Surbana Jurong will develop software for facilities management with a Chinese partner, it said yesterday.

Surbana, an urban development and infrastructure consultancy, signed a memorandum of understanding with Arctron Data & Innovation Technology (Adit) - the new digital arm of Arcplus Group, one of China's major architectural design institutions.

They will use building information modelling technology to develop software products that will improve the management of facilities like housing estates and help with building maintenance and operational cycles.

"Adit will provide product development and technology support services while Surbana Jurong will contribute facilities management knowledge," said Surbana Jurong of the deal, which was announced at the opening of an Adit office in Shanghai.

Its international operations chief executive, Mr Teo Eng Cheong, added that the agreement is "aligned with Surbana Jurong's digital transformation to introduce digital tools across our services, to raise the productivity and performance of manpower-intensive businesses such as facilities management for our customers".

Surbana said the new products will play a part in improving processes in the value chain from architecture, engineering and construction into the facilities management industry.

Adit general manager Li Jia Jun said: "Digitisation is playing an increasingly important role in the construction industry. Digitising the operation and maintenance of buildings will greatly improve management efficiency, as well as save manpower and material resources."

He added that the software to be developed will be fundamental when constructing "intelligent buildings, parks and even smart cities".