Use of Building Product Models and Reference Data Libraries for project and quality management. CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: THE CHALLENGE OF INTEGRATION São Paulo 25-28 March 2003 Lars Bjørkhaug Norwegian Building Research Institute

Introduction to IFC and IFD IFC - International Foundation Classes IFC is developed and maintained by IAI (International Alliance for Interoperability) IFC is a complete EXPRESS product model of a building project IAI has 9 chapters each with members from several countries: North American, German Speaking, Nordic, French, Singaporean, Korean, Australasian, Japanese IFC is supported by most leading building software vendors: NBR SDC LexiCon BARBi … IFD - International Framework for Dictionaries IFD is developed and maintained by ISO/TC 59/SC 13/WG 6 IFD is an EXPRESS model standardised in ISO 12006-3 Several countries has started building dictionaries based on IFD IFC and IFD is currently being harmonised through the work of XM-7 More information at: http://cic.vtt.fi/niai/technical/ifc_3/R3_projects.html

BARBi the Norwegian IFD library BARBi is a conceptual context independent reference library BARBi describes objects independent of usage and time, regardless of how they are named or classified. ”Building product catalogue” NS 3420 ”Building specifications” NS 3451 ”Building parts” building, outer wall, inner wall, door, outer door, inner door, sliding door, cladding, outer cladding, inner cladding, surface, inner surface, outer surface, inner surface, artefact, interior...

BARBi the Norwegian IFD library BARBi is object oriented BARBi describes an concept by relating it to other concepts Any concept in BARBi exist only once Concepts can be referred to, though globally unique IDs inner door door building product fire door fire escape route escape route door leaf door frame door sill doorway opening in wall horizontal light-opening for door with of escape route outer door sliding door rotating door strongroom door sliding door leaf sliding door frame can be is a type of is part of consists_of relates to consists of

BARBi the Norwegian IFD library BARBi is multi lingual according to the rules of IFD Concepts are classified as objects, activities, properties and units, not as verbs, substantives, adjectives, etc. dør door dørblad A dictionary based mapping does not necessarily refer to the identical concept. door door-set An concept can have multiple names on the same language bjelke truss beam ligger balk pump Activity or process to pump Physical object a physical pump on a plant Functional object a pump as a functional object A name can refer to multiple concepts

What can BARBi do for the building industry? Give precise and exact definitions of objects, properties and relationships. I.e. What do we mean by ”width” and ”height” for a door? depends on who is using the concept, and in which context it is used. depends on when, in an object’s lifetime, the concept is used. depends on which classification we refer to.

What can BARBi do for the building industry? Give precise and exact definitions of objects, properties and relationships. in BARBi you will find: all known properties for objects with explicit names several types of relationships between objects, properties, activities, units and references. references to known standards and classification systems a global unique ID and a set of language-dependent names and definitions, for every concept in the library

IFC and IFD for exchange of data IFC and IFD opens for 100% standardisation of exchanged data IFD reference data IFC propertyset Information exchange on IFC format IFC can also exchange self defined data through IFC property-set… Self defined data IFC propertyset IFC ensure that data is exchanged as objects and object properties and not as lines and layers… IFC can only standardise to a level of detail that is internationally agreed about… The properties within an IFC property-set are not always standardised IFC properties are not context independent…

From ad-hock, fragmented information to shared standardised data Laws and regulations -Building regulations -Building specifications CAD software -Drawings, calculations -Architect, engineer,… VRML -Visualisation, 3D models Knowledge databases -Best practise knowledge -Own practice Simulations -Comfort -Ventilation, heating -Life cycle cost -Light, sound -Insulation -Fire, usage -Environment -Life time predictions IFC + IFD product model Briefing -Functional req. -Estimates -Conditions -Requirements Demolition, refurbishment -Rebuild -Demolition -Restoration Facility management -Letting, sale, operations -Maintenance -Guaranties Specifications -Specification sheets -Classification standards -Estimates, accounting Construction management -Scheduling -Logistics, 4D Procurement -Product databases -Price databases Illustrations: Norwegian Building Research Institute, Olof Granlund, NBLN University of California, Stanford University

Who will be using IFC and IFD? Research centres, authorities and suppliers of best knowledge: Generic object databases with links to specification sheets and knowledge databases (best solutions) Predefined objects to drag-and-drop into CAD or specification software, etc. IFC Automatic control of selected solutions against best practise and regulations. Automatic control towards company knowledge IFC Centralised calculations of environmental impact Calculations of life cycle cost and lifetime prediction Health and safety evaluation and recommendations IFC

Who will be using IFC and IFD? Product model servers (project hotels, project servers) Possibility to exchange and update single objects. No longer need to send the whole drawing layer. History of changes and reason for changes. Possibilities to set access rights for particular actors. One project can be visualised in multiple ways; as drawings, specifications, calculation, estimates, etc. Functional demands, technical solutions and product information stored on the same object. IFC + IFD product model Construction companies, architects and engineers Extracts of essential information from product models; escape routes, room functions, load bearing walls Reuse of information already typed Information to and from building authorities Materials and product orders Generation of checklists Facility management information Guaranties and maintenance information IFC + IFD product model

Further reading: For information about IFC and IAI visit: www.iai-international.org Documents and technical papers Calendar, links, International chapters Demos For information about IFD and BARBi visit: www.barbi.no Online version of the Norwegian IFD library Papers and documentation about the project Tools and demos