OPEN BIM

Being able to share the project information with all stake-holders more collaboratively is the core concept and the benefit of using Building Information Modeling. Open BIM aims at enabling the industry with required tools for such sharing regardless the technology used during authoring.

Benefits of Open BIM

Enables transparent and seamless information sharing.

Agnostic approach towards the technology used.

Process & Standards take precedence over technology

Beneficial to all project stakeholders through out the project life-cycle.

Standardizes BIM communication across the industry.

Standardizing process and formats that affect the industry is a complicated process. Two commonly used standards for open BIM are IFC & COBie.

IFC : Industry Foundation Class

IFC is an open standard is being developed and maintained by building SMART. IFC file format has been fairly successful for open BIM and is supported by all major BIM enabled software to various degrees. IFC as a data file format is often perceived as a 3 dimensional model carrying element level information which can be imported and exported (interoperable) into other BIM enabled software.

COBie: Construction Operations Building Information Exchange

While IFC is a 3 Dimensional model based file format, COBie is a non-graphical data organized in a spreadsheet format conveying the same project information as required by project stake holders mostly at the operation & maintenance stage. COBie is gaining prominence as the right direction to integrate BIM with Facility Management systems. The spreadsheet format makes COBie more user-friendly and easy to adopt when understood properly.

Beyond using the right file formats, Open BIM requires a commitment from the project team to follow the set standards and share information neutrally.