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

2. 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
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:

3. 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...

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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…

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Further reading:
For information about IFC and IAI visit:
Documents and technical papers
Calendar, links, International chapters
Demos
For information about IFD and BARBi visit:
Online version of the Norwegian IFD library
Papers and documentation about the project
Tools and demos