Main Article Content
This article presents an analysis of the impact of openBIM standards on interoperability and efficiency in construction projects. The hypothesis put forward is that the coordinated use of openBIM standards and services, such as IFC, BCF, bSDD, IDS, IDM, and UCM, improves the quality of information and reduces the number of errors during interdisciplinary coordination. For this study, ‘efficiency’ is defined as a composite of: (1) data quality, (2) coordination efficiency, and (3) time/cost (person-hours and related costs). The methodology combines a literature review with a practical case study of a conceptual BIM model of a museum building. The results indicate that each standard plays a distinct role: IFC enables uniform model transfer, BCF facilitates issue tracking, bSDD provides standardised semantics, IDS allows automatic data verification, IDM clarifies the flow of information between process participants, and UCM enables capturing and reusing best practices. Together, these standards improve data exchange, enhance coordination, and reduce errors. Challenges include limited tool support and the need for user training. In conclusion, openBIM standards support collaboration and efficiency; there is also a need for further research on their practical implementation.
Article Details
Berlo, L. van, Krijnen, T., Tauscher, H., Liebich, T., Kranenburg, A. van & Paasiala, P. (2021). Future of the industry foundation classes: Towards IFC 5. In Proceedings of the 38th International Conference of CIB W78, Luxembourg, 11–15 October 2021 (pp. 123–137).
Borgos, K. S. (2022, July 5). Digitalisation use case. ISO/TC 59 Buildings and Civil Engineering Works. Retrieved from: https://committee.iso.org/sites/tc59/home/news/content-left-area/news-and-updates/digitalisation-use-case.html [accessed: 15.06.2025].
buildingSMART (n.d.-a). IFC – Industry Foundation Classes. Retrieved from: https://www.buildingsmart.org/standards/bsi-standards/industry-foundation-classes [accessed: 11.06.2025].
buildingSMART (n.d.-b). Information Delivery Manual (IDM). Retrieved from: https://www.buildingsmart.org/standards/bsi-standards/information-delivery-manual-idm [accessed: 11.06.2025].
buildingSMART (n.d.-c). Information Delivery Specification (IDS). Retrieved from: https://www.buildingsmart.org/standards/bsi-standards/information-delivery-specification [accessed: 11.06.2025].
buildingSMART (n.d.-d). buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD). Retrieved from: https://www.buildingsmart.org/standards/bsi-standards/buildingsmart-data-dictionary [accessed: 11.06.2025].
buildingSMART (n.d.-e). Use Case Management Service (UCM). Retrieved from: https://www.buildingsmart.org/users/services/use-case-management-service/ [accessed: 11.06.2025].
buildingSMART International (2010). IDM Guide to Components and Development Methods (IDMC_004, v1.2). Retrieved from: https://standards.buildingsmart.org/documents/IDM/IDM_guide-CompsAndDevMethods-IDMC_004-v1_2.pdf [accessed: 25.06.2025].
buildingSMART International (2013a). IDM Word Template for Exchange Requirements. Retrieved from: https://standards.buildingsmart.org/documents/IDM/IDM_template-ProcessMaps.docx [accessed: 25.06.2025].
buildingSMART International (2013b). IDM Word Template for Functional Parts. Retrieved from: https://standards.buildingsmart.org/documents/IDM/IDM_template-FunctionalParts.docx [accessed: 25.06.2025].
buildingSMART International (2023). BCF & Issue Management from Building Owners and Sustainability Consultants Perspective. buildingSMART UCM. Retrieved from: https://ucm.buildingsmart.org/use-case-details/2518/en [accessed: 25.06.2025].
buildingSMART International (2025). Guidelines for creating a data dictionary. Retrieved from: https://technical.buildingsmart.org/services/bsdd/guidelines/ [accessed: 15.06.2025].
Farghaly, A., Abanda, F. H., Vidalakis, C. & Wood, G. (2020). BIM-enabled asset management information exchange: IDM/MVD approach. Buildings, 10 (12), 239. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings10120239 (Crossref)
Fischer, S., Urban, H., Schranz, C., Loibl, P. & Berlo, L. van (2024). Extending Information Delivery Specifications for digital building permit requirements. Developments in the Built Environment, 20, 100560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100560 (Crossref)
Gourabpasi, A. H., Jalaei, F. & Ghobadi, M. (2025). Developing an openBIM Information Delivery Specifications Framework for operational carbon impact assessment of building projects. Sustainability, 17 (2), 673. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020673 (Crossref)
International Organization for Standardization [ISO] (2016). Building information models – Information delivery manual. Part 1: Methodology and format (ISO 29481-1).
International Organization for Standardization [ISO] (2024). Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) for data sharing in the construction and facility management industries (ISO 16739).
Jiang, L., Yu, Y. & Guo, X. (2019a). Overview of openBIM standards and services: Status and trends. Automation in Construction, 102, 20–31.
Jiang, S., Jiang, L., Han, Y., Wu, Z. & Wang, N. (2019b). OpenBIM: An enabling solution for information interoperability. Applied Sciences, 9 (24), 5358. https://doi.org/10.3390/app9245358 (Crossref)
Jin, M. & Li, B. (2023). A dual-level framework for openBIM-enabled design collaboration. Buildings, 13 (12), 3031. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13123031 (Crossref)
Khemlani, L. (2021, February 11). An overview of buildingSMART standards. AECbytes. Retrieved from: https://www.aecbytes.com/feature/2021/BuildingSMARTstandards.html [accessed: 01.09.2025].
Kim, C., Kwon, S., You, S. & Lim, J. (2010). Using Information Delivery Manual (IDM) for efficient exchange of building design information. In Proceedings of the 27th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (pp. 490–497). International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction. https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2010/0052 (Crossref)
Musella, C., Serra, M., Salzano, A., Menna, C. & Asprone, D. (2020). Open BIM standards: A review of the processes for managing existing structures in the pre- and post-earthquake phases. CivilEng, 1 (3), 291–309. https://doi.org/10.3390/civileng1030019 (Crossref)
Oraskari, J. (2021). Live Web Ontology for buildingSMART Data Dictionary. In 32. Forum Bauinformatik 2021 (Vol. 32, pp. 166–173). Technische Universität Darmstadt. https://doi.org/10.26083/tuprints-00019496
Ren, Y., Zhang, H. & Müller, C. (2025). Integration of openBIM with digital twins and GIS for enhanced data interoperability in construction. Journal of Construction Informatics, 31 (2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jci.2025.02.004
Rojas Wettling, A. (2023). IDM for the conceptual evaluation process of industrialized timber projects. Journal of Building Performance, 14 (1), 36–50. https://doi.org/10.1002/btp2.172 (Crossref)
Tomczak, A., Berlo, L. van, Krijnen, T., Borrmann, A. & Bolpagni, M. (2022). A review of methods to specify information requirements in digital construction projects. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1101 (9), 092024. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1101/9/092024 (Crossref)
Yu, Y., Kim, S., Jeon, H. & Koo, B. (2023). A systematic review of the trends and advances in IFC schema extensions for BIM interoperability. Applied Sciences, 13 (23), 12560. https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312560 (Crossref)
Downloads
- Maja Sutkowska, Anna Stefańska, Magdalena Daria Vaverkova, Yasuhiro Matsui, Fostering sustainable urban development: integrating school areas to support the city’s green-blue infrastructure , Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Architectura: Vol. 23 (2024)
- Małgorzata Kurcjusz, Karolina Krysińska, Michał Kosakiewicz, Maurycy Naliwajko, Zofia Jabłońska, Karolina Radecka, Ewa Grzegorzewska, Michał Sieczych, Eliza Ferenc-Pupek, Anna Stefańska, Integrating building information modelling (BIM) into construction: innovations, challenges, and global perspectives , Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Architectura: Vol. 23 (2024)
- Anna Stefańska, Klaudia Liszewska, Małgorzata Kurcjusz, Katarzyna Jeleniewicz, Rohan Raj Das, GENERATIVE SHAPING IN SEARCH OF MATERIAL AND STRUCTURAL OPTIMISATION OF SMALL STRUCTURAL FORMS , Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Architectura: Vol. 22 (2023)
- Peter Niemczak, Anna Stefańska, Why do Chicago buildings not retrofit? , Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Architectura: Vol. 22 (2023)
- Anna Stefańska, Katarzyna Walasek, Małgorzata Kurcjusz, Barbara Warzecha, Joanna Koszewska, Piotr Niemczak, Contemporary design of sustainable campus spaces: A case study of the extension of the Water Centre at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW , Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Architectura: Vol. 24 (2025)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.