Surveyors Australia has formally responded to Unity Water’s proposal to introduce mandatory design stage ADAC XML submissions as part of its broader digital asset strategy.
The submission was informed by detailed feedback from member firms with extensive, hands on experience delivering ADAC compliant as constructed data across multiple jurisdictions. As expected, views across the profession are not uniform, and our response deliberately reflects both areas of support and areas of concern.
Members generally support the intent behind Unity Water’s proposal. There is recognition that earlier introduction of structured digital asset data has the potential to improve data quality, enable earlier validation and reduce late stage rework. Members also support the longer term vision of improved digital integration, including the concept of a Digital Twin.
However, that support is conditional. Members were clear that any new requirement must deliver genuine process simplification. Where design XML submissions add steps without removing existing requirements, the benefit diminishes and cost pressures increase. Where high quality design XMLs are produced, validated early and accepted, members see the potential for meaningful efficiency gains.
The strongest message from members was that the success of this initiative hinges on the accuracy and completeness of the initial design XML.
Surveyors consistently experience downstream risk when design data is incomplete, indicative or not reviewed to the same level of rigour as drawings. If poor quality design XMLs are issued, additional time and cost is pushed onto surveyors with little corresponding benefit to clients.
For this reason, Surveyors Australia emphasised the importance of clear ownership of design data quality at the engineering stage, validation against Unity Water and SEQ Code business rules, and the value of a pre construction Design Validation Report.
Member experience varies on the efficiency gains of working from design XMLs. Some see significant time savings where design XMLs are accurate and complete. Others have experienced little benefit where design data requires substantial correction.
What is consistent across feedback is that efficiency gains will only be realised if the initiative ultimately enables removal or reduction of duplicated deliverables and manual processes, rather than layering new requirements on top of existing ones.
Members support automated comparison between design and as constructed data in principle, particularly where it reduces manual QA. However, surveyors highlighted the need for clear comparison rules, tolerances and guidance to avoid false discrepancies and unnecessary rework.
Surveyors Australia recommended that any comparison framework be supported by clear Unity Water guidance on how design XMLs should be prepared to support meaningful comparison.
Surveyors Australia’s submission supports a staged and collaborative approach to implementation, with ongoing industry engagement. Members expressed a strong willingness to contribute to the development of validation standards, comparison rules and practical guidance to ensure the system works in the real world.
Surveyors Australia’s role is to ensure that the voice of the profession is heard clearly and constructively. This submission reflects real delivery experience, acknowledges differing perspectives within the profession, and focuses on practical outcomes that improve data quality without shifting unmanaged risk onto surveyors.
We thank members who contributed their insights and will continue to keep you informed as this proposal progresses.
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