I have selected a very simple scenario to demonstrate the need for mapping. We finish by showing some examples of this data as outputs and some thoughts about the future of standardised data fields. This blog piece starts off by showing an example with and without mapping and then examining our approach to standardising key data fields. This means we can continue to improve on our approach to structured open data. This implementation has now allowed us to understand better how people use this and work out ways to further automate our approach. Having implemented this mapping 18 months ago we have seen projects taking advantage of this process. I’ve written before on this subject in “ ARCHICAD 18: Join the IFC and COBie flow – Part 2 – Data mapping“. In ARCHICAD we have the ability to focus on IFC data by using ARCHICAD’s IFC Scheme Mapping. To future proof a business approach to data around an open standard.To divorce the silo mentality around authoring tools.To develop a business around “OPEN BIM” that is more than just sharing geometry and/or unstructured data.To create a single approach to where data is created making training simpler for staff.To not need to rely on all imported geometry to have consistent data fields.To allow consistent scheduling of data fields across a variety of modelling tools.To deliver COBie and the requirements of BS 1192-4:2014 efficiently and effectively (required for centrally funded UK government projects from April 1st 2016 for “Level 2 BIM” projects).To allow model checking to be built around a single consistent standard.To provide consistency for all tools and objects, across all project files and ultimately across all projects.To collaborate with other model authors without the need to map data between platforms or even authors using the same tool.To automate data from geometry wherever possible, reducing opportunities for errors with manual input.Some other reasons though to create an approach to standardising data fields: The current release being used in practice is IFC2x3 (IFC4 is now ready for implementation by the vendors so we are likely to see this implemented fully over the next couple of years).

In BIM terms the obvious data standard to align with is IFC ( ISO 16739:2013) which is an open international standard developed by buildingSMART International. This is fine if the only output is a drawing or a schedule but if others want to use your data for other purposes in a consistent manner on every project, irrelevant of who the model author is, then we believe data needs to be built around a common open standard.

This means that even if they have adopted an approach to producing data much of it will be focussed on native data fields within their chosen authoring tools. Many users of BIM authoring tools are still focussed on producing the same deliverables they have always produced but in a more efficient way.

Creating mapped images for archicad 12