BIM, Standards & Interoperability

AIA TAP encourages owners to evaluate their end uses of BIM data carefully in establishing their BIM standards/guidelines. Requiring data of uncertain utility incurs unnecessary expense. For example, if an owner intends to import operational data from a BIM to a CMMS, it is not necessary to require a construction level BIM as a deliverable.

AIA TAP encourages owners to consider the entire building life cycle and the data required to manage each stage. Considering the span of time involved, it is vital to remember that BIM technology will undergo major unforeseeable changes during that time. Over-reliance on the technology and capabilities of current market products should be avoided. Public standards are much more likely to remain viable.

AIA TAP monitors BIM standards being developed around the world and in the U.S. While many use open standards, some owners require proprietary BIM tools and their file formats as a deliverable in their BIM standard. While maintaining our commitment to open standards as serving the best interests of all participants and the industry as a whole, we realize that the realities of working on projects may motivate a decision to “standardize” on single applications. Where possible, AIA TAP recommends that these tools support the exchange of building information data through internationally recognized standard data formats and protocols.

AIA TAP will serve as a resource to help all building industry participants identify opportunities for using open standards as a foundation for project deliverables as well as the risks of not doing so. We will do this while still encouraging and supporting the many ways that the industry decides to adopt or adopt partially the open standards. As part of this effort AIA TAP will engage with open standards organizations such as the buildingSMART alliance to support the advancement of open standards and at the same time encourage the immediate need of our members to use BIM on projects.