Open BIM Collaboration FormatIt’s all about processes

Prepared by Bjørn K Stangeland for the buiildingSMART conference in Oslo, March 2012

Purpose of Open BCFBasically BCF introduces a workflow communication capability connected to Ifc models. The idea is to separate the “communication” from the actual model.

• BCF enables an orderly and effective method of communication that is fully traceable.• The idea of interoperability is to focus on the process and how well the various BIM Authoring Tools operate together instead of the features of one single tool

• Open BCF specifies means by which designers and other stakeholders are able to relate messages, action items, viewpoints and snapshots to specific components in a model and transmit them to others.

• The receiving party can use the information in their own BIM Authoring Tool to identify and locate the component(s) and view them from the same viewpoint that the sender had established.

• The BCF format is based on XML

Solibri Model checker – Create issue

Solibri Model checker – Issues from bcfZIP

Tekla BIMsight – Create issue

Tekla BIMsight – List of issues from bcfZIP

DDS-CAD – Create issue (select + right click)

DDS-CAD – List of issues from bcfZIP

Cloud BIM Collaboration Server?DDS has proposed an web services API for BCF as a specification.

Proof of concept:DDS has made a server implementation according to the spec. DDS has made a web implementation that can be used in any browser (PC’s, SmartPhones, iPad’s, Galaxy Tab’s etc.) http://collab.dds.no/#DDS has also prepared example code in C# for those who wants to do quick tests with the server.The current beta version of DDS-CAD Viewer supports the proposed API and can be downloaded from ftp://ftp.dds.no/pub/install/IfcViewer/Beta/ for testing.

DDS are prepared to hand over all code for both server and web implementation (and IPR) to buildingSMART International, providing there will be a project with the goal to result in a new OpenBIM standard for “cloud collaboration” including the code being provided as open source.

Web implementation of BCF - http://collab.dds.no/#

Projects, topics, users, roles, files and more …..

Issue (On-site phone pictures could be added ….)

DDS-CAD Viewer – Log on to the server and select project

DDS-CAD Viewer – Isseus loaded from the server

DDS-CAD Viewer – Issues can be synced back to the server

Detailed web services API proposal documentation exist