BIM and IFC - everyone is talking about them. But what exactly is it?
The term BIM stands for Building Information Modeling. It describes the optimized planning, execution and operation of buildings with the help of modern CAD software. In contrast to conventional systems, all relevant building data is planned in digital models in a BIM design and then merged for coordination and control. The clear advantage is the smooth collaboration between different planners and trades as well as loss-free data transfer. Today, BIM is used in construction planning and execution as well as in building management.
While a classic CAD model simply digitizes the plans of architects or engineers as drawings, a BIM model has an intelligent database with numerous attributes. These attributes can be used by all trades involved for better and more efficient planning. This is why it is also referred to as a project file or virtual building model. Trimble Nova supports engineers and planners in building services with this method and offers, for example, uses manufacturer data to carry out calculations and can insert these intelligent objects with the manufacturer data into the model. Thanks to the integration of IFC, these objects including the data can be exported as well as imported by external planning participants. This data exchange is supported by other formats. Using BCF (BIM Collaboration Format), annotations can be transferred to the IFC objects, e.g. as part of the coordination process. In a further function, the desired openings in walls or ceilings can be given to the architect / structural engineer for coordination by means of so-called "Provisions for Voids".
Since, as already mentioned, BIM has a database in the background of the drawing or model, this planning method has numerous advantages. Access to a shared and constantly synchronized database results in improved data quality. The planning data is immediately and continuously available to all those involved, and the current or relevant status is always available. The improved exchange of information minimizes idle time and shortens planning time. Thanks to a continuous database, the life cycle of a building can be tracked seamlessly from design to end of use. This increases the productivity of the planning process, saves costs and improves quality.
With a BIM-capable building model, a distinction can be made between a parametric or intelligent structure. With a parametric building model, all design elements such as walls, ceilings and fixtures can be brought into dependencies with each other as required or desired by the planner. You may be familiar with parametric design from mechanical engineering, where all CAD software now uses this method. In an intelligent building model, however, only selected objects are provided with additional information. This is why the parametric model has also become widely accepted in construction planning.
The use of a BIM model or software that supports it does not only bring advantages for planning offices. In Germany, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) has adopted a step-by-step plan that requires contractual regulations for the use of BIM and IFC. These regulations will be mandatory for cooperation with public clients for all infrastructure-related building construction projects from 2020.
Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) as a common database
The increasing use of BIM in major international projects has made a common format necessary. The international organization buildingSMART has therefore introduced the open standard "openBIM" for the exchange of information and communication based on Building Information Modeling in cooperation with well-known companies, including Trimble. Another basic data model was also developed by buildingSMART - the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) for model-based data exchange in the construction industry.
The IFC standard is an open standard in the construction industry for describing digital building models (BIM). The IFC dataset is registered in accordance with ISO 16739, which guarantees uniform coding and interoperability between a wide range of systems. The data in an IFC file consists of the logical building structures such as walls, ceilings, openings, fixtures and the like, as well as the associated properties (attributes). This allows complex 3D models including planning data, building elements and their descriptive attributes to be transferred between different CAD systems.
IFC can be used for almost all building data. This includes elaborated 3D models through to structural and energy calculations as well as quantity and cost calculations. Thanks to the open and freely accessible standard, anyone involved, e.g. a manufacturer of building equipment, but also a software developer, can create objects with free attributes in accordance with the IFC guidelines.
Another standard for even easier collaboration
The BCF (BIM Collaboration Format) is a supplement to the IFC format. It is closely related to the IFC process and was also developed by the same organization, buildingSMART. BCF has further improved the flow of information between the trades working on a virtual building model. A BCF file can replace the previous communication by e-mail, as change requests or notes can be coordinated directly in the file using a corresponding plan section. This shared access to information is possible with the BIM-capable collaboration platform Trimble Connect. The Trimble Nova CAD software for MEP planning can work with IFC or BCF data directly from the Trimble Connect cloud solution. This enables more flexible cooperation between the various trades and planning offices and ensures smooth, cross-project collaboration.
How can you simplify your planning with IFC and BCF and minimize errors - keyword planning reliability and quality management
In the planning process of a building with many specialist planners involved, collaboration, especially data exchange, is not always optimal. CAD data can be exchanged using two-dimensional or 3D formats. If technical information and attributes that are linked to this data are to be exchanged, things become more difficult. This is often only possible via company and software-specific interfaces. Many of these interfaces are not standardized or their source code is not freely accessible. As a result, many CAD programs, which in some cases are even better suited, are ruled out because they cannot process the data. The result is often a lack of consistency in planning or the CAD data has to be converted into other formats at great expense and with a loss of information.
This is why the idea of a common standard was born around 10 years ago. Today, the IFC standard and BIM simplify processes among specialist planners, property developers and other project participants with the help of modern CAD software.
As the building equipment is not only represented as geometry in IFC-capable CAD software, but information about the properties (attributes) and any parametric dependencies with other objects is also stored, this results in considerable added value for the planner, engineer or CAD user. By creating projects in 3D, there are advantages for collision checks and other calculations in the field of building services planning. The time required for material determination and parts list generation is reduced, as is the automatic creation of sections and views from the existing model.
With IFC, you can easily and securely pass on planning changes to other project participants in a traceable manner. The open structure with the option of adding free attributes, additional data and comments to your file minimizes misunderstandings and errors. This is a clear advantage over communicating with snapshots such as 2D floor plans or screenshots.
Summary
Since the introduction of BIM in the planning of a building, collaboration between the individual planners and trades has been significantly simplified. Data transfer is now possible thanks to common standards and formats. With the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data model, manufacturer data can be integrated into the digital model and used for calculations or parts lists. Thanks to a further development, the BCF (BIM Collaboration Format), change requests or planning proposals, such as breakthroughs, can be sent directly to other project participants. What all approaches have in common is that they increase the productivity of the planning process, thereby reducing costs and increasing quality.
About Trimble Nova
The CAD/CAE software Trimble Nova is used for planning technical building services. The completely independent software, which is based on open standards, supports work in the areas of electrical installation, ventilation technology, sanitary technology, heating technology and domestic ventilation. As a building services planner, you benefit from intelligent data exchange, minimized errors during data transfer and improved collaboration with other planning offices. The IFC and BCF standard used by Trimble Nova is manufacturer-neutral and can be used for data exchange throughout the construction industry and beyond, e.g. in facility management.
You can find more information about Trimble Nova here.
