A consultancy study was commissioned to formulate a CAD Standard for Works Departments (CSWD) in November 2000. The CSWD consists of a set of standard settings, symbols and data exchange formats for the preparation of electronic drawings for works projects under the portfolios of the seven Works Departments, including Architectural Services Department, Civil Engineering Department, Drainage Services Department, E&M Services Department, Highways Department, Territory Development Department and Water Supplies Department.

CSWD is a key e-Government initiative to promote the use of IT to improve the quality and productivity of the construction industry and hence its competitiveness. The standard will foster tighter collaboration between project participants through more effective data exchange and re-use. It will also save the resources of project participants currently spent on dealing with a multitude of CAD standards.