the interface.

6. A computer implemented system in accordance with claim 5, further comprising performing a machine-based evaluation of the documentary evidence to determine if it is compliant and alerting the associated contracted party if the documentary evidence is not compliant.

7. A computer implemented system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the machine-based evaluation of the documentary evidence utilises one or more Al engines.

8. A computer implemented system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, further comprising automatically selecting one or more compliance document templates from a pool of templates associated with an identified compliance activity for completion by the contracted party.

9. A computer implemented system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the compliance document templates are downloadable via the interface and wherein the progress related information for each compliance activity comprises the associated completed compliance document.

10. A computer implemented system in accordance with claim 8 or 9, further comprising assigning a weighting to each compliance document.

11. A computer implemented system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising determine a compliance score for each contracted party based on a number of outstanding compliance documents and corresponding weighting.

12. A computer implemented system for managing a building asset to be constructed by a developer following approval of a development application, comprising: a server computer system implementing one or more computer applications, at least one of the one or more computer applications being configured to: implement a contract uploading phase comprising providing contracted parties with access to an interface for allowing a contract document to be uploaded; performing a machine-based evaluation of each uploaded contract document to identify compliance activities necessary to satisfy one or more contractual, regulatory and/or legislative requirements associated with the contract; implement a compliance activity monitoring and reporting phase, comprising: allowing each contracted party to enter progress related information for an assigned compliance activity via an interface; and generating a report based on the progress related information entered by the contracted parties.

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