ifc, what is iai about?

IFC, what is IAI about?

• Vision– To enable software interoperability in the

AEC/FM industry.• Mission

– To provide a universal basis for process improvement and information sharing in the construction and facilities management industries.

• Deliverables– The key deliverable of the IAI is the IFC Object

Model. The term ‘model’ in this case means that it provides a formal specification of requirements which can then be used by software authors to create the IFC compliant software applications.

IFC, what is IAI about ?

From

Details

To• Vision

IFC, how is IFC structured?

IFC, how is IFC developed?

IFC, what can IFC do?

Shape (explicit)

Shape (extrusions)beams, columns, pipes, ducts, conduit, walls, etc.

Shape (topology)line representations for pipe, duct, structural, etc.

Building Elementswall, door, window, roof, stairs, etc.

Relations Between Elementsholes, chases, voids, zones

Jeff Wix, IFC2x Foundation for AEC/FMJeff Wix, IFC2x Foundation for AEC/FM


Space and Space Structurespace, building storey, building part, building, site

Compartmentationfire, workstation

Grids

Furnitureinc. system furniture

Equipmentchillers, fans, pumps, loose equipment, etc.


IFC, what can IFC do?30

NameTitle

NameTitle

NameTitle

NameTitle

NameTitle

NameTitle

NameTitle

NameTitle

NameTitle

Actorspeople, organizations, org. structure, addresses

Costingobjects, cost planning, estimates, budgets

Abcd afrgf aahds jhiuhg reeiuhHfije ewku ijijij jhdfhb

Work Plans and Schedulesinc. nested schedules, resource allocation

O/Nr A1263

2xAbcd £ 263xafrgf £ 421xaahds £6854xjhiu £421

Orderswork orders, change orders, purchase orders



O/Nr A1263

2xAbcd £ 263xafrgf £ 421xaahds £6854xjhiu £421Associated Documents

ClassificationOCCS

Uniclass

External Data2xAbcd £ 263xafrgf £ 421xaahds £6854xjhiu £421

Move Management

Asset IdentificationAsset Identification, Maintenance History,Inventories

Air Handling Unit

Boiler

Pump Set[Physical

Association]

PreheaterValves

Luminaires[Spatial Association]


IFC, who are participating?

• Global• AEC/FM professionals• Software companies• Research Institutes• Governmental supported development

programs• List: Graphisoft, Autodesk, Nemetschek,

Microsoft, HOK, Kajima, London Underground, LBNL, Stanford ... 600 members

• Vera, IT och Fastighed, Corenet, Construction Research Center,,,

IFC, how are they implemented?

IFC Express definition from IAI

DevelopToolkit

ProgramInputToolkit

Map-ping

OutputToolkit

Map-ping

Data i IFC format

IFC

ProgramInputToolkit

OutputToolkit

IFC IFC

ProgramIFC IFC

IFC

Express definition


ProgramInputToolkit

Map-ping

Data i IFC format

IFC

Express definition

Input Toolkit

Early binding

Late binding

IFCschema

Map-ping

ProgramMap-ping

Map-ping

IFC schema

OutputToolkit

IFCschema

IFC

IFCIFC

Output Toolkit

IFC schema


• Views

IFC Schema

View 1

View 2

View 3

IFC R1.5.1 CAD View

IFC R2.0 Client briefing/space planning Architectural designArchitectural design Quantities take off / cost estimation

Architectural design Thermal load calculations / HVAC system design

HVAC design Architectural design

HVAC design Quantities take off / cost estimatingCAD View


• Or via XML

IFC based exchange

• IFC

Course: IT in the Building Process

Product models in practice - based on the IFC pilot project in connection to DR's new headquarter in Ørestad

Jan Karlshøj

IT/CAD Manager

Building and Transportation

M.Sc,PhD

Carl Bro

Status of an IFC Pilot Project

• Is it possible to achieve the vision of a total interoperable IT-environment in a construction project by using IFC?– No– But what can be achieved, and what are the

alternatives?

BackgroundBackground

I have been active in IAI since 1996, and chaired the I have been active in IAI since 1996, and chaired the International Technical Management Committee International Technical Management Committee between July 1999 and July 2001between July 1999 and July 2001

What have been tested?

• Building– Part of segment 1 of

the new headquarter for the Danish Broad-casting Cooperation

• 50,000 square meters– Total project

• 100,000 square meters• 350 million US $

– Why this project• Carl Bro participates in the project• Scale matters• Interesting project• Too big ?


• Software– IFC 2.0

• ArchiCAD• Visio• Solibri Model

Checker• RIUSKA• Excel• ConViewer

– IFC 1.5.1 • Architectural

Desktop– Tools

• IFC Tree Viewer• IFC to VRML

converter

• Process– Used concurrently with the ordinary process

• Why?– I don’t want to sign legal contracts or

to use IFC in full scale, before we have tested the new process with real data

• Exchange– Only by using IFC


• Type of objects:– Wall– Column– Beam– Slab– Window– Door

• Hierarchy– Site– Building– Floor– Space

• Roles• But not

– HVAC, electrical, structural model, requirements, financial information, maintenance etc.

So, how did the tests go?

• Exchange– Many things worked

• Basic geometry• Types• Some attributes• (Different concepts in

different software product)– Basic limitations of the software

• Only handle bounding box geometry

• Only handle 2½D geometry• Only handle spaces of the

same storey


• Limitations in IFC implementations– Support only specific views– Support only IFC import/export for some

components– Do not support features in IFC like openings in

slab (has anybody ever heard about an elevator or a pipe?)

IFC ERROR: Kun åbninger i vægge understøttes på nuværende tidspunkt!IFC ERROR: Kun åbninger i vægge understøttes på nuværende tidspunkt!

IFC ERROR: At the moment only openings in walls are supported!IFC ERROR: At the moment only openings in walls are supported!

IFC ERROR: Kun åbninger i vægge understøttes på nuværende tidspunkt!IFC ERROR: Kun åbninger i vægge understøttes på nuværende tidspunkt!

IFC ERROR: At the moment only openings in walls are supported!IFC ERROR: At the moment only openings in walls are supported!


• One common building model?– Walls as one object per layer or one per wall– Some applications prefer ”tall” walls, whereas

others only display walls on the storey they belong to

– Again some applications support voids within a space, others do not

One BuildingOne Building ModelModel

One BuildingOne Building ModelModel

Domain specific Domain specific ModelsModels

Domain specific Domain specific ModelsModels

????


• Reaction from software companies– From very good feedback– To very low of feedback

• Looks like the business model is very important in this matter

So, how did the test go?

• Users– Find the people who understand the use of

models, instead of traditional documents like: drawings and specifications

– Willing to try a new approach– Be ready to be a beta tester

Participants

• Active participants – Engineering College of Copenhagen– School of Architecture in Aarhus– Byggeinformatik– Carl Bro

• Advisory Group– Danish Broadcasting Cooperation– Cowi– Vilhelm Lauritzen, Architects– PLH, Architect

• Ministry of Education financed the work carried out by the College and Architectural school (50,000 US $)

• Short report will be available in English

Compared to the “real” project

Status• 2D CAD-drawings

– in production: demand to use 2D-files• Few CAD-models

– 3D geometry for parts of the model• Simulations

– CFD– Bsim– Radiance– GTStrudl

• But at lot of– Documents (Word and Excel)

• Few databases• Start to use a common Document management system

for approved documents• Visualization

– Cave at the construction site?

Conclusion

• IFC goes beyond what is supported by most applications

• IFC can be used, but for a broader acceptance improvements have to be made– Implementation– Guidelines– Training material– (Model Extensions)

• One unified model can not fulfil all the requirements at the moment

• Data Management and legal aspects have to be investigated further

Industry Foundation Classes

Students are hereby invited to use the IFC Students are hereby invited to use the IFC specifications in their work, and take part in specifications in their work, and take part in the development, testing and implemen-the development, testing and implemen-tation of IFCtation of IFC..

Thanks for listening !Thanks for listening !

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