Interoperability is the
ability that allows different systems to communicate with one another. This
software and application ability is essential in moving towards a more
automated future. The BIM handbook explains that utilizing interoperability can
lead to a multitude of benefits. If software and applications used in design
feature the ability to communicate with one another, manual copying of partial
project data will be minimized. This feature can possibly lead to more
consistent results as well as save engineers valuable time. Interoperability
leads to more automation which then leads to less time spent performing tedious
task such as copying project data to another piece of software. (Eastman 2011)
If the data exchange between software were to become more advanced and accurate,
more efficient building designs could be determined as well through the use of
tools such as Revit MEP-IES<VE>.(Kumar 2008) The cost of inadequate
interoperability in current systems is astronomical and is estimated to cost
United States industries nearly $16 billion a year.(GCR 2004) While other
industries such as medicine utilize this technology, BIM is a technology that
heavy relies on communication between numerous applications.
With respect to
software, interoperability is achieved through programs, such as AutoCAD and
GIS, being capable of using the same file formats and exchange data through
those formats. As Audrey mention in her post, there are three categories of
data exchange utilized by BIM. These are platform-to-tool, tool-to-tool, and
platform-to-platform. (Eastman 2011) Platform-to-tool is the most common and
important data exchange according to the BIM handbook. An example of this would
be defining a model utilizing a BIM platform and then translating that model to
a tool that would perform certain task such as structural analysis. This type
of exchange is extremely difficult and has not incorporated much automation
however. Engineers must use data acquired from this exchange with sound judgment
as the data may not be correct. With future innovation in BIM, these different
categories may be able to become completely automated and allow engineers to
focus on other tasks.
The current state of interoperability is very shallow. While
interoperability does exist with BIM products, it is very limited. Anyone who
has tried to exchange models through multiple BIM products can identify with
issues plaguing this feature. A big issue being seen today is
version compatibility. Due to software upgrades being release continuously, linking
several applications together can prove challenging if one piece is
out-of-date. Problems also arrive if a project has several consultants. If
these consultants do not have the same version as one another, data exchange
becomes extremely difficult and fragile. (Burt 2009)
Interoperability is an
extremely useful capability. However, in the current state, it can be more of a
nuisance due to compatibility issues. This communicating ability will no doubt
become more advanced in the near future and will allow engineers to obtain data
more effectively and produce better products.
References
Burt, B. A. "BIM interoperability, the
promise and the reality." Structure Magazine (2009): 19-21.
Eastman, Chuck, et al. BIM
handbook: A guide to building information modeling for owners, managers,
designers, engineers and contractors.
Wiley. com, 2011.
GCR, NIST. Cost
analysis of inadequate interoperability in the US capital facilities industry. National Institute of Standards and Technology,
2004.
Kumar, Sumedha. Interoperability
between building information models (BIM) and energy analysis programs. ProQuest, 2008.
.
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