# OpenBIM: An Enabling Solution for Information Interoperability
## 4 Engineering Information Interoperability Research Supported by OpenBIM
### Information Exchange
#### 4.3.1 Information Exchange by OpenBIM Participation  
1. Information exchange by openBIM standards participation  
(1) Use IFC only  
Some researchers applied openBIM in the process of information exchange. At present, the most widely adopted openBIM standard is IFC, which is applied in building life cycle, including design, construction, operation, and maintenance phases, as shown in Figure 13.  
* Design phase  
To improve the interoperability of the design phase, [PERSON] et al. proposed a new method of combining IFC based unified information model with various algorithms, in which IFC based unified information model was used to form the comprehensive central information layer of the model transformation. Moreover, through the proposed method, the entities, attributes, and relationships required for the conversion can be standardized to overcome the inconsistent representation of data and information in different structural analysis applications [32]. [PERSON] et al. described the implementation process of the Building Environment Rule and Analysis (BERA) Language related to BIM, which could contribute to design rule checking and many other analysis purposes, in which IFC was used as a given building information model to transfer BIM data into the BERA Language framework [33]. [PERSON] et al. demonstrated multiple representations for BIM 3D geometry data using a traditional relational database model to support high-performance rule checking related queries, IFC acts an important role in this information exchange process [34]. [PERSON] et al. proposed a Quantity Take-Off (QTO) process and QTO prototype system within the framework of openBIM to improve the low reliability of early design phase estimation. As long as the worker inputs the necessary task data, the concept of IFC model can progress throughout the entire task of the building lifecycle [35]. * Construction phase  
[PERSON] et al. proposed a visualization method supported by web and database technology to realize real-time construction progress information sharing and visualization of daily 4D BIM, in which the 3D BIM model had been previously created and followed the IFC standard. By parsing the BIM models based on the IFC file format, the information of the BIM model entity could be recorded to the 4D BIM database [36]. In order to achieve integration of AEC/facility management (FM) information which stored in text documents, [PERSON] et al. proposed a method to automatically integrate AEC/FM project documents in model-based IFC compatible systems, in which IFC model was used as a benchmark to classify text documents and associate project objects, thereby improving the information interoperability during the construction phase [37]. [PERSON] et al. proposed a system architecture for the interconnection of subsystems in construction company, in which the BIM was used to link the information from an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with the building object related information. The system architecture is based on the IFC standard, therefore the level of  
Figure 13: Information exchange by IFC participation. interoperability among project participants is improved and the process of industrialized construction is promoted [38]. [PERSON] et al. declared the use of INNOVance database for construction process management, and with the adoption of the IFC protocol, interoperability at the end of the project is guaranteed [39]. [PERSON] et al. developed an Industrial Foundation Classes-based Inspection Process Model (IFC-IPM). Within the IFC-IPM schema, a physical, schedule and quality management model exist to meet the requirement of real-time quality-related information exchange during the construction process [40]. * Operation and Maintenance phase  
[PERSON] et al. developed a semiautomatic image-driven system for building the original BIM objects in IFC from the images of existing buildings at the stage of operation and maintenance.