buildingSMART Canada

Open Standards

Open standards for BIM tend to be misunderstood as either exclusively related to IFCs (Industry Foundation Classes),

The reality is that the IFC open standard schema is more complete than any other proprietary schema. What remains is to have the latest IFC4 version fully implemented and certified into current proprietary software solutions. Although the IFC schema is still evolving, the barrier to use has typically been vendor implementation within the proprietary product.

Finally we are seeing the tide turn in the perception (by industry) of the usefulness of IFC and open standards in general. It doesn’t matter if IFC is visible, in fact it generally will not be. Typically it is written in “behind the scenes”, as are standards for ATMs or cell phones. IFC sets the baseline, the playing field, the standard. It’s the format for useable data downstream.

Open standards for BIM are seen as the vehicle to achieve data interoperability and the integration required for improvements in the construction sector’s efficiency and productivity. The hypothetical condition requires that “the electronic data exchange, management, and access are fluid and seamless. This implies that information needs to be entered into electronic systems only once, and then it is available to all stakeholders instantaneously through information technology networks on an as-needed basis.” [NIST] For this to occur within our landscape of a multitude of proprietary solutions and file formats, a common standard based on open standards is needed.

IFC, one part of the open standards equation, can be viewed like all other standards – evolving and growing until it reaches its maturity, upon which time it is then replaced with, or included in, the next method. IFC still has much to offer in future iterations, as has been envisaged in the stages of maturity diagram below.