As the saying goes, without rules, there can be no harmony. The same principle applies to BIM (Building Information Modeling). One major obstacle to the development of BIM technology in China is the lack of established standards. This has resulted in many companies and projects adopting their own inconsistent approaches, leading to a rather chaotic situation. However, progress is being made. The local BIM standard introduced by Beijing in 2014 has served as a pioneering framework, and the national standard is currently under active development. The foundational prototype is already taking shape. Let’s explore the characteristics of BIM standards both domestically and internationally to see which might best fit our needs.
(1) Research, application, and expansion of the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) are steadily advancing. The platform component of IFC version 2×3 has been adopted as an ISO standard, significantly increasing IFC’s influence. Several countries, including China, have incorporated this standard into their national frameworks. Looking ahead, the IFC 2×4 version will be synchronized with the ISO standard, enabling broader promotion and application across multiple stages and disciplines throughout the entire lifecycle of buildings.
(2) Standards supporting professional collaboration and system integration are becoming key areas of research and application, with notable examples being the Information Delivery Manual (IDM) and International Framework for Dictionaries (IFD). This shift highlights an important evolution in BIM technology—from focusing solely on technological upgrades to emphasizing management and efficiency improvements. It demonstrates that BIM has become a core technical capability for organizations applying these technologies.
(3) Developed countries are actively working to establish comprehensive BIM standard systems, laying a strong foundation for large-scale and in-depth adoption in the future. For instance, the United States has developed the National BIM Standard (NBIMS). Based on current research, approaches to establishing BIM standards vary between countries, each progressing in a way that aligns with their unique characteristics. China has initiated similar scientific research projects, though their influence and effectiveness have yet to be fully realized. The development of national standards such as the “Unified Standard for Application of Building Information Modeling” and the “Storage Standard for Building Engineering Information Modeling” presents a significant opportunity. These standards can help establish a framework suited to China’s specific conditions and project workflows, steering the development and technical application of BIM standards onto a proper path.
From the application trends of BIM standards worldwide, we can anticipate that China’s BIM standards will reflect some influence from international standards, yet they will be more closely tailored to meet national conditions and project processes. We look forward to seeing how this evolves.
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