B2 – Chapter 3: Interoperability

               Creating a building has different teams that come up with design specifications in which the specialty of every individual comes up to play an important role. Beside the design and layout of materials, several structural and energy analyses must be done in a building. In the other hand, components like a schedule of construction and fabrication of models for each subsystem making the team required a lot of information to be interchange through the project requiring the capability of interoperability of the systems. Interoperability is the capacity to share data between the applications used by different teams which not only decrease the need to manually share every data element (that normally bring errors) but also gives a better performance through the design.

               After reading chapter 3 of the BIM Handbook, it is clear that interoperability can be done with a straightforward format. Even that we are still understanding which types of data and information are important for the development of a building because we keep bringing new elements for our design every day, the most important are effective workflows and the proper documentation of each element. One of the main tools use for this interchange of data through different business and fields is the use of XML schemas, in which we are looking forward to creating design type schemas to exchange data. In the other hand, BIM platform developers are continuously focus on developing package solution to increase interoperability. The need to be able to manage different data in an similar way from different platforms in complex projects will not only facilitate many tasks thought the project and increase productivity but also will provide precise drawings and the capability to implement more complex systems.

               From this chapter it is clear that interoperability is advancing everyday and going forward, but there is not only one path being taken, but several paths that will try to coexist to make the system work better.

Source:

Eastman, Charles M. BIM Handbook : A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors. Vol. 2nd ed, Wiley, 2011. EBSCOhost, ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=364239&site=ehost-live.

Response to other posts:

Alkiviadis Tsitsios

               I personally enjoyed your point of view of BIM and how it can be implemented by contractors. Having feedback from the contractors will allow them to make changes and improve the design during the design process. This will avoid the constant back a forth that the contractors have with the design team after the project is started. BIM provides great tools for not only communication during the design phase but also look forward into the construction phase.

Jenny Fretta

               The capability of BIM to be easy to use for owners and facility managers is great. Providing much more information than any other program, the software facilitates the manager to know field changes, project time, cost, energy efficiency and much more. This features not only give peace of mind to the owner but allow him to focus on certain tasks and understand better the building during design, construction and the use.

Harvin Bhandal

               Your approach on how BIM tools are created to not only facilitate some processes but to save money and time is completely accurate. I see how a 2D drawing from Revit will provide you not only the basis to create a 3D model but give you enough information to start different energy analysis. I think that your point of view of the same chapter, is completely different than mine. I took the time to focus more on the technical aspect. But when I was reading your blog I got to see more of the applications of the technology.