Today, I want to introduce the BIM standard known as IFC. In this era of rapidly evolving integration between engineering and information technology, traditional manual drawing methods have gradually been replaced by computer-aided design (CAD). Both 2D and 3D CAD technologies continue to advance, and software tools are constantly improving. Faster drawing, modeling software, and 3D model rendering have effectively reduced the time and labor required for drafting and modeling.
However, building models that only represent the appearance offer limited support throughout the entire building lifecycle. Projects require a vast amount of material data and information tables, and design and engineering information must be managed and calculated separately. Often, engineers rely on building drawings and material lists to cross-check details, which can lead to significant time consumption and human errors.
To address these challenges, a Brief Description System (BDS) was proposed. This system combines component drawings with material sheets and organizes them using computers, aiming to manage engineering materials more effectively. Over the years, BDS, which integrates drawings with component information, found its way into related applications. For example, in Hungary, a graphics software company introduced the concept of virtual construction of building materials and their characteristics into CAD models as early as 1987. Additionally, in 1947, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established the STEP standard for product information exchange, which later combined with information product models for building applications.
In the following years, numerous studies and applications emerged, leading to the gradual development of the term Building Information Modeling (BIM). There are several explanations regarding BIM’s origin. Notably, in 2002, American software manufacturer Autodesk acquired Revit, an architectural design software developed by RTC, and popularized the concept of BIM in its white paper.
As BIM evolved by combining models with information, various software based on BIM concepts appeared. However, large-scale engineering and design projects often involve participants using different BIM software. This raised the question: how can information be exchanged between these diverse information models?
To solve this, multiple software vendors collaborated to establish data exchange protocols for information models used in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC). This effort led to the development of the IFC standard, based on the EXPRESS language within the STEP framework, serving as the standardized format for BIM data exchange.
IFC, as a standardized exchange format, contains extensive graphical and engineering data related to the construction process. This information is crucial for managing engineering data, and evolving AEC management software incorporates many related concepts such as cost, materials, lifecycle, and model information. Unlike AEC management software, IFC requires integration of numerous files in various formats and types. It uses an information model to organize data, generating all information according to predefined categories. These standards also serve a management function by ensuring information is created and linked based on these categories.
As a result, IFC is widely used in research and management applications. Active 3D management software, primarily based on IFC, has been developed and is now commercially available on the market.
That concludes this introduction to the BIM standard IFC. I hope this overview has been helpful to everyone.
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