# 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
Three subsystems were developed for this purpose, in which the IFC BIM object generation subsystem used ifcengine to create BIM objects in IFC, and selected IFC2 \(\times\) 3 and IFC4 as its basic schema standard, so that the subsystem can automatically convert the identified objects into IFC BIM objects [41]. [PERSON] et al. proposed an IFC-based practical multi-scale BIM which was described in detail with the information required by the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) components for both construction management (CM) and facility management, in which IFC2 \(\times\) 4 was used to represent this information and exchange them among different BIM applications. Based on the proposed multi-scale BIM, BIM-based CM system and BIM-based FM system were presented to support the collaborative management with multi-scale functions among MEP project partners at the stage of operation and maintenance [42]. Some advanced technologies, such as Internet of Things (IOT), can also be combined with openBIM to solve the information interoperability problems. For example, [PERSON] et al. designed and developed a Smart Sewer Asset Information Model (SSAIM) of existing Sewerage network using IFC4, which integrated distributed intelligent sensors to realize real-time monitoring and reporting for sewer asset. In the end an approach of sensor data analysis was proposed to promote the real-time prediction of flooding [43]. * Building life cycle  
[PERSON] et al. used IFC as a model to define the elements and relations of the construction projects, then constructed an information system which was exclusively used in the building life cycle and developed a platform called Active3D to facilitate information sharing and exchange process in the whole life cycle of the AEC projects [44]. [PERSON] et al. proposed a new approach to deal with 3D indoor space path planning by using IFC file as input, in which IFC was used to restore both geometric information and rich semantic information of building components to support life cycle data sharing [45]. [PERSON] et al. carried out a structured set of detailed benchmark tests of data exchange between BIM tools. These tests illustrated that a mutually agreed standard which defines how building elements are modeled and mapped into IFC schema is needed to achieve totally effective interoperability [46]. To achieve the efficient transformation between architectural and structural models, [PERSON] et al. developed an IFC-based transformation software which can facilitate transformation process [47]. The relevant literature, which only uses IFC standard to participate in information exchange, is summarized in Table 4 according to the classification of building life cycle. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Building Life Cycle** & **Literature** \\
**Classification** & \\ \hline Design & [PERSON] et al. [32]; [PERSON] et al. [33]; [PERSON] et al. [34]; [PERSON] et al. [35] \\ Construction & [PERSON] et al. [36]; [PERSON] et al. [37]; [PERSON] et al. [38]; [PERSON] et al. [39]; [PERSON] et al. [40] \\ Operation and Maintenance & [PERSON] et al. [41]; [PERSON] et al. [42]; [PERSON] et al. [43] \\ Life cycle & [PERSON] et al. [44]; [PERSON] et al. [45]; [PERSON] et al. [46]; [PERSON] et al. [47] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Literature relating to information exchange by Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) participation. Use other openBIM standards  
Apart from IFC, other openBIM standards were also adopted for information exchange. For example, [PERSON] et al. applied MVD for information exchange in sub-domain of building by embedding semantics into information exchange, to solve the insufficiency of IFC in defining entities, attributes, and relationships during the specific information exchange process [48]. [PERSON] et al. proposed a method called extended process to product modeling (xPPM), which can implement the integration and seamless development of IDM and MVD.