Industry Foundation Classes Files Research Articles

BIM and IFC Data Readiness for AI Integration in the Construction Industry: A Review Approach

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been increasingly integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to automate building construction processes. However, the methods for effectively transforming data from BIM formats, such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), into formats suitable for AI applications still need to be explored. This paper conducts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the PRISMA guidelines to analyse current data preparation approaches in BIM applications. The goal is to identify the most suitable methods for AI integration by reviewing current data preparation practices in BIM applications. The review included a total of 93 articles from SCOPUS and WoS. The results include eight common data types, two data management frameworks, and four primary data conversion methods. Further analysis identified three barriers: first, the IFC format’s lack of support for time-series data; second, limitations in extracting geometric information from BIM models; and third, the absence of established toolchains to convert IFC files into usable formats. Based on the evidence, the data readiness is at an intermediate level. This research may serve as a guideline for future studies to address the limitations in data preparation within BIM for AI integration.

Interaction between BIM and FE models in structural health monitoring

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is already widely used in civil engineering projects. Digital building models that contain geometric as well as semantic information are usually generated and could be then managed throughout a structural service life. A BIM model could generally serve as a primary source of any required information on a building, including the finite element (FE) models or monitoring systems as well. The interaction between BIM and FE models is of great importance for structural engineering as it helps increase productivity and minimize mistakes due to human factors. Moreover, with the help of structural health monitoring (SHM), it should be possible to update BIM and FE models to the current state of the structure and to maintain the remaining service life. Obviously, FE models of different complexity and element dimensionality are required for the same structure in view of various structural or material limit states considered during the structural design phase and the service life as well. The present contribution describes the development of an approach that allows FE models of different complexity to be consistently extracted from the same BIM model. It focuses on the openBIM technology incorporating the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) format. The corresponding IFC file is enriched with FEM and SHM relevant information, for example, FE size and dimensionality as well as positions and conditions of the sensors. Using such information in the BIM model, the FE model for ANSYS APDL can be consistently created. The simulation or monitoring results can be subsequently introduced back into the original BIM model, thus describing the actual structural state. The approach will be illustrated by an example of a laboratory structure.

Research on Partial Model Extraction of Railway Infrastructure Based on the Industry Foundation Classes Files

Research on Partial Model Extraction of Railway Infrastructure Based on the Industry Foundation Classes Files

Utilising Building Information Models in Facility Maintenance and Operations

Utilising the digital capital of buildings, including building information modelling (BIM), is crucial for building owners from the perspective of high-level maintenance. This case study concerns a company in which building information models are received as files complying with the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard. An analysis of the information content of the IFC files was performed to investigate whether the files, which were generated in a construction project using traditional procedures, contained relevant information for maintenance. The critical needs were evaluated based on the aspects highlighted in an online survey. As a result, essential content requirements for BIM are presented for facility maintenance and operations (FMO). It has been shown that existing building information models cannot close the information gap from a facility maintenance perspective. Still, they have significant potential due to their ability to contain technical information and provide a graphical representation. With information exchange requirements (IERs), a great deal of progress could be made by utilising BIM for FMO. A property service company’s capabilities must also be evolved before the benefits of digital capital can be reaped. This paper provides insights for developing the information content of computerised maintenance management systems (CMMS) and demonstrates the crucial need to harmonise them using BIM. Finally, as a new use case for BIM, this paper presents an operations and maintenance model (OMM).

Automated code compliance check of residential buildings for parking regulation in Turkey

Compliance inspection of a building, which involves following legislated rules during the design phase of a project, is a manual, time-consuming, error-prone and labour-intensive process that primarily relies on two-dimensional drawings. Innovations brought about by building-information-modelling (BIM) lead up to the automatic compliance inspection of buildings with the relevant regulation. The BIM model of a building, contained within the industry-foundation-classes (IFC) data file, includes all pertinent geometric and semantic three-dimensional data of that building. Using these IFC files, a program, intended for use in municipalities in Turkey but applicable elsewhere, has been developed that automatically inspects the compliance of the building with area parking regulations. This study presents the program's development as well as test results in its use. The program successfully simplifies the compliance inspection process by determining the size of the required parking area, as well as the number of spaces to be available, according to Turkish parking lot regulations for residential buildings, and setting controls accordingly. The program is yet to be implemented commercially, however, the program can be a tool that provides convenience and speed to stakeholders, including architects and engineers, during both the design and control stages while also minimising the error rate.

Towards Automated Structural Stability Design of Buildings—A BIM-Based Solution

Building information modelling (BIM) is a revolution in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. In the AEC industry, several interesting innovations are being introduced every day. Most of the code compliance work, which is time-consuming and quite multifaceted, is now performed manually. The number of unwanted errors is increasing, and any suspension of the project is led by the structural code-checking system, and is a tiresome process. Subsequently, the BIM-based model is presented to automate the structural stability design of buildings. The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) specification is introduced in this work, and is used to automate the building design processes to achieve design correctness and efficiency. The IFC-based interoperability framework is presented to automate the design of structural elements of RC buildings. Consequently, a deep multi-perception-based generalized adaptive framework (DMPBGAF) is presented for the automated code compliance checking process. The concepts and relationships in the building code were automatically matched to their equivalent concepts. A building code was checked against the Indian seismic code IS 13920, and when shear wall data were presented in this IFC file, it exchanged the data with the custom engine. It is possible to eliminate the unwanted issues based on the automated code compliance system with BIM. This goal can be accomplished by using a coding rule-based engine to compile the BIM model and store the design code of the specific country with its clauses. After generating the Python file to code all of the prepared checks, the python file in the form of functions was obtained from the IfcOpenShell library. Finally, a rule engine was developed for interpretation of the checks; the three model IFC files were tested on this, and it gave satisfactory results. The FreeCAD software was employed in this research for the IFC-based BIM model to automate the design. The shear wall data were presented in the first IFC model; all of the code checks were passed based on this modelled design, and when given to the rule engine, it gave a 100% compliance report. Insufficiently reinforced shear wall data contained in the other two IFC files were purposely created to fail some of the code checks. This method significantly reduces the time by eliminating the duplication of efforts. From the viewpoint of accuracy and reliability, the proposed method is more accurate and results in enhanced reliability as compared to manual design methods.

Understanding design change propagation in complex engineering systems using a digital twin and design structure matrix

PurposeAs the engineering design process becomes increasingly complex, multidisciplinary teams need to work together, integrating diverse expertise across a range of disciplinary models. Where changes arise, these design teams often find it difficult to handle these design changes due to the complexity and interdependencies inherent in engineering systems. This paper aims to develop an innovative approach to clarifying system interdependencies and predicting the design change propagation at the asset level in complex engineering systems based on the digital-twin-driven design structure matrix (DSM).Design/methodology/approachThe paper first defines the digital-twin-driven DSM in terms of elements and interdependencies, where the authors have defined three types of interdependency, namely, geospatial, physical and logical, at the asset level. The digital twin model was then used to generate the large-scale DSMs of complex engineering systems. The cluster analysis was further conducted based on the improved Idicula–Gutierrez–Thebeau algorithm (IGTA-Plus) to decompose such DSMs into modules for the convenience and efficiency of predicting design change propagation. Finally, a design change propagation prediction method based on the digital-twin-driven DSM has been developed by integrating the change prediction method (CPM), a load-capacity model and fuzzy linguistics. A section of an infrastructure mega-project in London was selected as a case study to illustrate and validate the developed approach.FindingsThe digital-twin-driven DSM has been formally defined by the spatial algebra and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) schema. Based on the definitions, an innovative approach has been further developed to (1) automatically generate a digital-twin-driven DSM through the use of IFC files, (2) to decompose these large-scale DSMs into modules through the use of IGTA-Plus and (3) predict the design change propagation by integrating a digital-twin-driven DSM, CPM, a load-capacity model and fuzzy linguistics. From the case study, the results showed that the developed approach can help designers to predict and manage design changes quantitatively and conveniently.Originality/valueThis research contributes to a new perspective of the DSM and digital twin for design change management and can be beneficial to assist designers in making reasonable decisions when changing the designs of complex engineering systems.

Building Information Modelling for performance-based Fire Safety Engineering analysis – A strategy for data sharing

The Hackitt Report into the tragic loss of 72 lives in the Grenfell Tower fire, identified failures and poor practices associated with the UK construction industry. To address these failures the report makes several recommendations, including the development of a “golden thread of information” to be embedded throughout the entire building lifecycle enabling the recording and preservation of information. This is to be achieved through Building Information Modelling (BIM). However, to create a “golden thread of information” in BIM from the Fire Safety Engineering (FSE) perspective particularly for the performance-based approach, many significant challenges and limitations must be resolved. These challenges include the fact that no FSE specific information exchange is available in BIM and that the results produced by fire and evacuation modelling tools are not explicitly captured in the BIM Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) Model. Of the FSE tools that support BIM, this is mainly limited to geometry extraction from an IFC file. In this paper, a practical conceptual strategy to pave the way to resolve these problems is proposed. A number of developments by the authors are discussed, forming part of an international collaboration project proposal administered by buildingSMART to enhance the IFC Model from the FSE perspective. Additionally, to evaluate and demonstrate the benefits of two-way data flow between BIM and FSE tools, a prototype system together with a preliminary FSE based analysis database have been developed. The work presented in this paper, provides a practical road map for creating a ‘golden thread of information’ in BIM for performance-based FSE analysis.

Interoperability between Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Building Energy Model (BEM)

Building information modelling (BIM) is the first step towards the implementation of the industrial revolution 4.0, in which virtual reality and digital twins are key elements. At present, buildings are responsible for 40% of the energy consumption in Europe and, so, there is a growing interest in reducing their energy use. In this context, proper interoperability between BIM and building energy model (BEM) is paramount for integrating the digital world into the construction sector and, therefore, increasing competitiveness by saving costs. This paper evaluates whether there is an automated or semi-automated BIM to BEM workflow that could improve the building design process. For this purpose, a residential building and a warehouse are constructed using the same BIM authoring tool (Revit), where two open schemas were used: green building extensible markup language (gbXML) and industry foundation classes (IFC). These transfer files were imported into software compatible with the EnergyPlus engine—Design Builder, Open Studio, and CYPETHERM HE—in which simulations were performed. Our results showed that the energy models were built up to 7.50% smaller than in the BIM and with missing elements in their thermal envelope. Nevertheless, the materials were properly transferred to gbXML and IFC formats. Moreover, the simulation results revealed a huge difference in values between the models generated by the open schemas, in the range of 6 to 900 times. Overall, we conclude that there exists a semi-automated workflow from BIM to BEM which does not work well for big and complex buildings, as they present major problems when creating the energy model. Furthermore, most of the issues encountered in BEM were errors in the transfer of BIM data to gbXML and IFC files. Therefore, we emphasise the need to improve compatibility between BIM and model exchange formats by their developers, in order to promote BIM–BEM interoperability.

Research on Parsing and Storage of BIM Information Based on IFC Standard

Industry Foundation Classes(IFC) defines the standard exchange data format of building information model. For making it possible to serve the whole life cycle of structure, it is necessary to parse and save BIM information based on IFC Standard into database. The research is implemented by Java language and MySQL database. The whole project is called IFCParser and consists of three modules: IFC Entity Module, IFCFile Parser Module and Persistence Module. IFCFile Parser Module uses lexical analyzer and syntax analyzer to decompose IFC files based on EXPRESS language into entity classes, which is called the IFC entity. Persistence Module establishes the mapping relationship between Java class and MySQL database, and uses MyBatis framework to save information into relational database.

Automated Optimization for the Production Scheduling of Prefabricated Elements Based on the Genetic Algorithm and IFC Object Segmentation

Background: With the ever-increasing availability of data and a higher level of automation and simulation, production scheduling in the factory for prefabrication can no longer be seen as an autonomous solution. Concepts such as building information modelling (BIM), graphic techniques, databases, and interface development as well as heightened emphasis on overall-process optimization topics increase the pressure to connect to and interact with interrelated tasks and procedures. Methods: The automated optimization framework detailed in this study intended to generate optimal schedule of prefabricated component production based on the manufacturing process model and genetic algorithm method. An extraction and segmentation approach based on industry foundation classes (IFC) for prefabricated component production is discussed. During this process, the position and geometric information of the prefabricated components are adjusted and output in the extracted IFC file. Then, the production process and the completion time of each process have been examined and simulated with the genetic algorithm. Lastly, the automated optimization solution can be formed by the linking production scheduling database and the computational environment. Results: This shows that the implementation of the automated optimization framework for the production scheduling of the prefabricated elements improves the operability and accuracy of the production process. Conclusions: Based on the integration technique discussed above, the data transmission and integration in the mating application program is achieved by linking the Python-based application, the Structured Query Language (SQL) database and the computational environment. The implementation of the automated optimization framework model enables BIM models to play a better foundational role in patching up the technical gaps between prefabricated building designers and element producers.

Assessment of model-based data exchange between architectural design and structural analysis

The emerging availability of numerous model-based design and analysis tools promises high interoperability in terms of data exchange, thus shorter planning cycles and higher design quality. However, seamless transfer of digital models across domains without significant data inconsistencies is still a major challenge in the practice. This paper aims to identify the procedural problems in the data transfer between architectural design and structural analysis and propose improvement.This study reviewed the current data exchange practices, and concluded that data exchange based on the industry foundation classes (IFC) is the most spread in the research and software tools supporting architecture, engineering and construction industry. The study also analyzed the processes which affect the IFC-based data exchange. The interoperability of software tools through IFC files was tested in a comparative study. The testing results are reflected on the processes influencing data exchange, identifying the procedural problems and recommending the improvements.Upon conducted analysis and testing, the authors propose the following strategies for the systematic improvement of the data exchange: (a) introducing interpretation rules in the data exchange standards; (b) focusing on multiple domain-specific building data schemas instead of on the integrated schema; and (c) developing a new certification process based on the domain-specific building data schema. The improvement proposal supported by the analysis provides a roadmap for the development of model-based exchange between architectural design and structural analysis.

Interoperability Analyses of BIM Platforms for Construction Management

It is incontrovertible that an exchange of files is essentially required at several stages of the workflow in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Therefore, investigating and detecting the capabilities/inabilities of building information modeling (BIM) software packages with respect to interoperability can be informative to stakeholders who exchange data between various BIM packages. The work presented in this paper includes a discussion on the interoperability of different software platforms commonly used in the AEC industry. Although, in theory, flawless interoperability of some types of files between different BIM platforms is ensured, in practical applications, this is not always the case. Hence, this research aims to identify faults in data exchange by assessing different possible scenarios where a sample Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) four-dimensions (4D) BIM model and related Gantt charts are exchanged. Throughout the interoperability analysis of both IFC file and Gantt charts, the following checks were carried out: geometrical and nongeometrical information exchange through IFC files, 4D information correct readability, and presence of missing schedule information in Gantt charts after their import/export procedure. The results show that interoperability between the analyzed platforms is not always ensured, providing useful insight into realistic scenarios.

Generic Language for Partial Model Extraction from an IFC Model Based on Selection Set

During data sharing and exchange of building projects, the particular business task generally requires a part of the complete model. This paper adopted XML schema to develop a generic language to extract the partial model from an Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) model based on the proposed Selection Set (called PMESS). In this method, the Selection Set was used to integrate users’ requirements, which could be mapped into IFC data. To ensure the validity of the generated partial IFC models in syntax and semantics, seven rules—including three basic rules for a valid IFC file, three extraction rules based on the Selection Set, and a processing rule for redundant information—were defined. Through defining PMESS-based configuration files, the required data can be extracted and formed as a partial IFC model. Compared with the existing methods, the proposed PMESS method can flexibly extract the user-defined required information. In addition, these PMESS-based configuration files can be stored as templates and reused in other tasks, which prevents duplicated work for defining extraction requirements. Finally, a practical project was used to illustrate the utility of the proposed method.

IFC File Content Compression Based on Reference Relationships

AbstractAs an open and commonly employed file format in building information modeling (BIM), industry foundation classes (IFC) have been supported by most BIM software platforms. However, IFC files...

Integrating IFC and NLP for automating change request validations

The management and the identification of design changes constitute an essential part of the of a design flow within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, requiring the formalisation of a multi-disciplinary collaborative information modelling environment. Construction projects generate substantial amount of change information, which needs to be updated continuously throughout the process, from initial feasibility study to the decommissioning of facilities. Complications arise from the information storage in multiple incompatible file formats that can lead to the loss or omission of details. In addition to any unexpected changes, the mismanagement of information is another factor leading to delays and costly errors. In order to mitigate such issues, this paper proposes to integrate the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data model and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to validate and visually identify the result of change requests. The system is developed using C# by 1) integrating angular framework with ASP.NET (Active Server Pages) to create a dynamic single web page and 2). Using X-BIM toolkit that supports IFC format to read, create and visualise the BuildingSmart Data Models (aka IFC Models). This approach enables a web-based platform capable of generating reports and visual previews, highlighting the differences between IFC files throughout the design processes. A web-based system prototype allows users to compare subsequent versions of IFC design models in terms of additions, modifications and deletions. The prototype uses NLP to intelligently identify the changes that have been made as it compares newer and older versions of the same model, making this information available to designers and 3D modellers. Prospective work will focus on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to automate the implementation of changes within the construction models.

Dynamically loading IFC models on a web browser based on spatial semantic partitioning

Industry foundation classes (IFC) is an open and neutral data format specification for building information modeling (BIM) that plays a crucial role in facilitating interoperability. With increases in web-based BIM applications, there is an urgent need for fast loading large IFC models on a web browser. However, the task of fully loading large IFC models typically consumes a large amount of memory of a web browser or even crashes the browser, and this significantly limits further BIM applications. In order to address the issue, a method is proposed for dynamically loading IFC models based on spatial semantic partitioning (SSP). First, the spatial semantic structure of an input IFC model is partitioned via the extraction of story information and establishing a component space index table on the server. Subsequently, based on user interaction, only the model data that a user is interested in is transmitted, loaded, and displayed on the client. The presented method is implemented via Web Graphics Library, and this enables large IFC models to be fast loaded on the web browser without requiring any plug-ins. When compared with conventional methods that load all IFC model data for display purposes, the proposed method significantly reduces memory consumption in a web browser, thereby allowing the loading of large IFC models. When compared with the existing method of spatial partitioning for 3D data, the proposed SSP entirely uses semantic information in the IFC file itself, and thereby provides a better interactive experience for users.

Research on IFC‐ and FDS‐Based Information Sharing for Building Fire Safety Analysis

With the development of computer processors, vast numerical simulation tools are widely used by fire engineers to determine the spread of fire and smoke. However, the fire modeling practices are often highly time‐consuming and cost‐intensive especially for building geometry information which does limit the further implementation of building fire safety analysis. Although nowadays building information modeling (BIM) has become a buzzword in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) field to facilitate information integration and interoperability, data sharing and exchange are still weak in the traditional interoperability between BIM applications and fire simulation software, since the data schema of them are totally different. In this paper, a quick and accurate approach for information sharing for building fire safety analysis between mainstream BIM applications and widely used fire simulation software has been successfully implemented, based on Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). And, both geometrical building information and sematic information can be shared by this approach through the transformation of coordinate systems, outer database, and IFC file extension. The BIM model restoring fire simulation results can support other performance‐based design of building, such as structural fire‐resistant design and evacuation design. And, all of the analysis results including building fire simulation, structure safety design, and evacuation simulation can be integrated in Autodesk Revit, establishing a framework of IFC‐ and FDS‐based information sharing for building fire safety analysis successfully. A gymnasium has been taken as a case study to illustrate the capability of this framework.

Mobile web-based lightweight and real-time roaming algorithm for large-scale WebBIM scenes

With the popularity of mobile terminals, including smart phones, there is a great push for users to share large-scale data on phone webpages. This study considers building information modeling (BIM) as the core smart construction technology and leverages, its classical data format — industry foundation classes (IFC) as the input data format, and presents a mobile & web-based lightweight and real-time roaming algorithm for large-scale WebBIM scenes. To comply with the semantics information in IFC files and with a buildings structure, our method focuses on creating a more lightweight product, by not relying exclusively on geometry faces as ordinary visualization programs do. Our main idea for optimizing mobile, web-based, lightweight and real-time roaming is threefold: reduce redundancies, generate an efficient hybrid data structure and design dynamic load/unload strategies. In the study, a prototype system was integrated and leveraged for experimentation. The final performance analysis shows that we can significantly reduce the redundancy to about 70 percent of the raw BIM scenes. Meanwhile, our method can maintain the FPS at around 30 and memory consumption at about 400 MB with an increasing scene scale.

Removing duplicated geometries in IFC models using rigid body transformation estimation and flyweight design pattern

BackgroundThe digital process of Building Information Modeling (BIM) involves the creation and modification of CAD-based building models. The complexity of such models has been increasing steadily within the last few years. BIM Models are usually being exchanged using open and standardized data formats. In this context, the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) are widely used. Therefore, software vendors provide interfaces for dealing with the IFC format. To obtain a high level of data integrity, however, IFC elements are often managed as completely distinct entities, which can result in the creation of multiple copies of identical pieces of information. Since the trend to provide web-based solutions for BIM applications is also becoming increasingly important, especially the conflict between available resource consumption and suitable response times must be considered. Although existing optimization algorithms can reduce the size of an IFC file by analyzing its structure syntactically, there is still the gap to detect identical pieces of geometries that are syntactically distinct. Also, when subsequently merging such geometries, the available sharing concepts must be questioned.MethodsThe contribution of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, we propose an algorithm to retrospectively detect identical geometries by estimating the rigid body transformation. On the other hand, we outline and evaluate the available possibilities for sharing geometries within the IFC data model. The so-called flyweight pattern is applied to provide and maintain the appropriate reuse of identical information.ResultsThe methodologies are exemplary demonstrated by modeling and optimizing a typical tunnel lining structure, which contains many repetitive elements. As a result, a noticeable reduction of storage and processing time can be measured.ConclusionsEstablishing BIM in large building projects, where complexity not only depends on variation and geometric detail, but also depends on enormous repetition of these elements, a significant benefit is expected.