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openBIM® Quality Platform – Verification, Assessment & Tracking
Summary
| Project Title | openBIM® Quality Platform – Verification, Assessment & Tracking |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Calvin Kam |
| Project ID | |
| Research Institution | bimSCORE Limited (trading as Strategic Building Innovation, SBI) |
| Subject Area | Building Information Modelling |
| Duration | 28 Months |
Introduction
The openBIM Quality Platform is a groundbreaking Research & Development initiative co-sponsored by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and Strategic Building Innovation (SBI - bimSCORE), in partnership with LeapThought Limited. The platform empowers Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and larger public or private projects alike, to drive greater quality assurance quality control across the industry.
Registration form for openBIM Quality Platform (In case of overwhelming demand, access to the platform will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis):
Description
Recognizing the transformative potential of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the construction to address the following primary problem statements:
- Lack of BIM Expertise in SME Design Consultant Firms
- Insufficient Industry Knowledge Among In-House Modelers
- Absence of Objective BIM Quality Assessment for Owners
The platform simplifies quality assurance processes, democratizes access to advanced tools, and provides clear guidelines for openBIM implementation. It enables users to conduct comprehensive checks without scripting expertise. Additionally, it ensures seamless interoperability through openBIM standards, making it accessible to all stakeholders.
The primary objectives were:
- To empower SMEs with user-friendly, cost-effective QAQC tools.
- To enhance model quality and coordination across the construction lifecycle.
- To provide guidelines for openBIM integration and IFC export.
- To foster collaboration and data integrity through openBIM standards.
Below 24 checks are included in the scope:
|
No. |
Quality Assessment Items |
Category |
|
1 |
Object naming convention: As per CIC Production of BIM Object Guide and Master List of Category and Functional Type |
1.CIC BIM Standards Naming Compliance |
|
2 |
Object classification checking: Check whether the BIM object has OmniClass assigned |
|
|
3 |
Poor modelling practice: Modelled with generic/proxy object |
2. Model Hygiene |
|
4 |
Poor modelling practice: Columns/walls not touching slab/ foundation/ pile cap |
|
|
5 |
Poor modelling practice: Identify unintentionally placed elements |
|
|
6 |
Poor modelling practice: Identify elements among different models of the same type but with different parameters |
|
|
7 |
Poor modelling practice: Identify elements that may not be placed on the correct level |
|
|
8 |
Unallocated Space - enclosed area that does not have IFCSpace element |
|
|
9 |
IFCSpace elements that may not qualify as a corridor with less than 1.05m width |
3. Critical spatial and clearance check |
|
10 |
IFCSpace elements that may not qualify as a corridor with less than 2m headroom |
|
|
11 |
IFCSpace elements that do not have 2.5m headroom (excluding those assuming to be corridors) |
|
|
12 |
Staircase: Riser height and tread depth |
|
|
13 |
Staircase: Headroom (including MEP elements) |
|
|
14 |
Staircase: Headroom (excluding MEP elements) |
|
|
15 |
Window: Sill height |
|
|
16 |
Door: Threshold height |
|
|
17 |
Door: Opening direction Clearance |
|
|
18 |
Fire services design quality: - Sprinkler head coverage in habitable space |
|
|
19 |
Discrepancies among disciplines: Staircase (Architectural vs Structural) |
4. Alignment b/w Architectural & Structural BIMs |
|
20 |
Discrepancies among disciplines: Column setting out (Architectural vs Structural) |
|
|
21 |
Discrepancies among disciplines: Structural wall setting out and thickness (Architectural vs Structural) |
|
|
22 |
Discrepancies among disciplines: Top of slab level (Architectural vs Structural) |
|
|
23 |
MEP System Information: Equipment, ducts, pipes, fittings, fixtures, and air terminal units have appropriate System Classification and Abbreviation - cross check the system classification and abbreviation with the CAT and Sub-CAT code in the family and type names |
5. MEP System Assignment Clarity |
|
24 |
Mechanical design quality: Having sufficient separation between the exhaust air system and fresh air system terminal units |
Frequently Asked Questions
1 - Can anyone access the uploaded IFCs or the generated BCFs?
- The files uploaded to the openBIM Checking Platform can only be accessed by the Project.
- Team Members within the workspace. No one from outside can access the IFC and/or BCF Files.
- The following security measures have been deployed:
Data* at Rest → Industry-standard “AES-256-GCM” encryption algorithm is used to encrypt EFS data and metadata at rest. AES is also specified in ISO/IEC 18033-3:2010 (https://www.iso.org/standard/54531.html). More Details: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/efs/latest/ug/encryption-at-rest.html
Data* in-Transit → Transport Layer Security (TLS) is enabled to encrypt the data in transit. More Details: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/efs/latest/ug/encryption-in-transit.html
*Data includes IFCs, generated reports in BCF/spreadsheet formats, personal data, organizational data, analytic data, etc.
2 - What is the maximum IFC file size that can be uploaded to the openBIM Quality Platform?
It is recommended to upload IFC(s) less than 100MB for a quick QC-MC. For files with a size of more than 100 MB, it is advisable to break down the files into separate floors/levels.
Remark / Disclaimer
This platform is designed to enhance the quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) processes of the model across various handover stages. However, it does not constitute statutory checking under the Buildings Ordinance. Registered professionals remain responsible for conducting thorough due diligence before making any statutory submissions.
Download / Relevant Information
Please find below documents for your review at the link here:
- openBIM Quality Platform User Guide: Complete instructions for all platform feature to optimize your QA workflows.
- BIM Authoring Guideline: Best practices for model creation and export using openBIM standards.
- Quick Start & FAQ: Fast onboarding with key references and common solutions.
Contact Information
Should you have any inquiries, please contact SBI representatives at SBI@sbi.international .