# Interoperability Analyses of BIM Platforms for Construction Management
## 2 Materials and Methods  
For this study, interoperability analyses were performed by choosing different software packages that are commonly used in the AEC industry to simulate real-life engineering problems throughout various file exchange operations. The important point in an exchange operation between different software packages is that even if they are used for achieving similar tasks and include analogous functions, they may offer various ways to define an object or a task. This means elements created in one BIM software may not be successfully exchanged with another BIM software with full functionality and complete data. If one considers how the design and construction works are carried out, it is understandable that during the exchange of files, any data loss, including material type, scheduling or phasing information, cost of elements, or 3D data related to fabrication and production, can be followed by loss of quality, ineffective teamwork, cost overruns, and time delays. For the coherent representation of workflow between model designers and construction project managers or planning engineers, the used software packages have been divided into three groups according to their features (Figure 1). 1. Design software: software packages generally used for designing and developing a BIM model, like Tekla Structures(r) (2018i service pack 1, Trimble(r), CA, United States) and Edificius(r) (BIM One (e) - 12.0.4.20368, ACCA(r), Italy). In general, both are commonly used to design, associate, manage, and collaborate in a 3D environment for different tasks. They can be used from the very beginning of the project by directing design, fabrication, construction, and detailing processes to the end of the service life of the structure by providing additional information for maintenance for different users from different professions. 2. IFC viewers: software packages usually used for model display and checking and reviewing semantic data embedded in BIM models exploiting the IFC standard. In this study, usBIM.viewer+(r) (BIM 2(a), ACCA(r), Italy) and Solibri Model Checker(r) (9.10.6.23, Graphisoft(r), Hungary) were chosen. 3. Construction project management software (CPM): software packages that include the tools used mostly in construction project management and reviewing models. In practice, these software  
Figure 1: Categorization of software packages selected for cross-checking their interoperability capabilities. packages are used, e.g., by project managers, consultants and planning engineers, and suppliers. Among them, Navisworks(r) 2019,(16.0.1326.55, Autodesk(r), CA, United States), Synchro Pro(r) 2019 (6.2.1.3, Bentley(r), PA, United States) have similar functions, like 4D scheduling and construction project management, plus the capability of reading and checking IFC models. Another software package used in this study was Project(r) (Microsoft(r), WA, United States), a useful tool to manage projects in terms of schedules. In fact, this software is very handy for construction project management tasks through creating, processing, and exchanging Gantt Charts. In this research, both MS Project 2013 (KB2817433) and MS Project 2016 (KB3115284) versions were used. Since, in this research, the exchange operations of produced IFC files between various BIM packages are examined, it is useful to point out that the IFC data format is supported by most software packages. In particular, BuildingSMART provides certification for the tools in the BIM industry to validate the use of IFC. Tekla Structures, Edificius, usBIM.viewer+ and Solibri Model Checker are IFC 2x3 certified [29]. Furthermore, another interoperability analysis was also performed based on importing/exporting different Gantt Charts in each software, and the quality of the exchanged data was assessed. In this process, the exchange of Gantt Charts between these packages was performed in XML or CSV format, depending on the software capabilities. For the purposes of this research, three different types of simulations were carried out.