” The journey from proprietary walls to open standards continues and IFC remains its enduring cornerstone. ” CloudForma
Today, we go beyond proprietary walls, we are tracing the origins of IFC and OpenBIM in the AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operation) industry.
1. Introduction: The Tower of Babel in Construction Data
In the complex world of AECO, collaboration is everything. Yet, for decades, digital collaboration has been hampered by a fundamental problem: a “Tower of Babel” of proprietary software formats.
Architects used one program, structural engineers another, MEP specialists a third and contractors yet another. Data, once created, became trapped in silos, which led to endless rework, information loss and frustrating interoperability challenges.
The vision of BIM (Building Information Modelling) as a shared and intelligent information model seemed perpetually out of reach across different platforms.
This critical need for data exchange sparked a revolutionary idea: open standards with at its heart the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC).
2. The Spark of Innovation: The Industry Alliance for Interoperability (Mid-1990s)
The genesis of IFC can be traced back to 1994. Recognising the growing problem of data exchange in the AEC industry (as it was then largely known) Autodesk took a significant step.
They initiated an effort to develop a common object-oriented data model for sharing information among different software applications. This initial internal project was the foundational seed.
However, Autodesk quickly realised that a true industry-wide standard could not be proprietary as it needed broad collaboration. In 1995, an industry consortium known as the Industry Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) was formed to take the initiative forward.
The founding members of IAI were a diverse and influential group of companies. It included Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Graphisoft, Softdesk, software vendors, building owners, facility managers and construction companies.
Their shared goal was to develop and publish a universal standard for object-oriented product data in the AEC industry.
3. Building the Foundation: The Evolution of IFC (Late 1990s – Early 2000s)
The IAI’s work quickly led to the first releases of the IFC schema.
IFC 1.0: with the initial public release in 1996. These early versions laid the groundwork, defining fundamental building elements like walls, doors, windows and spaces as “objects” with properties and relationships.
IFC 1.5.1 and IFC 2.0: Subsequent rapid iterations demonstrated the commitment to refinement.
IFC 2×3: Released around 2005, this version became a widely adopted and stable standard. It formed the backbone for many early BIM projects and software implementations. It is still one of the most commonly used IFC versions today.
The IAI itself expanded rapidly to become a truly international organisation and rebranded itself as buildingSMART International in 2005.
4. The Rise of OpenBIM and ISO Standardisation (2000s – Present)
The development of IFC is the cornerstone of the concept of OpenBIM which advocates for a universal approach based on open standards rather than proprietary software formats.
A significant milestone for IFC came with its adoption as an ISO standard:
ISO 16739-1:2018 (IFC): This formalised IFC as a globally recognised standard for data sharing in the construction and facility management industries. This ISO certification provided immense credibility. It also facilitated a broader adoption worldwide to ensure a robust framework for information exchange.
IFC4: Released in 2013, this version introduced significant advancements. They included improved geometry, explicit support for 4D (schedule) and 5D (cost), and enhanced property sets, aiming to further support the entire building lifecycle.
5. IFC’s Impact Today: The Backbone of Interoperability
From a visionary initiative to a global ISO standard, IFC has fundamentally reshaped the digital landscape of AECO. Today, it serves as:
- The primary language for BIM data exchange, enabling seamless collaboration between different software applications and disciplines,
- A foundational element for Digital Twins, providing structured information linking to real-time data from physical assets,
- A driver for automation workflows, allowing machines to understand and process building information directly.
At CloudForma, our commitment to OpenBIM standards and IFC-centric workflows is unwavering.
Our work on automated .e57 to .IFC conversion is a direct continuation of this original vision. We are transforming raw data into intelligent and interoperable IFC models. We ensure that the dream of a truly connected AECO industry becomes a tangible reality.
The journey from proprietary walls to open standards continues and IFC remains its enduring cornerstone.
©CloudForma with the help of ©Gemini