The construction industry, often facing challenges with fragmentation and inefficiency, is experiencing a major shift towards digital processes. At the centre of this shift is Building Information Modeling (BIM), a method for managing data across the lifecycle of a built asset. But BIM’s promise depends on interoperability.
Open BIM – a standards-based approach enables seamless data exchange across platforms, reducing reliance on proprietary software and fostering genuine collaboration. For BIM Managers, adopting openBIM is not just technical housekeeping; it’s a strategic choice that reduces risk, improves delivery, and builds long-term value. In a high-stakes industry, openBIM is becoming the new standard.
What is Open BIM?
At its core, open BIM is a universal approach to the collaborative design, realization, and operation of buildings based on open standards and workflows. Unlike closed, proprietary BIM systems that restrict data exchange to specific software environments, open BIM promotes vendor-neutral data formats. This philosophy, championed by buildingSMART standards, ensures that all project participants, regardless of the BIM software they utilize, can share and access information efficiently.
The cornerstone of open BIM is the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) standard – a neutral, open format that allows different software tools to share and interpret BIM data. The latest version, IFC 4.3, expands support for infrastructure projects. Complementing this, the BCF (BIM Collaboration Format) standard streamlines communication around model issues, enabling teams to exchange comments, screenshots, and coordination notes efficiently. Information Delivery Specification (IDS), a machine-readable XML-based standard, is increasingly being used for defining and allowing for automated checking of information requirements within IFC models.
The Components of an Open BIM Workflow
A robust openBIM workflow is characterized by several key components, each playing a critical role in facilitating information exchange and collaboration:
Standardized Data Formats
The reliance on open standards like IFC and BCF is paramount. These standards ensure data integrity and accessibility across diverse software platforms. For BIM Managers, this means establishing clear guidelines for model export and import, ensuring compliance with specified IFC versions and checking the quality of exported data. IDS can be deployed to automate the checking process.
Interoperable Software Solutions
The success of an open BIM workflow hinges on the use of open BIM software and BIM interoperability tools that support open standards. These tools facilitate the seamless transfer of information between different applications used by architects, engineers, contractors, and owners. The objective is to eliminate data loss and re-entry, which are common pain points in fragmented workflows.
Common Data Environment (CDE)
A Common Data Environment (CDE) like Catenda Hub serves as the central hub for all project information within an open BIM workflow. It’s a digital space where all stakeholders can access, share, and manage project data in a structured and controlled manner. A well-implemented CDE ensures that everyone is working with the latest information, reducing errors and improving decision-making. For BIM Managers, the CDE is the single source of truth, crucial for version control, access rights management, and audit trails.
Defined Processes and Protocols
Beyond technology, a successful open BIM workflow requires clearly defined processes and protocols. This includes a comprehensive BIM Execution Plan (BEP), which outlines the project’s BIM goals, specifies the information requirements, and defines the responsibilities of each team member. A well-articulated BEP, developed in collaboration with all stakeholders, is critical for setting expectations and guiding the implementation of open BIM principles throughout the project lifecycle.
Benefits of an Open BIM Workflow
Implementing an open BIM workflow offers significant advantages for project stakeholders:
- Enhanced Collaboration: Open BIM removes software barriers, fostering genuine collaboration and better coordination among all team members.
- Improved Data Quality: Standardized data formats and a centralized CDE ensure higher data quality, reducing errors and rework.
- Reduced Software Lock-in: Organizations gain flexibility in choosing the best-of-breed software for specific tasks, leading to more cost-effective operations.
- Greater Transparency: A centralized workflow with clear audit trails enhances transparency and accountability, crucial for dispute resolution and compliance.
- Future-Proofing Projects: Open standards preserve valuable project knowledge, ensuring data remains accessible and usable with future software applications.
- Facilitating Automation: Structured open BIM data, particularly through BIM API accessibility, allows for greater automation and integration with other project management systems.
Building and Operating Your Open BIM Workflow: A Practical Guide for BIM Managers
For BIM Managers, the shift to an open BIM workflow requires a methodical approach, focusing on preparation, implementation, and continuous optimization.
1. Define Your BIM Execution Plan (BEP)
Before any software or data exchange, a meticulously crafted BIM Execution Plan is essential. This document should:
- Establish Clear Goals: Define what you aim to achieve with BIM on the project (e.g., clash detection, quantity take-offs, facility management integration).
- Specify Information Requirements (EIR): Detail the level of information needed at each project stage, including model granularity and data attributes.
- Outline Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly assign who is responsible for model creation, data input, quality control, and information delivery.
- Define Open Standards Usage: Specify which IFC versions (e.g., IFC 4.3 for infrastructure), BCF protocols, IDS and other buildingSMART standards will be used for data exchange.
- Set up Naming Conventions and Classification Systems: Ensure consistency across all models and disciplines to facilitate interoperability.
Download your BEP template here!
2. Select Interoperable Tools
Invest in open BIM software and BIM interoperability tools that genuinely support open standards. This means looking beyond basic import/export functions to solutions that allow for robust validation, viewing, and collaborative editing of open format data. Evaluate:
- IFC Compatibility: Does the software accurately import and export IFC models without data loss? Can it handle different IFC schemas?
- BCF Integration: Does it facilitate easy creation, tracking, and resolution of issues using BCF?
- IDS support: Do the workflow and toolstack support all the current IDS schema features?
- API Accessibility: Does the software offer a BIM API for custom integrations or automation workflows? This is crucial for connecting with other project management systems or developing bespoke tools.
3. Establish a Centralized Common Data Environment (CDE)
A robust CDE is the backbone of any effective open BIM workflow. Choose a CDE that:
- Supports Open Formats: Can host, view, and manage IFC and BCF files natively.
- Ensures Version Control: Provides a clear audit trail of all model revisions and data changes.
- Manages Access Rights: Allows for granular control over who can view, edit, or publish information.
- Facilitates Collaboration: Offers tools for commenting, markups, and issue tracking directly on the models.
- Integrates with BIM Software: Ideally, it should offer direct integrations or strong API support for your chosen BIM authoring tools.
4. Implement Robust Quality Control
Data quality is paramount in an openBIM workflow. BIM Managers must implement checks at various stages:
- Model Validation: Regularly validate IFC models against the specified BEP requirements and schemas. Tools exist to check for geometric integrity, property completeness, and adherence to classification systems.
- Clash Detection: Perform automated clash detection on federated IFC models to identify and resolve conflicts early.
- Information Verification: Ensure that the information embedded in the BIM models meets the project’s EIR.
- Change Management: Establish a clear process for managing changes to models and data, utilizing the CDE’s version control capabilities.
5. Foster a Culture of Collaboration and Training
Technical solutions alone are insufficient. Success hinges on human factors:
- Stakeholder Buy-in: Ensure all project participants understand the benefits of the openBIM workflow and their role within it.
- Training and Education: Provide ongoing training on open standards, selected software, and CDE usage. Emphasize the importance of data quality and adherence to protocols.
- Regular Coordination Meetings: Facilitate regular meetings where federated models are reviewed, issues are discussed using BCF, and decisions are documented.
Conclusion
The open BIM workflow is more than just a technological advancement; it’s a paradigm shift towards a more collaborative, efficient, and transparent construction industry. By embracing open standards, leveraging interoperable tools, and meticulously planning its implementation and operation, BIM Managers can unlock the full potential of BIM, transforming project delivery and ensuring long-term success. The future of construction is open, and a well-implemented open BIM workflow is the key to navigating it effectively.