Illustration: Rambøll Review of the Development and Implementation of IFC compatible BIM Erabuild 2008 Erabuild AUTHORS: Arto Kiviniemi, VTT Väino Tarandi, Eurostep Jan Karlshøj, Rambøll Håvard Bell, SINTEF Ole Jørgen Karud, SINTEF ERABUILD FUNDING ORGANISATIONS: Copyright is held by the Erabuild funding organisations. Erabuild TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Executive Summary ..........................................................................................................................3 1.1 Technology................................................................................................................................3 1.2 Open International Standards................................................................................................3 1.3 Necessary Future Steps...........................................................................................................4 1.3.1 Technical Recommendations .......................................................................................4 1.3.2 Process Recommendations...........................................................................................4 1.3.3 Political Recommendations..........................................................................................5 2 Introduction........................................................................................................................................6 2.1 Technology................................................................................................................................6 3 List of Terms ......................................................................................................................................8 4 Methodology....................................................................................................................................10 4.1 The Survey ..............................................................................................................................10 4.2 Interviews ...............................................................................................................................10 4.3 Existing reports ......................................................................................................................10 4.4 Our own experience ..............................................................................................................10 5 Area 1 ‐ State of the art regarding development, implementation and deployment of BIM and IFC.....................................................................................................................................11 5.1 What is the state of art in regard of development/research of BIM?..............................14 5.1.1 Development and standardisation within IAI ........................................................14 5.1.2 Development at universities and research organizations......................................15 5.1.3 Development by public owners.................................................................................16 5.1.4 Development in private companies ..........................................................................17 5.1.5 BIM applications..........................................................................................................17 5.2 What is the state of art in regard of IFC compatibility? ...................................................25 5.2.1 The certification process of today..............................................................................25 5.2.2 The new certification process.....................................................................................26 5.2.3 Availability of IFC2x3 compliant software ..............................................................30 5.2.4 Free Tools......................................................................................................................36 5.3 What is the state of art in regard of modelling standards/ guides in different countries which enables exchange of BIM in consensus? ................................................37 5.4 How many major clients demand object modelling in 3D in a significant part of their construction works and what is their (approximate) market share? ....................39 5.5 How many clients demand IFC exchange in their construction works, and what is their (approximate) market share? ......................................................................................41 5.6 How many clients prescribe specific modelling standards / guidelines in their construction works?...............................................................................................................42 5.7 To what degree do universities and other public teaching facilities educate people in BIM technology..................................................................................................................42 5.8 To what degree have the private construction companies (incl. building material companies) adopted BIM technology in their line of business .......................................44 5.9 Deployment of BIM and IFC today.....................................................................................44 6 Area 2 ‐ Lessons learned on the process of development and implementation of BIM and IFC..............................................................................................................................................46 6.1 BIM seen from a Technical perspective ..............................................................................46 6.1.1 BIM technical findings ................................................................................................47 6.1.2 Conclusions regarding the technical aspect of BIM................................................48 1 Erabuild 6.2 Drives for BIM and main obstacles .....................................................................................48 6.2.1 Drivers for BIM ............................................................................................................49 6.2.2 Obstacles for adopting BIM........................................................................................50 6.2.3 Conclusions regarding drivers and main obstacles................................................50 6.3 IFC seen from a Technical Perspective ...............................................................................51 6.3.1 IFC technical findings .................................................................................................51 6.3.2 Conclusions regarding technical aspect of IFC .......................................................53 6.4 Drives for IFC and main obstacles.......................................................................................53 6.4.1 Drivers for IFC .............................................................................................................53 6.4.2 Obstacles for adopting IFC.........................................................................................54 6.4.3 Conclusions regarding drivers and main obstacles for IFC ..................................55 7 Area 3 ‐ Necessary future steps to move towards the use of integrated BIM processes....56 7.1 Basic problem and drivers....................................................................................................56 7.1.1 Basic dilemma ..............................................................................................................56 7.1.2 Effects of public and private interest and funding .................................................57 7.1.3 Drivers for development, implementation and deployment of integrated BIM 58 7.1.4 Business Drivers ..........................................................................................................59 7.2 Existing obstacles and actions needed................................................................................61 7.2.1 Technical issues and functionalities of integrated BIM..........................................61 7.2.2 Process and contractual issues of integrated BIM...................................................69 7.2.3 Human issues of integrated BIM...............................................................................71 7.3 Prioritized steps – some potential roadmaps towards integrated BIM processes........72 7.3.1 Strong private demand: Integrated BIM in the core of companies’ strategy ......73 7.3.2 Strong public demand: ’Infrastructure’ for integrated BIM ..................................75 7.3.3 Strong public and private interest and funding for integrated BIM ....................76 7.4 Conclusions of Area 3: Necessary future steps to move towards the use of integrated BIM processes......................................................................................................78 8 Conclusion........................................................................................................................................79 8.1 Current Status and Lessons Learned ..................................................................................79 8.2 Necessary Future Steps.........................................................................................................79 8.2.1 Technical Recommendations .....................................................................................79 8.2.2 Process Recommendations.........................................................................................80 8.2.3 Political Recommendations........................................................................................80