OPTIMISING INTEROPERABILITY OF BUILDING INFORMATION MODEL

Abstract

Software interoperability is a bane in the IT Industry. Building Information Model (BIM) softwares for the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industries were not spared from it. It is essential for these industries to overcome these interoperability issues and thus, allowing seamless communications between softwares and disciplinary and thereafter, reaping the maximum benefits from the usage of BIM.

Building Information Modeling (BIM), as recognised by government sectors and major stakeholders in the AEC sector, is the key to all the woes in the construction project. BIM is able to deal with problems like poor productivity, wastages, and delay in construction and many others.

However, interoperability issues impede the implementation and also benefits derived from it. Despite on-going efforts within the software industry to improve interoperability between brands of softwares, results were slow and ineffective.

This study focuses on interoperability issues of BIM Softwares – Graphisoft ArchiCAD and Autodesk Revit in particular. It aims to identify all interoperability issues faced by the users of these two softwares. Issues were illustrated using the two softwares mentioned above.

Solutions were suggested in the study and then incorporated into a guide developed, with the main purpose of optimizing interoperability of BIM model. 10 BIM Models were then used to validate the effectiveness and usefulness of the guide.