IFD LibraryObjectives and plans for the future

Jacob MehusDirector of marketing Standards Norway

IFD Library???• IFD Library will never be important in itself

– Most users will never directly interact with the IFD Library• IFD Library is only relevant if it helps:

– Reduce cost– Increase profit– Add extra value– Create new business opportunities

• IFD Library provides:– Multilingual capabilities – important in a globalized world– Unique global reference to any concept – GUID– IFC model enrichment and link to product specific data– Database and sub-databases of terminology and definitions

Objective• To develop an open,

international and multilingual IFD Library based on the principles of ISO 12006-3.

• To provide support for the implementation of the buildingSMART technology in the building and construction industry.

• To be financially nonprofit but also self supporting

IFD Library - main activities• Technical development – unification

project• Adding and maintaining content• International collaboration and

standardization• Demonstration and implementation

Technical developmentUnification Project

• Full merger between Lexicon and BARBi• Status:

– New API (WS) beta release today– Open access for users– Tool for maintenance of IFC-property sets– IAI XM7 project –> IFC 2x3G close to completion

• Short term:– Completion of the unification project– Need to identify long term development goals – Develop API to fit the needs of new partners?– Less emphasis after completion of unification project?

Adding and maintaining content

• No value without content that can be trusted• Stability is crucial – established GUIDS are

fixed• Status:

– Procedure for adding content in Norwegian buildingSMART project established

– Software tool for adding and maintaining content developed – the IFD Propertylizer

– Five levels of content established in Unification Project (draft, checked, approved…..

Adding and maintaining content

• Short term:– Merging of exiting content in BARBi and Lexicon– International accepted procedure for adding content– International accepted procedure for moving content

• Quality assurance of data• Challenge:

– Critical mass – concepts, relationships of concepts, definitions and translations

– Maintaining and quality assurance is costly - perhaps• Draft level is free and open?• Checked and approved levels – not free?

– Supporting move towards generic IFC elements and objects

International collaboration• IFD Library need to be international to

succeed• Cannot be solved nationally• A GUID must be G = Global• Status:

– Merging Lexicon and BARBi - the start – XM7 in IAI – improved IFD support in IFC 2x3G– ISO/TC 59/SC 13 – home of the IFD standard

• New chair – new start November 3rd – Washington

International collaboration• Short term:

– Establish consortium of partners committed to the development of an international IFD Library

– Find a “home” for the IFD Library• In an existing well established international organization• In a new international organization

– Continue international standardization within the IFD Library context in ISO/TC 59/SC 13

– Continue close collaboration with IAI • Challenge:

– Financial model for long term development and maintenance

Demonstration and implementation

• Yesterday - the HITOS IFC-file :– IFC – very powerful but still limited amount of

information – Enriching a selection of objects with IFD-GUIDs

• Enabling translation of all text linked to a GUID• Access and search product specific information• Store FM relevant documentation for selected products

– Product database (NOBB one example)• Mirror of generic IFD property sets with GUIDs• Interface for manufacturers to maintain product data

– Wide range of opportunities for further estimations, analysis and simulations

Demonstration and implementation

• Important to provide demonstrations and support implementation

• Yesterday major milestone – first time live– Rough but proof of concept– Only the beginning

• Implementation – many opportunities but market driven– IFD Library provide a generic API and content– Business opportunities?– Demonstration – dominated by commercial interests

• API open – in time a wide variety of demonstrations

IFD Library for buildingSMART• Comfortable and pleased with current

status• Good momentum and good progress • Endurance to stand the distance• Lots of challenges and lots of opportunities• Need to widen our international

consortium