OpenBIM

Cooperation, communication and coordination

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What is openBIM?

openBIM is a universal approach to the design, construction, and operation of buildings based on open standards. The openBIM methodology supports transparent, open cooperation of all project participants regardless of the implemented software.

Why should you use openBIM format

Share data with everybody

Work together using 'open' file formats that are exchangeable with most software. Sharing data won’t be a problem when using IFC standards. Choose whom you work with based on quality and not the software they use. Never let anyone tell you what software to use.

Secure your projectdata

Open standards are the best guarantee that your project-data will be accessible over a long period of time. More and more governments and companies choose to work with, and archive their work in openBIM file formats like IFC and BCF.

Why is openBIM important?

Best of breed solution

Project members can choose to work in best of breed solutions in respective field and solutions

Common language

Open BIM creates a common language for widely referenced processes, allowing industry and government to procure projects with transparent commercial engagement, comparable service evaluation and assured data quality.

Efficient

Open BIM provides enduring project data for use throughout the asset life–cycle, avoiding multiple input of the same data and consequential errors.

Open workflow

OpenBIM allows project members to participate regardless of the software tools they use.

Product data

Open BIM energizes the online product supply side with more exact user demand searches and delivers the product data directly into the BIM.

Software version independency

Project members can decide about their software upgrades independently from their peers in different project.

The openBIM standards on which we build

IFC to share models

With openBIM you can exchange data about your model with others, while working with the software you prefer. The language for exchanging model information is IFC (Industry Foundation Classes). IFC exchanges complete project models where DXF/DWG exchanges graphical entities like lines, arcs, and fills. IFC is an open standard and available for everybody.

BCF to share issues

Issues and clashes found during the design processes of a project need to be communicated to the author of the model in order to solve them. To prevent mistakes in this communication process, BCF is designed to link model checkers like Solibri with modeling software like ARCHICAD, Tekla, and Revit. Whereas IFC contains the model itself, BCF only contains information about the model linking it directly to the model.