Machine code functions in BIM for cost-effective high-quality buildings

Abstract

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one way of making the complex building processes less expensive and more reliable. This paper first analyses existing experience with building processes which include building-integrated solar systems as one example of buildings with high ecologic ambitions. Based on the analysis, it is proposed to include functions in machine code into the next version of the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). For the machine code functions, several formats are proposed and the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed IFC extensions are discussed. As several formats have specific advantages and disadvantages, it is recommended to offer them as an option. For simple conventional buildings, the existing IFC version 4 seems appropriate. Buildings which include innovations which add complexity to the building process can profit most by the savings generated by exchanging machine code functions. The cost-effectiveness can be increased because more knowledge can be shared due to the confidentiality of the machine code, less time is needed for variations of the models, the higher accuracy of detailed models can be used, more competition is possible due to the modularity of the functions and less mistakes while exporting and importing models are made using the same validated model