scholarly journals Rules and validation processes for interoperable BIM data exchange

Author(s):  
Yong-Cheol Lee ◽  
Charles M Eastman ◽  
Wawan Solihin

Abstract Diverse industries have recognized the significance of a neutral data standard for seamless building information modeling (BIM) data exchanges and adopted commonly agreed schemes such as the industry foundation classes (IFC) schema for enhancing BIM data interoperability. To selectively employ domain-specific data exchange requirements, the AEC-FM (the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Facility Management) industries have developed their own schema with a subset of the IFC schema, named a model view definition (MVD). However, because of latent human errors, inadequate MVD definitions, and error-prone data mapping problems, the adoption of IFC for exchanging and sharing BIM data is frequently limited with severe data integrity issues. This challenging situation requires the detailed examination of the limitations of the heterogeneous IFC translation processes of the current BIM authoring and application tools. To accomplish this objective, the authors thoroughly investigated the two MVDs, the Coordination View Version 2.0 and the Construction Operations Building Information Exchange, broadly used as an international standard for developing the IFC translation processes, and then identified their intrinsic requirements/rules and developed rule-based data validation processes. These new intrinsic knowledge of the two MVD specifications will be fundamental foundations to create coherent BIM data exchange systems that are currently scattered and dispersed in heterogeneous IFC translation processes and structures. Newly revealed rules pertaining to these two MVDs have been executed with IfcDoc, which is the IFC documentation tool. This BIM data validation process is expected to not only accurately evaluate the translation processes between BIM native data and IFC ones but also help industry professionals ensure the integrity and the accuracy of their BIM data according to the BIM data exchange standards using the two MVDs. In addition, the outcomes of this research study are expected to bolster the interoperable BIM adoption and offer the values of greater consistency of BIM data exchange.

Author(s):  
M. J. Sani ◽  
I. A. Musliman ◽  
A. Abdul Rahman

Abstract. The integration of Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Building Information Modeling (BIM) referred to as the merging of the two systems for the purpose of data interoperability. The need to share information between the two systems is what motivated the integration process purposely for geospatial analysis. This can be achieved through their data exchange formats such as; City Markup Language (CityGML) and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The formats are the two most prominent key schemas of GIS and BIM systems respectively. The integration is a step towards information exchange or sharing (data interoperability) between the two systems. The selection of the two most prominent data exchange formats is as a result of their widespread applications in the GIS and BIM domains. However, the differences in geometric and the semantics information hinders data interoperability (information sharing) between GIS and BIM. Also, coupled with the difference in schema structure and the level of information richness between IFC and CityGML. This paper, propose a geometry transformation process that can be used to extract and transform IFC building objects to that of CityGML building objects to enable 3D model design and constructed using BIM tool to be easily reused in 3D GIS applications which will be able to support the CityGML model format. Where the geometric information will be extracted using the IFC tree-structure (hierarchy) and transformed to destination CityGML.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 4437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Iapige De Gaetani ◽  
Mertkan Mert ◽  
Federica Migliaccio

It is incontrovertible that an exchange of files is essentially required at several stages of the workflow in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Therefore, investigating and detecting the capabilities/inabilities of building information modeling (BIM) software packages with respect to interoperability can be informative to stakeholders who exchange data between various BIM packages. The work presented in this paper includes a discussion on the interoperability of different software platforms commonly used in the AEC industry. Although, in theory, flawless interoperability of some types of files between different BIM platforms is ensured, in practical applications, this is not always the case. Hence, this research aims to identify faults in data exchange by assessing different possible scenarios where a sample Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) four-dimensions (4D) BIM model and related Gantt charts are exchanged. Throughout the interoperability analysis of both IFC file and Gantt charts, the following checks were carried out: geometrical and nongeometrical information exchange through IFC files, 4D information correct readability, and presence of missing schedule information in Gantt charts after their import/export procedure. The results show that interoperability between the analyzed platforms is not always ensured, providing useful insight into realistic scenarios.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kereshmeh Afsari ◽  
Charles Eastman ◽  
Dennis Shelden

Collaboration within Building Information Modeling process is mainly based on the manual transfer of document files in either vendor-specific formats or neutral format using Industry Foundation Classes. However, since the web enables Cloud-based Building Information Modeling services, it provides an opportunity to exchange data with web technologies. Alternative data sharing solutions include the federation of Building Information Modeling models and an interchange hub for data exchange in real time. These solutions face several challenges, are vendor locked, and integrate Building Information Modeling applications to a third new system. The main objective of this article is to investigate current limitations as well as opportunities of Cloud interoperability to outline a framework for a loosely coupled network-based Building Information Modeling data interoperability. This study explains that Cloud-Building Information Modeling data exchange needs to deploy major components of Cloud interoperability such as Cloud application programming interfaces, data transfer protocols, data formats, and standardization to redefine Building Information Modeling data flow in Cloud-based applications and to reshape collaboration process.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 537-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huahui Lai ◽  
Xueyuan Deng

Traditionally, the one-to-one interaction between heterogeneous software has become the most commonly used method for multi-disciplinary collaboration in building projects, resulting in numerous data interfaces, different data formats, and inefficient collaboration. As the prevalence of Building Information Modeling (BIM) increases in building projects, it is expected that the exchange of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-based data can smoothly take place between heterogeneous BIM software. However, interoperability issues frequently occur during bidirectional data exchanges using IFC. Hence, a data interoperability experiment, including architectural, structural and MEP models from a practical project, was conducted to analyze these issues in the process of data import and re-export between heterogeneous software. According to the results, the fundamental causes of interoperability issues can be concluded as follows: (a) software tools cannot well interpret several objects belonging to other disciplines due to the difference in domain knowledge; (b) software tools have diverse methods to represent the same geometry, properties and relations, leading to inconsistent model data. Furthermore, this paper presents a suggested method for improving the existing bidirectional data sharing and exchange: BIM software tools export models using IFC format, and these IFC models are imported into a common IFC-based BIM platform for data interoperability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 263 ◽  
pp. 04062
Author(s):  
Olga Baranova

Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology is one of the most actively developing approaches to the digital representation of the design of buildings and structures, which makes it possible to ensure the relationship of both geometric and functional characteristics of a designed object. The organization of information exchange within the framework of the development of IM during various stages of the life cycle is a rather difficult task, since the historical development of software products used for the design of IM elements has led to the use of various data presentation formats for solving specialized design and calculation problems. In the documents analyzed in the work, two formats with an open specification — IFC and XML — are mentioned as a means of information exchange in the development of IM. In addition to the undoubted advantages of using the IFC using the EXPRESS data specification language as a means of ensuring the interoperability of information systems, there are currently difficulties with the practical application of this format in information modeling, including for organizing joint work. XML-schema can be used as an alternative to the representation of IM in the IFC for organizing data exchange between various information systems, including when implementing joint work on IM through web applications. The use of alternative to EXPRESS schemes for the definition of IM data makes it possible to simplify the organization of information transfer between participants in the information exchange, as well as to unify the presentation of design information.


2021 ◽  
Vol 304 ◽  
pp. 02007
Author(s):  
Md. Tanjid Mehedi ◽  
Azizul Hoque Shochchho

The fields of Construction Management are so vast these days that it enriched with so many elements contemplate to 7D of BIM (Building Information Modeling). Facility Management holds the 7D position to understand and acquire proper knowledge about the quality and performance of a building structure. The purpose of this paper is to identify research gaps in the field of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Facility Management (FM) business, as well as practical issues that facility management professionals face while using BIM. The key to successful BIM deployment in the FM business is to improve communication among various stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. However, there is still some debate over the value of FM in the construction business. To put it another way, construction does not comprehend FM. There are also concerns about interoperability and data exchange. The Quality of information is connected with PIM and AIM with various IQ perspectives. It is determined that BIM-based FM procedures have the potential to change not just the perspective of the FM sector, but also the perspective of the whole industry, as they are based on a collaborative approach to the delivery of intelligent facilities.


Buildings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Fargnoli ◽  
Antoneta Lleshaj ◽  
Mara Lombardi ◽  
Nicolò Sciarretta ◽  
Giulio Di Gravio

The service-centered economy has grown considerably in the last few years, shifting from product-based solutions towards service centered offerings, i.e., Product-Service System (PSS) solutions. Such an approach is also emerging in the context of building equipment, where maintenance activities play a fundamental role in facility management. In this field, Building Information Modeling (BIM) based tools are diffusely used to improve the performances of facility management. However, few studies have addressed the above issues while considering a shift from product-based approaches in favor of more advanced servitization models. The study aims at integrating BIM based approaches in a PSS context for the improvement of the management of maintenance operations of building equipment. A general framework for maintenance management has been developed, merging the implementation of the PSS components in a BIM model for the definition of maintenance management. A first application of this methodology to a real case study concerning the elevators of an existing building has shown the efficacy of the proposed approach. The study highlighted the benefits that can be achieved, especially in terms of reduced periods of equipment unavailability, reduced costs and augmented customer satisfaction, while enhancing the information exchange between the PSS actors. Hence, although further research is still needed for its validation, the proposed approach can offer practical insights for the development of promising BIM-based PSS solutions for facility management in the construction industry.


Author(s):  
M. J. Sani ◽  
A. Abdul Rahman

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> City Geography Markup Language (CityGML) and Industry Foundation Class (IFC) are the two most popular data exchange format for the integration of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) respectively and has been identified by many researchers as an auspicious means of data interoperability between the two domains but with challenges on the compatibility between them. The main issue is the data loss in the process of information transformation. The success of integrating these two domains (GIS and BIM objects) is a great achievement toward solving problems in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), Facility Management (FM), Disaster Management (DM) sectors. Nevertheless, as we all know GIS and BIM are different fields used by different professionals using different software packages, used for different purposes, it is definitely face with many challenges including data interoperability, mismatch and loss of semantic information are bound to occur during the process of integration. In order to comprehend the two domains and their data models of CityGML and IFC. This paper review existing models on GIS and BIM developed by different researchers, the complementarity and compatibility of GIS and BIM on the previous integration techniques were also reviewed and finally, the paper review the integration of GIS and BIM at the data level aimed at solving different problems surrounding it by considering the transformation of coordinates at geometric level from CityGML to IFC, in order to achieve flow of information between GIS and BIM.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6810
Author(s):  
Corentin Coupry ◽  
Sylvain Noblecourt ◽  
Paul Richard ◽  
David Baudry ◽  
David Bigaud

In recent years, the use of digital twins (DT) to improve maintenance procedures has increased in various industrial sectors (e.g., manufacturing, energy industry, aerospace) but is more limited in the construction industry. However, the operation and maintenance (O&M) phase of a building’s life cycle is the most expensive. Smart buildings already use BIM (Building Information Modeling) for facility management, but they lack the predictive capabilities of DT. On the other hand, the use of extended reality (XR) technologies to improve maintenance operations has been a major topic of academic research in recent years, both through data display and remote collaboration. In this context, this paper focuses on reviewing projects using a combination of these technologies to improve maintenance operations in smart buildings. This review uses a combination of at least three of the terms “Digital Twin”, “Maintenance”, “BIM” and “Extended Reality”. Results show how a BIM can be used to create a DT and how this DT use combined with XR technologies can improve maintenance operations in a smart building. This paper also highlights the challenges for the correct implementation of a BIM-based DT combined with XR devices. An example of use is also proposed using a diagram of the possible interactions between the user, the DT and the application framework during maintenance operations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2039
Author(s):  
Juan F. Dols ◽  
Jaime Molina ◽  
F. Javier Camacho-Torregrosa ◽  
David Llopis-Castelló ◽  
Alfredo García

The analysis of road safety is critical in road design. Complying to guidelines is not enough to ensure the highest safety levels, so many of them encourage designers to virtually recreate and test their roads, benefitting from the evolution of driving simulators in recent years. However, an accurate recreation of the road and its environment represents a real bottleneck in the process. A very important limitation lies in the diversity of input data, from different sources and requiring specific adaptations for every single simulator. This paper aims at showing a framework for recreating faster virtual scenarios by using an Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-based file. This methodology was compared to two other conventional methods for developing driving scenarios. The main outcome of this study has demonstrated that with a data exchange file in IFC format, virtual scenarios can be faster designed to carry out safety audits with driving simulators. As a result, the editing, programming, and processing times were substantially reduced using the proposed IFC exchange file format through a BIM (Building Information Modeling) model. This methodology facilitates cost-savings, execution, and optimization resources in road safety analysis.


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