Common proprietary formats for engineering data exchange include RVT, DWG, DXF, DGN, PLN, STP, and 3DPDF. Among these, RVT, DWG, and DXF are proprietary formats developed by Autodesk.
RVT is the data file format used by Autodesk Revit products to store BIM data. DWG primarily serves AutoCAD’s data storage needs and has been in use since 1982, evolving through nearly twenty versions. Autodesk provides the RealDWG software development kit, which enables reading and writing of both DWG and DXF files.
Autodesk and Bentley have established an agreement to improve data exchange capabilities between the DGN and DWG formats. Although DWG files can store considerable information, they fall short of meeting BIM data exchange requirements.
DXF is designed to facilitate interoperability between AutoCAD and other software. The DXF format is an open standard maintained by Autodesk. It supports wireframe drawing objects, but its use is limited. DXF primarily describes two-dimensional geometry, with restricted three-dimensional capabilities, making it insufficient for BIM data exchange.
DWF is an Autodesk-defined file format based on ISO/IEC 29500-2:2008. It is a lightweight, compressed format mainly used for design review and online publishing. While it can serve as a data source for simple interactive applications, DWF is a one-way exchange format and is not suitable for bidirectional data exchange between professional software.
DGN, developed by Bentley, is primarily used for MicroStation’s data storage needs. Since 2000, newer DGN versions support BIM data storage. Bentley offers a development kit supporting the reading and writing of V8 DGN files through the OpenDGN project.
PLN is a file format created by Graphisoft for its ArchiCAD product, supporting BIM data representation. Since its introduction in 1987, ArchiCAD’s PLN files are considered among the earliest BIM data formats.
The STP format, defined by ISO 10303 Part 21, is not proprietary but is widely used for exchanging geometric data in automotive, aerospace, industrial, and consumer CAD software.
3DPDF is an output format defined by Adobe to support design documentation and communication. Like DWF, it is mainly used for digital publishing of models to facilitate browsing and review; however, it cannot be imported into design or analysis software.
In summary, most BIM software relies on proprietary file formats to represent and store engineering data. Although many of these formats are widely used for CAD data storage and exchange, they generally do not meet the comprehensive data integration needs required for BIM-based engineering and construction workflows.
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