Accelerating digital transformation of the built asset sector

openBIM Information Lifecycle

This simple example follows a single pump to show how OpenBIM allows information to be used throughout the lifecycle of an asset.

PROJECT ASSET

Stormwater Pump P-001

A single asset followed throughout this demonstration.

P-001

01 - Owner Requirements

The process begins with a question: What information will the owner need to operate and maintain the asset?

PROJECT INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS OWNER

Asset: Stormwater Pump

Required Information Requirement Purpose
Asset ID Required Identify the physical asset
Manufacturer Required Maintenance and replacement
Model Required Identify equipment specification
Capacity Required Operational information
Serial Number Required Asset identification
Maintenance Interval Required Planned maintenance

What is happening?

The owner is simply defining the information they need. These requirements can subsequently be translated into structured, machine-readable information requirements.

02 - Information Delivery Specification

The information requirements are expressed as an Information Delivery Specification (IDS).

IDS: Pump Requirements 
<ids:specification name="Pump Requirements">

    <ids:entity name="IfcPump"/>

    <ids:property
        name="AssetID"
        required="true"/>

    <ids:property
        name="Manufacturer"
        required="true"/>

    <ids:property
        name="Model"
        required="true"/>

    <ids:property
        name="Capacity"
        required="true"/>

    <ids:property
        name="SerialNumber"
        required="true"/>

</ids:specification>
Owner Requirement

Every pump must have an Asset ID.

→
IDS Requirement

AssetID must exist.

What has changed?

The requirement has become a machine-readable specification useful for automated checking.

03 - IFC Model

The designer creates the pump using their preferred design software and exports an IFC model. The IFC contains both the object and information about that object.

Simplified IFC example 
#101=IFCPUMP(
'3kPUMP001',
$,
'Stormwater Pump P-001',
$,
$,
...
);

#201=IFCPROPERTYSINGLEVALUE(
'AssetID',
$,
IFCLABEL('P-001'),
$);

#202=IFCPROPERTYSINGLEVALUE(
'Manufacturer',
$,
IFCLABEL('Grundfos'),
$);

#203=IFCPROPERTYSINGLEVALUE(
'Model',
$,
IFCLABEL('CR 64-2'),
$);

#204=IFCPROPERTYSINGLEVALUE(
'Capacity',
$,
IFCLABEL('20 L/s'),
$);
Asset ID P-001
Manufacturer Grundfos
Model CR 64-2
Capacity 20 L/s
For this demonstration the IFC is incomplete. The SerialNumber required by the IDS has not been supplied.

04 - IDS Validation

The IFC can now be checked against the information requirements defined by the IDS.

IDS Requirements

AssetID Required
Manufacturer Required
Model Required
Capacity Required
SerialNumber Required

Validation Result

VALIDATION FAILED

The IFC does not contain the required SerialNumber.

Corrected IFC

#205=IFCPROPERTYSINGLEVALUE(
'SerialNumber',
$,
IFCLABEL('SN-458721'),
$);

The designer has added the missing information.

05 - BCF Issue Management

If validation identifies missing or incorrect information, the issue can be communicated using BCF.

BCF ISSUE OPEN

Missing Serial Number

Element P-001
IFC GUID 3kPUMP001
Issue SerialNumber required by IDS
Assigned To Mechanical Engineer
Validation identifies issue
→
BCF issue created
→
Designer resolves issue
Issue Resolved

The IFC has been updated and the information requirement has been satisfied.

06 - Common Data Environment (CDE)

Once checked, information can be managed through a CDE that is accessible to all the project contributors.

PROJECT: WATER FACILITY
Project Information
Architecture
Civil
Mechanical
Information Requirements
Handover

Mechanical

Mechanical-Model.ifc Validated
Pump-Requirements.ids Current
P-001-Manual.pdf Handover

Why this matters

This prevents project information being locked into proprietary authoring applications.

07 - Digital Handover

The information required for operation and maintenance is assembled into an appropriate handover dataset.

Project Information

  • IFC model
  • Commissioning information
  • Product information
  • O&M documentation
  • Warranty information
→

Operational Information

  • Asset ID
  • Manufacturer
  • Model
  • Serial Number
  • Location
  • Maintenance information
Where COBie fits: COBie provides a structured way of organising information for facility operations. The required operational information may be assembled from IFC and other project information sources.

08 - Facility Management

The information can now be used by the facilities team to operate and maintain the asset.

ASSET

P-001

OPERATIONAL
Pump
Grundfos
CR 64-2
20 L/s
SN-458721
Pump Room 01
6 months
5 years

Associated Information

From Requirement to Asset

Information requirements have now travelled through the project to the operational phase.

Owner Requirements → IDS → IFC → Validation → BCF → CDE → Handover → Facility Management
The openBIM principle

Information remains accessible and useful as the asset moves from design and construction into operation.