BuildingSMART

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buildingSMART, formerly the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI), is an international organisation which aims to improve the exchange of information between software applications used in the construction industry. It has developed Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs) as a neutral and open specification for Building Information Models (BIM).

Contents

History

The IAI started in 1994 [1] as an industry consortium of 12 US companies invited by Autodesk to advise on developing a set of C++ classes to support integrated application development. The other founding members were AT&T; Archibus; Carrier Corporation; Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum (HOK); Honeywell; Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B); Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory; Primavera Systems; Softdesk; Timberline Software Corp; and Tishman Research Corp (part of Tishman Realty & Construction). [2] The new technology was first demonstrated in June 1995 in Atlanta at A/E/C SYSTEMS '95. [2]

This Industry Alliance for Interoperability opened membership to all interested parties in September 1995 [3] [4] and in May 1996 was renamed the International Alliance for Interoperability [1] as Autodesk users insisted that the IFCs should be non-proprietary and urged development of the IFC standard. [5] The first version of IFC was published in June 1996 at which point 26 companies, including Autodesk, Bentley, Nemetschek and IEZ, committed to making their software IFC-compliant. [1] The IAI was reconstituted as a not-for-profit industry-led organisation, promoting the Industry Foundation Class (IFC) as a neutral product model supporting the building lifecycle. [6]

In 2005, partly because its members felt the IAI name was too long and complex for people to understand, it was renamed buildingSMART. [6] It has regional chapters in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia and the Middle East.

Activities

BuildingSMART says [7] it develops and maintains international standards for openBIM, combining:

buildingSMART also maintains the BIM Collaboration Format (BCF), a structured file format used for issue tracking in relation to building information models.

Chapters

BuildingSMART has several chapters around the world. [8]

Related Research Articles

The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) is a CAD data exchange data schema intended for description of architectural, building and construction industry data.

The National Institute of Building Sciences is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that brings together representatives of government, the professions, industry, labor and consumer interests, and regulatory agencies to focus on the identification and resolution of problems and potential problems that hamper the construction of safe, affordable structures for housing, commerce and industry throughout the United States. Authorized by the U.S. Congress in the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Building information modeling</span> Process used to design and document building and infrastructure designs

Building information modeling (BIM) is a process involving the generation and management of digital representations of the physical and functional characteristics of places. BIM is supported by various tools, technologies and contracts. Building information models (BIMs) are computer files which can be extracted, exchanged or networked to support decision-making regarding a built asset. BIM software is used by individuals, businesses and government agencies who plan, design, construct, operate and maintain buildings and diverse physical infrastructures, such as water, refuse, electricity, gas, communication utilities, roads, railways, bridges, ports and tunnels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archicad</span> Computer-aided design software for architecture

ArchiCAD is an architectural BIM CAD software for Mac and Windows developed by the Hungarian company Graphisoft. ArchiCAD offers computer aided solutions for common aspects of aesthetics and engineering during the design process of the built environment—buildings, interiors, urban areas, etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graphisoft</span> Software company

Graphisoft SE is a European multinational corporation that designs software, and is headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. As a subsidiary of Nemetschek, Graphisoft develops Building Information Modeling software products for architects, interior designers and planners. Graphisoft has subsidiaries in Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Japan and a representative office in Singapore. The company's flagship product is Archicad — an architectural design software developed since 1984 for Windows and Mac platforms.

Data Design System AS (DDS) supplies the construction industry with software tools for building information modelling (BIM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autodesk Revit</span> Building information modelling software

Autodesk Revit is a building information modelling software for architects, landscape architects, structural engineers, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers, designers and contractors. The original software was developed by Charles River Software, founded in 1997, renamed Revit Technology Corporation in 2000, and acquired by Autodesk in 2002. The software allows users to design a building and structure and its components in 3D, annotate the model with 2D drafting elements, and access building information from the building model's database. Revit is 4D building information modeling application capable with tools to plan and track various stages in the building's lifecycle, from concept to construction and later maintenance and/or demolition.

aecXML is a specific XML markup language which uses Industry Foundation Classes to create a vendor-neutral means to access data generated by building information modeling, BIM. It is being developed for use in the architecture, engineering, construction and facility management industries, in conjunction with BIM software, and is trademarked by the buildingSMART, a council of the National Institute of Building Sciences.

Open Design Alliance is a nonprofit organization creating software development kits (SDKs) for engineering applications. ODA offers interoperability tools for CAD, BIM, and Mechanical industries including .dwg, .dxf, .dgn, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Navisworks, and .ifc files and additional tools for visualization, web development, 3D PDF publishing and modeling.

Tekla is a software product family that consists of programs for analysis and design, detailing and project communication. Tekla software is produced by Trimble, the publicly listed US-based technology company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tekla Structures</span>

Tekla Structures is a building information modeling software able to model structures that incorporate different kinds of building materials, including steel, concrete, timber and glass. Tekla allows structural drafters and engineers to design a building structure and its components using 3D modeling, generate 2D drawings and access building information. Tekla Structures was formerly known as Xsteel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IntelliCAD</span> CAD editor and development platform

IntelliCAD is a CAD editor and development platform with an Application Programming Interface API published by the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium ("ITC") through shared development. IntelliCAD emulates the basic interface and functions of AutoCAD, however, it is particularly able to incorporate and interchange freely between a wide variety of file types.

The table below provides an overview of notable computer-aided design (CAD) software. It does not judge power, ease of use, or other user-experience aspects. The table does not include software that is still in development. For all-purpose 3D programs, see Comparison of 3D computer graphics software. CAD refers to a specific type of drawing and modelling software application that is used for creating designs and technical drawings. These can be 3D drawings or 2D drawings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BricsCAD</span> Computer-aided design software

BricsCAD® is a software application for computer-aided design (CAD), developed by Bricsys nv. The company was founded in 2002 by Erik de Keyser, a longtime CAD entrepreneur. In 2011 Bricsys acquired the intellectual property rights from Ledas for constraints-based parametric design tools, permitting the development of applications in the areas of direct modeling and assembly design. Bricsys is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, and has additional development centers in Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk, Russia; Bucharest, Romania and Singapore. Bricsys is a founding member of the Open Design Alliance, and joined the BuildingSMART International consortium in December 2016.

CodeBook is an interoperable CAD overlay Building information modeling (BIM) software suite for Microsoft Windows. The software is currently developed by UK company, Codebook International Ltd.

Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) is a United States-originated specification relating to managed asset information including space and equipment. It is closely associated with building information modeling (BIM) approaches to design, construction, and management of built assets.

FINE MEP is a BIM CAD software tool for Building services engineering design, built on top of IntelliCAD. It provides full IFC support, according to the 2x3 IFC Standard. FINE BIM structure, enables a smart model shaping and high design accuracy, directly applied to the real 3D-building model and its building services. Not only the building elements, but also the components of the mechanical/electrical installations themselves are all intelligent objects carrying their own attributes and interacting among each other. MEP design is supported by specific CAD commands and further facilitated through sophisticated recognition and validation algorithms, providing a user-friendly modeling environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick MacLeamy</span> American architect

Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA, LEED AP, is an American architect and executive who is chairman of buildingSMART International. Previously, he served as Chairman and CEO of HOK, a global architecture, engineering and planning firm. MacLeamy is the author of the book Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm: The People, Stories and Strategies Behind HOK, published by Wiley in April 2020. The book tells the history of HOK, one of the largest design firms in the world, and draws lessons from HOK intended to help other architects and creative services professionals improve their own practices. “Build Smart,” a podcast co-hosted by MacLeamy and Mark R. LePage, AIA, NCARB, is inspired by MacLeamy's book.

cadwork informatik CI AG is a multinational software company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. It develops and markets software products primarily for the construction industry. These products include timber industry products in computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) as well as products in building information model (BIM) and virtual design and construction (VDC). These products are suitable for designers, structural engineers, construction engineers, civil engineering draftspeople, building contractors, and in the case of BIMTeam VDC, the construction crews.

References

  1. ↑ In October 2022, the UK BIM Alliance rebranded as 'nima'. [12]
  1. 1 2 3 Bazjanac, V. and Crawley, D.B. (1997) The implementation of Industry Foundation Classes in simulation tools for the building industry - http://www.inive.org/members_area/medias/pdf/Inive/IBPSA/UFSC585.pdf (accessed: 6 February 2012)
  2. 1 2 A/E/C Industry Alliance for Interoperability Links Building Industry Professions AT&T, Carrier Corp., Honeywell, Inc. and HOK Among Founding Members. 17 April 1995. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A%2FE%2FC+Industry+Alliance+for+Interoperability+Links+Building+Industry...-a016817760 (accessed: 6 February 2012; archived)
  3. ↑ Amor, Robert (1997) Product Models in Design and Engineering, Building Research Establishment, UK
  4. ↑ Graphisoft joins industry alliance for interoperability, 6 August 1996 - http://www.graphisoft.com/community/press_zone/iai.html.html (accessed: 6 February 2012)
  5. ↑ Drogemuller, Robin (2009) Can B.I.M be civil? Queensland Roads(7). pp. 47-55 - http://eprints.qut.edu.au/27991/1/27991.pdf (accessed: 6 February 2012)
  6. 1 2 Eastman, Charles M., and Eastman, Chuck (2008) BIM handbook: a guide to building information modeling for owners, managers, designers, engineers, and contractors John Wiley & Sons, pp.72-73.
  7. ↑ What we do - http://buildingsmart.org/
  8. ↑ BuildingSMART chapters - http://buildingsmart.com/organization/chapters
  9. ↑ "Stowarzyszenie buildingSMART Polska oddziałem międzynarodowej organizacji buildingSMART » buildingSMART Polska". 7 June 2019.
  10. ↑ "BIM Alliance & buildingSMART UK&I Chapter announce a merger". BIM Today. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  11. ↑ "UK BIM Alliance releases FAQs on merger with buildingSMART UK&I". BIM Today. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  12. ↑ Stanton, Justin (3 October 2022). "Nima: UK BIM Alliance puts information management first with new name, new approach". BIM plus. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
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