Standards Digitisation and Digital Standardisation

A special issue of Information (ISSN 2078-2489). This special issue belongs to the section "Information Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 7272

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Zhejiang Institute of Quality and Sciences, Hangzhou 310020, China
2. Department of Computer Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Interests: digitalisation; standardisation; artificial intelligence
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid development of science and technology, digitalisation has penetrated into every aspect of our lives, from manufacturing to service industries, from education and healthcare to social entertainment, digital technology is profoundly changing our society. In this digital era, standard digitisation and digital standardisation have become an important force to promote innovation and provide a solid foundation for the development of various industries.

Standards digitisation refers to the transformation of traditional business and processes into digital form through the development of a set of norms and standards, thereby improving efficiency, reducing costs and enhancing sustainability. Through standards digitisation, businesses are better able to respond to market changes, increase productivity, speed up decision-making processes and deliver better products and services. The digitisation of standards is not only about technology, but also about organisational structure, process optimisation and cultural change, and needs to be considered in a comprehensive and systematic way.

Digital standardisation, on the other hand, refers to the development and promotion of common standards based on digitalisation to ensure interoperability between different systems and platforms. Such standardisation enables various digital applications to work better together, avoiding the problem of information silos and providing the possibility of cross-industry and cross-field cooperation. The implementation of digital standardisation helps to break down technical barriers, promote innovation and cooperation, and facilitate the globalisation of the digital economy.

Driven by the digitisation of standards and digital standardisation, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and blockchain are being rapidly integrated into various industries, injecting a powerful impetus for innovation. From smart manufacturing to smart cities, from healthcare to financial services, the application of standards digitisation and digital standardisation is expanding, bringing more possibilities to society.

However, standards digitisation and digital standardisation also face challenges. While technology continues to advance, the development and updating of standards requires constant sensitivity. At the same time, differences in regulations, cultures and technological levels in different countries and regions add to the complexity of standards development. Therefore, global parties should work together to strengthen international cooperation, promote the development of standards digitisation and digital standardisation, and jointly meet the challenges of the digital era.

Overall, standards digitisation and digital standardisation is a key engine for social progress and economic development. By establishing a unified standards system, they can not only accelerate the pace of digital transformation, but also promote global innovation and sustainable development. In this digital era full of opportunities and challenges, standards digitisation and digital standardisation will lead us to a smarter, more efficient and collaborative future.

Dr. Guyue Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • digitalisation
  • standardisation
  • artificial intelligence

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1460 KB  
Article
Expert-Validated Framework for Integrating Photogrammetry and BIM in Saudi Vision 2030 Construction
by Mostafa Abdel-Bary Ebrahim and Hani M. Ahmed
Information 2026, 17(5), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/info17050417 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 106
Abstract
Saudi Vision 2030, a transformative national strategic framework, is being realized through unprecedented giga-projects such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea Project. These projects demand exceptional accuracy, efficiency, and sustainability, driving the need for advanced digital technologies. The integration of Digital Close-Range [...] Read more.
Saudi Vision 2030, a transformative national strategic framework, is being realized through unprecedented giga-projects such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea Project. These projects demand exceptional accuracy, efficiency, and sustainability, driving the need for advanced digital technologies. The integration of Digital Close-Range Photogrammetry (DCRP) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) is recognized as a pivotal solution, yet a standardized, context-aware implementation framework for the unique Saudi environment is lacking. This study develops a comprehensive, three-layer DCRP-BIM integration framework addressing technical workflows, managerial protocols, and contextual challenge mitigation specific to Saudi mega-projects. The framework was developed following Design Science Research (DSR) methodology and validated through a mixed-methods approach, incorporating a quantitative survey of 65 industry experts and qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Results demonstrated strong expert consensus on the framework’s comprehensiveness (Mean = 4.52/5) and practicality (Mean = 4.38). ‘Data Interoperability’ (RII = 0.94) and ‘Technical Expertise Shortage’ (RII = 0.90) were ranked as the most critical challenges, while ‘Enhanced Geometric Accuracy’ (RII = 0.96) and ‘Progress Monitoring Efficiency’ (RII = 0.93) were deemed the most significant benefits. Qualitative analysis highlighted the critical importance of top-down leadership support and targeted workforce development programs. The findings provide a validated, actionable roadmap for stakeholders, facilitating the adoption of this integrated technology stack to directly support the strategic objectives of Vision 2030. The study concludes that strategic focus on standardized protocols, education, and policy incentives is paramount for successful implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standards Digitisation and Digital Standardisation)
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14 pages, 649 KB  
Article
Digitalisation, Digital Governance, and Eco-Innovation: Evidence from Cross-Country Data in 2022
by Keisuke Kokubun
Information 2026, 17(3), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/info17030306 - 22 Mar 2026
Viewed by 299
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between digitalisation and eco-innovation across countries, with a particular focus on the role of digital government and digital standardisation. Using cross-country data for 2022, eco-innovation is proxied by environment-related patenting activity, while digitalisation is measured using the United [...] Read more.
This study examines the relationship between digitalisation and eco-innovation across countries, with a particular focus on the role of digital government and digital standardisation. Using cross-country data for 2022, eco-innovation is proxied by environment-related patenting activity, while digitalisation is measured using the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI). Employing a combination of ordinary least squares, population-weighted regressions, spline specifications, and quantile regressions, we document three main findings. First, digitalisation is positively and robustly associated with eco-innovation across countries. Second, the relationship is non-linear, with marginal effects that strengthen at higher levels of digital development, suggesting important complementarities between digital capabilities and national innovation systems. Third, the association between digitalisation and eco-innovation is heterogeneous across the distribution of eco-innovation, with particularly strong associations observed among countries with intermediate levels of innovative activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that digitalisation is systematically associated with eco-innovation across countries and indicate the potential relevance of digital governance and digital standardisation to sustainable technological change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standards Digitisation and Digital Standardisation)
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Review

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50 pages, 1163 KB  
Review
Comprehensive Review and Future Research Directions on ICT Standardisation
by Mohammed Najah Mahdi, Ray Walshe, Sharon Farrell and Harshvardhan J. Pandit
Information 2024, 15(11), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/info15110691 - 2 Nov 2024
Viewed by 6053
Abstract
Standardisation has become imperative to retaining order and development in modern society. The simplest actions, such as train timings and the width of the railroad, would be very difficult to achieve without Standardisation. Standardisation also solves problems, such as the use of mobile [...] Read more.
Standardisation has become imperative to retaining order and development in modern society. The simplest actions, such as train timings and the width of the railroad, would be very difficult to achieve without Standardisation. Standardisation also solves problems, such as the use of mobile devices, which requires travel abroad when out of range. We perform a large-scale quantitative analysis for papers dealing with (1) standards and (2) Information and communications technology (ICT) data in three important databases, namely Web of Science, IEEE Explore, and ACM digital library, in this paper. These three databases presented 216 articles that were divided into five categories: standard-related review and survey studies, information management across hardware and software standards, energy management standards, machine learning model classification performance, privacy-aware software system standards, and health information and communications technology standards. This paper discusses how Standardisation facilitates the planning of the entire research and innovation process by encouraging discussions regarding the specific outputs the research aims to achieve. The paper further illustrates that references related to standardisation within the call topics act as a crucial motivating factor in the decision to adopt standardisation. In conclusion, our contribution provides a better understanding of standards in peer-reviewed publications and an essential foundation for future research. In addition, we demonstrate that standards play an important role in innovation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Standards Digitisation and Digital Standardisation)
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