# OpenBIM: An Enabling Solution for Information Interoperability
## 5 Research Gaps and Future Directions  
This paper outlines the achievements of openBIM in various aspects of engineering information interoperability in recent years, such as information representation, query, exchange, extension, and integration. Although the application of openBIM provides favorable environment for the management and exchange of information and data, and to some extent overcomes the obstacles of cross professional cooperation in the project, more basic and applied research work are still needed. At present, the research gaps and future directions are mentioned below:  
1. Rule checking  
With the increase of project complexity and the number of project participants, unified BIM data exchange standards and robust validation frameworks are needed to ensure the seamless sharing and consistent maintenance of BIM data. At present, researchers have developed rule checking function based on MVD by using IfcDoc tool, and discussed the identified knowledge of BIM data validation using MVD, involving procedures, scope and complexity [83]. However, there are still some challenges in MVD-based rule checking: (1) although several versions of IFC schema provide the schematic basis of BIM data exchange standards, current rule checking cannot cover numerous types of modeling, representation, and interpretations scenarios that the IFC schema supports, thus sets back the process of validation of BIM data using MVD, which will lead to syntax problems, semantic errors, and unintended geometric transformations. (2) each field has different data and exchange processes which should be included in an MVD. However, domain experts and software vendors refer to multiple interpretations and different ways when defining their domain knowledge, which results in a broad scope of model view definitions and makes the formal rule checking process very complex and difficult. In order to solve the limitations of current research, it is necessary to consistently examine various methods to identify an explicit link between conceptual rules and formal information models. In addition, to ensure the reliable validation of BIM data exchange and the consistent definitions of model view specifications, the existing MVDs and the related rules should be further investigated. In the future, industries, academia, and governments need to cooperate to develop formal processes for MVD development, and jointly establish generalized libraries containing knowledge in various domains and IFC schema to ensure data interoperability and quality. 2. Ontology development  
Due to the lack of semantic clarity of IFC in mapping entities and relationships, it is too generic to use IFC exchange schema when exchanging information between BIM tools, which results in the inability to capture full semantic meaning required for the direct use of different construction project stakeholders' BIM tools. As a representation of concepts, relations, and rules in a specific domain, domain ontology can store, query, and share information in the domain. Therefore, checking IFC from the perspective of ontology framework can make the definition of IFC more formal, consistent, and clear. Applying ontology to engineering can support the following aspects of information interoperability: (1) realizing knowledge sharing among multiple human or software agents; (2) dealing with semantic interoperability between computer-based systems and data sources; and (3) using formal axioms accessible to machines to capitalize experts' knowledge [84]. At present, the research of data interoperability based on ontology has made some progress in some fields, such as construction, energy, and infrastructure. However, there are still technological and methodological gaps between academic researches and industrial practices.