When designing premises, the quality of the design process would be improved if information were transferred from one program to another more smoothly than before. The project develops a work method that allows information on premises to be transferred from the project plan all the way to execution.

What kind of problem is this project trying to solve?

A number of different computer programs are needed in the process of designing premises, including information model based premises management software, design software and maintenance software. However, the information is not always transferred from one program to another as desired. This slows down and hampers the design process. For example, information can be lost in the process and it can be difficult to compare and analyse it.

Objectives: to enable the transfer of information on premises between different software applications

The pilot project aims to develop a work method that enables information on premises to be transferred from project planning all the way to execution. This would make the information open and available for editing, comparison and analysis. Preserving and refining information is crucial – information considered during the project planning stage must not be lost by the time the design stage is reached.

In this work method, the aims expressed in the project plan are transferred through IFC on an information model basis from the premises management software to the design software, and back to the maintenance software. IFC is the construction industry standard for object-based data transfer from one computer system to another.

This work method provides the benefit of preserving information, easing data transfer, and facilitating comparison and analysis of data. It enables the aims and eventual implementation of project plans to be reviewed openly. The efficiency and quality of design processes are improved when project plans are stored in a data model format, serving subsequent project stages directly.

The process created as a result of this experimental project will be shared with the industry through BuildingSMART Finland, a forum for collaboration in building information models (BIMs).

Who benefits?

Architects and construction engineers

 

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