Collaborative Design and Engineering Issues with IFC and Interoperability? Prof Arto Kiviniemi School of Architecture School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING WITH IFC IN THE NETHERLANDS Data sharing Collaboration Léon van Berlo BIM Show Live 2015 in Manchester, April 2015 Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
Leon van Berlo Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
LET S START AT THE BEGINNING.. Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
Traditional document-based process Information is exchanged as documents - often even on paper - which causes non-valueadding work, friction, data losses and errors School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Arto Kiviniemi VERA programme 1997
Integrated BIM process Information is shared in an exploitable data format between different systems School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Arto Kiviniemi VERA programme 1997
Vision: an Integrated Project Model Goal: Continuous maintenance of project data through to building management Way: Building information rather than drawing data to integrate disciplines Architect Architect Civil Engineer Structural Engineer Civil Engineer Structural Engineer Building Owner HVAC Engineer Building Owner SHARED PROJECT MODEL HVAC Engineer Facilities Manager Controls Engineer Facilities Manager Controls Engineer Constr. Manager Constr. Manager IAI 1999 Now With IFC
Common (mis)conception of integrated BIM Architectural team Structural team M&E team Construction team Integrated BIM Maintenance team School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Arto Kiviniemi CIFE/Stanford University 2004
COMMON MISCONCEPTION: Shared data model is NOT equal to: Shared data(base) Shared BIM model instance Shared data model comes from the need to share/distribute data in a standardized way. let s agree this is a door shared data model == creating agreements (interoperability) Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
BIM DATA FLOW THROUGH STANDARDS: REDUCING INTERFACES Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
This means basically a common language... Chair Mpando Καρέκλα Stoel 椅子 ખ રશ Karrige كرسي Աթոռ Kafedra Aulki Крэсла চ য র Stolica Židle Stol Seĝo Tool Upuan Tuoli Chaise Materia Chèz Kujera... Стол Cadira თავმჯდომარე Stuhl School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
YES, I VE SEEN THE PICTURES Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
2008: BIMSERVER.ORG Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
2009: 1 ST RELEASE Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
2010/11: NATIONAL BIMSERVER PILOT Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
THE PILOT / RESEARCH Look at how information flows in a project Look at how which tools are used Research: compare homogeneous software with own choice software Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
2012: REPORT Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
THERE IS NO CENTRAL MODEL (IN A PROJECT) Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
Everybody has their own central model, but why? School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 What is a model?
What is a model? A model represents reality for the given purpose; the model is an abstraction of reality in the sense that it cannot represent all aspects of reality. Jeff Rothenberg "AI, Simulation & Modeling 1989 Different domains (architectural design, structural and HVAC engineering, construction tasks, FM ) have different models because they perform different tasks. The shared models must cover (at least) the parts necessary for the desired purpose(s) such as design coordination and defining the content and representation in a homogeneous way is not a simple task because the content and representations in different domain models are very different. School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Proof?
DENMARK 2006: Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
DENMARK 2008: Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
Common (mis)understanding: shared data is the master model School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Tekla: Leif Granholm 2009
The correct image: necessary data (not all) is shared, native models are the masters School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Tekla: Leif Granholm 2009
NL 2012: Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
OBSERVATIONS: There is no loss of data using IFC It is all in the native software. The question is what data you want to share (using IFC). What data do you need to do your job? Then we look if that is in IFC (and in your tool after import) Not a single IFC loss of data issue occurred during the experiments. In a homogeneous software environment, users felt that all team members should have equal BIM software modelling expertise. When using the concept of reference models, not all project team members collaborating in a project need to have the same level of BIM expertise. 2 Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
AND TO CLOSE UP. The use of a reference model concept with IFC can lower the needed BIM competences for a project partner to be able to collaborate in a way that is sufficiently effective for the entire project team. All respondents in this experiment were strongly convinced that choosing project partners based on their competence of a specific software tool, prior to their engineering competence, is never preferred 3 Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
FOUND CONCLUSION: WORKING (LIVE) IN A CENTRAL MODELSERVER HAS MORE DOWNSIDES THAN ADVANTAGES. (OWNERSHIP OF OBJECTS, LEGAL ASPECTS, BIM MANAGER, CHANGE REQUESTS, ETC...) 3 Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
BIMSERVER TODAY: Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
Domain specific & integrated BIM Architectural BIM Structural BIM M&E BIM Construction BIM Shared data Maintenance BIM Integrated BIM School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Arto Kiviniemi CIFE/Stanford University 2004
BIM linked to internal and external information Internal databases and libraries Internal databases and libraries Internal databases and libraries Architectural BIM Structural BIM M&E BIM Integrated project model Construction BIM Shared data Maintenance BIM Internal databases and libraries Internal databases and libraries Common databases and libraries School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Networked data sets: versioning issues Linked Data in legacy IFC - Jakob Beetz Eindhoven University of Technology
Versioning issues: solution approach using deltas (Berners-Lee et al 2005; others) Linked Data in legacy IFC - Jakob Beetz Eindhoven University of Technology
Web of Data more usable data (structured, identified, and well-specified) Web of Documents (hypertext) Small granularity: Objects have Webaddresses Web of Data (Linked Data, Semantic Web) Data on the Web (open data, ) Structural data: Links between objects form a graph Extensible typing: Objects and links are described with shared vocabularies Decentralization: Objects can also be linked across separate datasets Documents on the Net (ftp, Gopher, ) 1980 1990 2000 2010 Cross-model linking and change management Seppo Törmä, Aalto University time Bauer, Kaltenböck: Linked Open Data: The Essentials, 2013
Voids Cross-model linking and change management Seppo Törmä, Aalto University
So, let s forget the idea of central model server! How about data sharing vs. collaboration? School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
STATE OF BIM COLLABORATION IN 2015 Working with Reference model concept is the norm Main input for BuildingSMART International IFC4 Referenceview MVD Working with IFC is like sliced bread Reference model concept is integral part of National BIM Guidelines IFC usage and understanding has rapidly grown Making a BIM is not the goal Collaboration is something else than just sharing data! Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
A CENTRAL DATA STORE STIMULATES WRONG BEHAVIOUR Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
Collaborate, really collaborate! (Sutter Health s IPD Slogan) School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Image: DPR Construction
EVERYONE BRINGS THEIR CRAFTSMANSHIP AND EXPERTISE TO ACTUALLY COLLABORATE Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
THE REAL QUESTIONS ARE: - WHAT DO I NEED TO DO MY JOB? - WHAT DO OTHERS NEED FROM ME TO DO THEIRS? Collaborative design and engineering with IFC in the Netherlands Leon van Berlo 08 April 2015
Need to analyse and re-think the data flows Phases Tasks Problems process skills technology } 80% human issues } 20% technology Actors School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 ECPIP-project: Aalto University SimLab and VTT 2007-2009
Silos and blinkers Standardised roles, but at the same time poor understanding of the information flows and needs in the process School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Strong domain specific views, lack of holistic view Blind Monks Examining an Elephant School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Complexity of the different viewpoints School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Architects view of the building School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Copyright Vladimir Bazjanac / LBNL 2007
Thermal view of the building Transformation between views is a necessity! School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Copyright Vladimir Bazjanac / LBNL 2007
Who makes the transformation? Authoring software producing specific views for each receiving application Do the vendors know what is required for different purposes? Are all thermal models similar? Can the designer know what to export for each purpose? or Authoring software producing one (or few) generic views Receiving software makes the transformation based on its own needs; known content. Is all required information available in the exchange file or should the receiving software allow additional input? School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Additional challenges: Object Object The relation between objects in different models is not one-toone Multiple objects in the architectural model can be a single object in the structural model, e.g. columns and shafts divided by floor One object in architectural model can be multiple objects in structural and/or production models, e.g. slab How to create and maintain the links? Different ways of modelling in different domains; nominal vs. real measures Objects are not always easy to classify How to handle this in the ontologies?? Roof Wall School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Quality of IFC implementation? School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Why do we hear such contradictory messages of the usability of IFCs? IFC, What is it good for? IFC, good God, y'all What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, say it, say it, say it Oh IFC, is an enemy to all mankind The thought of IFC blows my mind IFC has caused unrest within the AEC community Frustration, then dissatisfaction, who wants to fail? with apologies to Edwin Starr Antony McPhee, practical BIM http://practicalbim.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/ifc-what-is-it-good-for.html Why use IFC? For me as an ArchiCAD user, BIM and IFC go hand in hand. What it boils down to is Why do BIM? and Why use IFC? are essentially the same thing. If you don t get BIM first then you probably won t get IFC. BIM is about collaboration and data and IFC is the format to allow that collaboration and data sharing but most importantly being platform independent. This means you should be able to work with any other IFC compatible tool of which there are many. Rob Jackson Bond Bryan Architects http://bimblog.bondbryan.com/why-use-ifc/ School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Correct understanding of the purpose of IFC is essential! School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Round tripping between domains? Architectural BIM Structural BIM MEP BIM Maintenance BIM Construction BIM School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
IFC round tripping inside one domain? Native BIM in propriatory format (ArchiCAD, Revit, Tekla, Vectorworks...)? IFC export Static model snapshot at a point of time Parametric model working environment School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 IFC import The reference model is NOT meant to be changed! Shared reference model in IFC format Image courtesy Granlund
Sharing information/data between domains Architectural BIM Structural BIM MEP BIM Maintenance BIM Shared data Construction BIM Integrated BIM School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Updates from the original models Data retrieval = reference information of other models, never taking your own data back
Quality of IFC implementation This data is based on certification in May 2007. Now the situation is significantly better and continuously improving, but still not perfect. A new, much improved certification system has been developed, but the number of certified software is still relatively small 100 % 90 % 80 % 70 % 60 % 50 % 40 % 30 % 20 % 10 % 0 % 97 % 97 % 95 % 93 % 88 % 86 % 83 % 82 % 81 % App.1 App.2 App.3 App.4 App.5 App.6 App.7 App.8 App.9 In 2007 average passing rate in the certified IFC 2x3 applications was relatively high. However, this is not the full story... School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Passing rate per object type and software App.1 App.2 App.3 App.4 App.5 App.6 App.7 App.8 App.9 Spaces 100 % 100 % 86 % 86 % 86 % 100 % 29 % 86 % 86 % Walls 99 % 97 % 99 % 94 % 94 % 90 % 97 % 92 % 92 % Beams 97 % 97 % 97 % 94 % 100 % 97 % 97 % 97 % Columns 97 % 97 % 100 % 87 % 100 % 93 % 70 % 97 % 80 % Slabs 100 % 96 % 100 % 88 % 88 % 96 % 92 % 75 % 75 % Doors 89 % 100 % 89 % 94 % 67 % 72 % 56 % 39 % 50 % Windows 80 % 100 % 80 % 100 % 80 % 53 % 60 % 27 % 47 % Stairs 100 % 83 % 83 % 100 % 67 % 83 % 100 % 83 % 83 % Ramps 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 86 % 86 % 86 % 86 % 71 % Railings 100 % 100 % 83 % 100 % 83 % 83 % 83 % 83 % 83 % Roofs 92 % 100 % 92 % 92 % 67 % 58 % 75 % 75 % 58 % Curtain walls 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 67 % 67 % 100 % 67 % 50 % Members 100 % 75 % 75 % 100 % 75 % 75 % 63 % 63 % 75 % Plates 100 % 100 % 100 % 75 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Piles 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Footings 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 80 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % Average 97 % 97 % 95 % 93 % 88 % 86 % 83 % 82 % 81 % Green = 100%, White 99 80%, Yellow < 80%, Red < 60% Extremely high deviation; Only one object type (Pile) passed in all test cases in all applications School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Probability to succeed in IFC exchange? Very few green rows failing probability with random software combination high. No problems if the applications or the objects happen to fit together; Apps 1, 2, 3 & 4 would probably work fine, 5 9 not Situation requires testing or problem solving capability of the project team, which is not a feasible situation School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015 Spaces App.1 App.2 App.3 App.4 App.5 App.6 App.7 App.8 App.9 Test 1 + + + - + + + + + Test 2 + + + + + + - + + Test 3 + + + + + + - + + Test 4 + + + + + + - + + Test 5 + + + + + + + + + Test 7 + + - + - + - - - Test 8 + + + + + + - + + Windows App.1 App.2 App.3 App.4 App.5 App.6 App.7 App.8 App.9 Test 1 - + - + - + - - - Test 3 + + + + + - + - - Test 4 + + + + + - + - - Test 5 + + + + + + + + + Test 6 + + + + + + + + + Test 7 + + + + + + + + + Test 8 + + + + + - + - - Test 9 + + + + + - + - - Test 11 + + + + + + + - + Test 12 - + + + + + - - + Test 14 + + + + + - + - - Test 16 - + - + - + - - + Test 17 + + - + - - - - - Test 18 + + + + + + - + + Test 19 + + + + + - - - - Doors App.1 App.2 App.3 App.4 App.5 App.6 App.7 App.8 App.9 Test 1 + + + + + + + + + Test 2 + + - + + + + + + Test 3 + + + + + + - - + Test 4 + + + + - + + - - Test 5 + + + + + + + - - Test 6 + + + + + + + + + Test 7 + + + + + + - - + Test 8 + + + + + + - - + Test 9 + + + + + + + - + Test 11 + + + - - - - - - Test 13 + + + + + - + - - Test 14 + + + + + + + + + Test 15 + + + + - + + + - Test 16 + + + + - - + - - Test 17 + + + + + + - + - Test 19 + + + + + - - - - Test 20 - + + + - + - - - Test 21 - + - + - - - + +
However, IFC does work! The described problems do not mean that IFC could not be used. Some complains are simply based on misunderstanding the purpose of IFC; it is not meant to be a parametric design model. The quality of the certification has improved significantly. However, the certification logo is not automatic guarantee of interoperability. The problem is not IFC specification, but implementation quality of the IFC interfaces in some software products. IFC has been used successfully since 2002 All Senate Properties projects since 2007 have used IFC. All public BIM requirements are based on open standards (IFC or COBie). Mandating a specific software in public projects is not possible in most countries, and can limit participants in private projects too. Increasing use of IFC will inevitably improve the quality of IFC implementation. School of Architecture Prof Arto Kiviniemi 2015
Thank you for your attention. Any questions?