Open BIM - Real Interoperability, Practical Collaboration (1 AIA LU Hour)

Presented by Wes Gardner, Assoc. AIA, Architect Industry Specialist at Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the technology and processes that formulate design, analysis, encoding, decoding, fabrication, simulation and management of a project. As such, we must recognize that many kinds of technology exist today that address different workflows to move the process forward. In order to move forward we need an open platform for true interoperability— the ability to exchange data and make use of the information from any source and for any workflow.

Today, BIM interoperability is possible with Open BIM— the use of internationally recognized open standards to exchange building information. These open standards include the use of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) for building geometry and data. IFC is supported by over 70 international vendors and over 110 applications and is used today to create, analyze, and distribute building information models. Organizations across the globe are developing IFC-based BIM guidelines for project designs to facilitate the use of data across multiple vendors, applications, and end-users.

Learning Objectives:
• Define Open BIM and IFC
• Explain how interoperability is improved with Open BIM workflows and IFC technology
• Explain how collaboration with design partners is improved with Open BIM workflows and IFC technology
• Identify examples of how Open BIM and IFC are used today