Group B - Interoperability

Interoperability allows for different groups of designers and engineers to simultaneously work on a single project.  Using BIM is a common way of allowing these groups to use the same or even different types of software on the same structure.  For example, “a service engineer, architect and structural engineer all working on separate 3D models in their versions of Autodesk Revit. These separate models may then be aligned to show a combined design model and then passed to the construction team to plan the work in Autodesk Navisworks.” (Hamil)  Tyler Woyshner explained more in detail in his blog post about how complex the design process is and why interoperability of BIM is the future of the design process.  For example, BIM can help overcome issues, such as placements of beams or HVAC systems that occur during the design phases, but this brings along other possible errors. 

As design takes place on a structure, it will need to eventually be migrated to and analyzed in other types of software.  “Additional changes that take place after the creation of these dual models can require significant model maintenance, with repeated merges of the [analysis and design] and BIM models. Over time, this "round-tripping" of data from one model to another can lead to data loss and a loss of model accuracy. “ (Burt)  Some of the inaccuracies that may occur could be as minor as the model being shown with different colors.  However, larger errors could be made in the data transfer that could lead to wrong dimensions or missing members, both of which could be catastrophic.  Although compatibility and interoperability is improving with each new version of software that is released, problems could still arise.  For example, if a large project takes a long time to complete design and analysis, and different versions of software are released within that time, then it is possible that the obsolete software may not be read properly by the newer versions.  One way to prevent this would be to have “all collaborators to use the same version of their BIM software throughout the duration of a project.” (Burt)

As recently as 2011, a study of the collaboration of different software has shown that there is still plenty of room for improvement.  The following chart shows where modeling errors occurred when the same data was entered in to different software. (Pniewski)  Every time that a newer version of software is released both the manufacturers and users of that software need to be aware of any new inoperability errors that could occur. 

Blue - All Good

Yellow - Errors Occured

Black - Examination not performed

References:

Burt, Bruce A. "BIM Interoperability." STRUCTUREmag. N.p., Dec. 2009. Web. 18 Jan. 2014. <http://www.structuremag.org/article.aspx?articleID=995>.

Hamil, Stephen. "Building Information Modelling and Interoperability." Building Information Modelling. NBS, Apr. 2012. Web. 18 Jan. 2014. <http://www.thenbs.com/topics/bim/articles/bimAndInteroperability.asp>.

Pniewski, Voytek. " ." Building Information Modeling (BIM) Interoperability Issues in Light of Interdisciplinary Collaboration. Collaborative Modeling Ltd, 2011. Web. 18 Jan. 2014. <http://www.collaborativemodeling.com/bim_interoperability_issues_rev03.htm>.