openBIM®
buildingSMART has understood the importance of open (i.e. software-neutral, manufacturer-neutral) and interoperable solutions and stands for international, interoperable, open (data exchange) standards for BIM. These enable a comprehensive digital environment for the entire project and asset lifecycle and therefore offer considerable advantages. These open standards can be used for recording, planning, documentation, information (data) exchange and access to building information. openBIM improves the use, accessibility, management and, above all, sustainability of digital data thanks to the open standards. The sustainability of openBIM models is much greater, as the longevity of open data formats (due to their openly accessible documentation) is massively greater than when using proprietary data models. Even many years from now, a program can be easily created that can access the open formats of the openBIM models. In addition, collaboration between different project participants is promoted, as they can each access the best(openBIM-capable) program for their purpose.
buildingSMART
buildingSMART International (bSI) is an international non-profit organization and is organized as an association. It was founded in the 1990s as the Industry Alliance for Interoperability (IAI), shortly afterwards became the International Alliance for Interoperability and was renamed buildingSMART in 2005. In the meantime, 33 national organizations (local chapters) have been formed on four continents – e.g. buildingSMART Austria (bSAT), buildingSMART Germany (bSD) or buildingSMART Switzerland (bSCH).
The core objective of buildingSMART (bS) is to improve the exchange of data and information between different software programs in the construction industry. This is intended to optimize collaboration and the digital workflow. For this reason, buildingSMART has been able to gain all well-known software manufacturers as members.
buildingSMART aims to achieve this with three core programs: Standards, Compliance and Users.
Core program Standards
As an independent association, buildingSMART develops its own standards for data exchange and collaboration. These include IFC, BCF and IDS, whereby IFC has been published as an ISO standard since 2013 (ISO 16739-1). In addition, bSI is also developing bSDD for the description of objects and their attributes, MVD for the definition of subsets of an IFC data model and IDM for the description of information requirements. With these standardizations, bSI significantly supports the use of openBIM (BIM with open standards).
Core program Users
This core program promotes the understanding and use of openBIM standards and openBIM solutions. This includes the buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD), the Use Case Management Service (UCM) and an IFC Validation Service.
Core Program Compliance – Software Certification
Software manufacturers can have their BIM-capable products certified by buildingSMART for the correct implementation of IFC. This certification guarantees consistently high transfer quality.
Core Program Compliance – Professional Certification
With the “buildingSMART Professional Certification Program“, buildingSMART has developed a multi-stage qualification and certification system. This program consists of 4 levels in 2024:
- Entry
- Foundation
- Management
- Practitioner
The Foundation and Practitioner levels have been around for some time, while the Entry and Management levels are being developed in 2024. This book focuses on the Foundation and Practitioner levels. The bSI “Professional Certification – Foundation” tests basic knowledge and understanding of the use of openBIM in BIM projects. This certification is internationally defined by bSI. The bSI “Professional Certification – Practitioner” tests the application knowledge of the practical use of openBIM over the entire BIM project from project initiation to the handover of the building to the client. There are several certification areas at the Practitioner level: openBIM Management, openBIM Coordination, openBIM Specialism etc.
bSAT Certified Trainer (openBIM experts)
buildingSMART Austria attaches particular importance to high-quality functional openBIM training. This requires highly qualified trainers. For this reason, certified trainers (openBIM experts) certified by buildingSMART Austria are used for in-depth training in Austria. They must renew their certification every 3 years. buildingSMART Austria checks the quality, topicality, depth and breadth of the openBIM knowledge. This review takes place in front of an international expert commission consisting of members of the board of buildingSMART Austria and other national buildingSMART chapters (e.g. Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, Finland).
Publication from Eichler, C.C., Schranz, Ch., Krischmann, T., Urban, H., Hopferwieser, M., Fischer, S.: BIMcertHandbuch- Grundlagenwissen openBIM. Issue 2024. Mironde-Verlag, Niederfrohna, 2024. DOI: 10.34726/5384
URL: https://repositum.tuwien.at/bitstream/20.500.12708/192612/3/Eichler-2024-BIMcert %20Handbuch%20basic-knowledge%20openBIM-vor.pdf
Status: 23.01.2024