Today, we will discuss the BIM standard known as IFC. The International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) developed the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) specifically for the construction industry. This standard has since been accepted as an international ISO standard. IFC is an object-oriented 3D building model data format designed to support the exchange and sharing of building lifecycle information. It facilitates horizontal data exchange across different application systems and supports vertical data management throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects.
The development of the IFC standard has been a result of years of research and refinement, evolving from its earliest versions to the current advanced iteration. In January 1997, IAI released the first complete IFC Information Model, IFC 1.0. A major update came with IFC 2×2 in 2003, and the latest version is IFC 2×4. The overarching goal is to develop IFC into a fully comprehensive international ISO standard.
On the international stage, software applications supporting the IFC standard undergo a public certification process. This certification promotes the continuous improvement and adoption of the IFC standard itself. The IFC data model not only defines specific building components like walls, doors, windows, beams, floors, and furniture but also encompasses abstract concepts such as project progress, work tasks, spatial organization, and costs. The IFC model is structured into several layers, each containing essential content:
(1) Information Resource Layer: This layer describes fundamental information used in the standards, including personnel details, document metadata, and geometric topology. These data elements are not specific to construction projects or equipment management but represent scattered information without an overarching structure. It serves as the foundation for the entire information model.
(2) Information Framework Layer: This layer organizes the resource layer’s information into a cohesive framework, connecting and interrelating data to reflect the structural details of real buildings accurately.
(3) Information Sharing Layer: Focused on facilitating the exchange of domain-specific information, this layer refines the components of each system to ensure effective data interoperability.
(4) Domain Layer: This level delves deep into each field’s internal aspects, performing detailed analyses that produce thematic information tailored to specific disciplines.
That concludes our overview of the BIM standard IFC. The ultimate aim of the IFC standard is to enable all participants involved in construction projects to share and communicate information seamlessly through building information models, thereby enhancing understanding of their specific workflows and collaboration methods.
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