An Ontology for the Building Industry: IFD, IFC, and GIS Integration

1. an ontology for the building industryCOST C21 conference in GenevaLars Bjørkhaug & Håvard BellSINTEF building and infrastructure

2. Introduction to IFD and its connection to IFC • IFD (ISO/DIS 12006-3) was developed by ISO/TC 59/SC 13/WG 6 • IFD is an EXPRESS model standardised in ISO 12006-3 • Several countries has started building dictionaries based on IFD • IFC have support for IFD information as of version Ifc2x3g • The Norwegian BuildingSMART project and STABU has developed a common WSDL interface (API) to a unified IFD library • BARBi and LexiCon is now harmonized in a common IFD library • USA and Canada has just signed an agreement to join the effort • Version 2 of the API freely accessible on: … BARBi BARBi LexiCon EDIBATEC http://services.ifd-library.org/api/2.0?wsdl • IFD - International Framework for Dictionaries

3. IFC – Industry Foundation Classes • A complete building model • Implemented in a large number of tools • IFC version 2x3g • Adds support for IFD and GIS systems and their descriptive data • IFD (ISO/DIS 12006-3) • Adds support for ontologies to IFC • Facilitates better integration of IFC with other standards • Greatly improve the usability ofIFC property-sets • IDM Information delivery manuals • Formalised agreements of what to exchange,how and when. Building information models, GIS and ontologies - integrated

4. IFD captures what dictionaries normally don't. dør door door-set dørblad door • In IFD a concept can have multiple names in the same language bjelke beam truss balk ligger Functional object a pump as a functional object • … or one name can refer to multiple concepts pump Physical object a physical pump on a plant to pump Activity or process What can IFD do? • Give one concept multiple names in multiple languages • Concepts are categorized as being either objects, activities, properties, actors, ativities, measures, groups or units.

5. The IFD API adds even more functionality • Ability to know who added concept, originally • Ability to tag every relationship between two concepts with a context • A context is a ”view” of the concepts. A context is a grouping of relationships between concepts. A context can be constrained for a given set of users, or be open for everyone • Ability to know the status of each concept (DRAFT, APPROVED, etc.) • Ability to set preferred name of given concept • A name can be preferred for some and not for others. • Easier to use API • The complexity of the ISO 12006-3 model is hidden in the API • The API is open and standardized and independent of software or platform.

10. In a CAD system In a briefing document IFD dictionary Properties Properties Properties In a calculation system In product catalogues Properties Properties In a Facility management system In classification systems Properties Properties In IFC In building specifications Properties Properties How concepts are added to the IFD library

11. One concept carries the same unique identificatior in every language 78AF4E98C8D4406B873DBB85E1FE7DB In a CAD system In a briefing document BARBi - Norway LexiCon - Nederland EDIBATC - France … Properties Properties Properties Properties Properties Properties In a calculation system In product catalogues Properties Properties In a Facility management system In classification systems Properties Properties In IFC In building specifications Properties Properties How concepts are added to the IFD library

12. IFD, OWL and Topic maps • IFD – OWL (Web Ontology Language) ”Same” goal, different technologies • IFD has an EXPRESS meta model, OWL (RTF) is based on XML • EXPRESS models can easily be converted to XML • There exist OWL exports from IFD • IFD - Topic maps • very similar conceptually. • ”concept” = ”topic” • simliar ways of relating concepts by objectified relationships IFD, OWL and Topic maps are complimentary technologies, Not compiting technologies

13. For the WSDL API visit: http://buildingsmart.byggforsk.no/index.php/Ifd:IFD_API • An overview of existing functionality • Possibility to suggest changes and report errors (Website soon moving to www.ifd-library.org) • Web-service already up running at : • For information about IFD visit: http://www.ifd-library.org/ • Link to online version of the different libraries • Papers and documentation about the project • Documentation for the new API • Tools and demos http://services.ifd-library.org/api/2.0?wsdl Further reading:

14. Providing life cycle planning services using a buildingSMART ontologyAn example of practical use combining IFC / IFD and GIS dataLars Bjørkhaug – Håvard BellByggforsk – Norwegian building research institute

15. GIS and environmental data (IFD) Material database (IFC/IFD) Building information model (IFC) Life cycle planning services Life cycle planning service, a simplified example

16. Select location • Connect to GIS system using IFG • Collect data • Air quality and climatic data • Query using IFD ontology • Update building model • Store information back to IFC model • Tag IFC information with guids from IFD Life cycle planning service, a simplified example

17. Validate the model • Check for missing material specifications • Get material information • From material db. • From IFD library specifications • Update building model • Store information back to IFC model • Using IFD tags to identify properties Life cycle planning service, a simplified example

18. Connect to service • Life cycle planning service • Estimate lifespan • using air quality and climatic data • damage functions • IFC/IFD data • Update building model • Store information back to IFC model • Using IFD tags to identify data Life cycle planning service, a simplified example