In the construction industry, several standard data models, schemas, and data classification systems are used to facilitate communication, collaboration, and interoperability between various stakeholders. These standards help in organizing and structuring data related to building information modelling (BIM) and construction projects. Here are some commonly used ones:
Industry Foundation Classes
Acronym: IFC
Organisation responsible: buildingSMART (International)
Official web page: https://www.buildingsmart.org/standards/bsi-standards/industry-foundation-classes/
Description: IFC is an open and neutral data model standard for BIM that enables interoperability between different software applications used in the construction industry. It defines a common schema for exchanging information about building and construction projects.
Current Version: IFC4.3.RC4 (2021-07): additions of Rail and Infrastructure
Schema location: https://technical.buildingsmart.org/standards/ifc/ifc-schema-specifications/
Standard: ISO 16739-1:2018
Type of data: Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: No, but API code available
License details: Open data schema / IFC is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/
Data model (Power BI): Available on request
UniClass
Acronym: Not applicable
Organisation responsible: NBS (UK)
Official web page: https://www.thenbs.com/
Description: Uniclass is a classification system widely used in the UK construction industry. It provides a hierarchical structure for organizing construction information, including elements, systems, and products.
Current Version: Uniclass - April 2023 update
Schema location: https://www.thenbs.com/our-tools/uniclass
Standard: Uniclass is now a requirement for BIM projects in the UK. It is cited in the national foreword of BS EN ISO 12006-2 and the national annex of BS EN 19650-2
Type of data: Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Yes
License details: No license required
Data model (Power BI): Available on request
Construction Operations Building Information Exchange
Acronym: COBie
Organisation responsible: National Institute of Building Sciences (USA)
Official web page: https://www.nibs.org/
Description: COBie is a data schema used to capture and exchange facility and asset information during the construction process. It focuses on providing a standardized format for delivering asset data to facility owners and operators.
Current Version: 2.4
Schema location: https://www.wbdg.org/bim/cobie
Standard: To make COBie as useful as possible COBie data is available in several formats. Software system exchanges during the design process could use the STEP Physical File Format (ISO 10303 Part 21) files conforming to the Industry Foundation Class (ISO 16739) COBie Model View Definition.
Type of data: Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: No
License details: No license required
Data model (Power BI): Available on request
MasterFormat
Acronym: Not applicable
Organisation responsible: Construction Specifications Institute (USA)
Official web page: https://www.csiresources.org/
Description: MasterFormat is a standardized organizational structure for construction project specifications. It provides a consistent numbering system for organizing and classifying construction information, such as materials, products, and work activities.
Current Version: Not applicable
Schema location: https://www.csiresources.org/standards/masterformat
Standard: Not applicable
Type of data: Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Yes (paid)
License details: Paid licenses required
Data model (Power BI): Not available (Paid licenses)
Uniformat
Acronym: Not applicable
Organisation responsible: Construction Specifications Institute (USA)
Official web page: https://www.csiresources.org/
Description: Uniformat is a classification system for organizing and categorizing building elements and components. It allows for consistent and systematic identification and grouping of construction information based on functional and physical characteristics.
Current Version: Not applicable
Schema location: https://www.csiresources.org/standards/uniformat
Standard: Not applicable
Type of data: Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Yes (paid)
License details: Paid licenses required
Data model (Power BI): Not available (Paid licenses)
OmniClass
Acronym: Not applicable
Organisation responsible: Construction Specifications Institute (USA)
Official web page: https://www.csiresources.org/
Description: OmniClass is a multi-disciplinary classification system that categorizes information about construction projects. It includes several tables, such as the Table 22 - Work Results, Table 23 - Products, and Table 34 - Construction Operations, which aid in organizing and classifying project data.
Current Version: Not applicable
Schema location: https://www.csiresources.org/standards/omniclass
Standard: Not applicable
Type of data: Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: Yes (paid)
License details: Paid licenses required
Data model (Power BI): Not available (Paid licenses)
National CAD Standard
Acronym: NCS
Organisation responsible: National CAD standard (USA)
Official web page: https://www.nationalcadstandard.org/ncs6/
Description: NCS is a set of guidelines and standards for organizing and presenting CAD drawings and related information. It includes standards for layers, line types, symbols, and other elements used in construction drawings.
Current Version: V7
Schema location: https://www.csiresources.org/standards/omniclass
Standard: Not applicable
Type of data: Hierarchical data classification
Primary purpose : Structured data storage
API available: No
License details: Paid licenses required
Data model (Power BI): Not available (Paid licenses)
Common Data Environment
Acronym: CDE
Organisation responsible: Not applicable
Official web page: https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/what-is-the-common-data-environment-cde
Description: CDE is not a specific standard but refers to a collaborative online platform where project stakeholders can store, share, and manage project-related information, including BIM models and associated data. It helps ensure that everyone has access to the most up-to-date information.
Current Version: Not applicable
Schema location: Not applicable
Standard: The common data environment (CDE), first authored and explained in BS1192-2007 by Mervyn Richards OBE and the BSI publication BIP2207, is the single source of information used to collect, manage and disseminate documentation, the graphical model and non-graphical data for the whole project team
Type of data: Documents
Primary purpose : Structured document storage
API available: No
License details: Not applicable
Data model (Power BI): Not applicable
International Framework for Dictionaries
Acronym: IFD
Organisation responsible: buildingSMART (UK)
Official web page: https://www.buildingsmart.org/
Description: IFD is an initiative that aims to develop a common language and standard dictionaries for the construction industry. It provides a standardized terminology and definitions for various construction-related terms,
Current Version: Not applicable
Schema location: https://www.buildingsmart.org/users/services/buildingsmart-data-dictionary/
Standard: https://www.iso.org/standard/38706.html
Type of data: Reference data
Primary purpose : Data dictionary
API available: No
License details: Not applicable
Data model (Power BI): Not applicable
IFC-XML
Acronym: Not applicable
Organisation responsible: buildingSMART (UK)
Official web page: https://www.buildingsmart.org/
Description: IFC-XML is an XML-based file format for exchanging IFC data. It allows for the conversion of IFC files into a more compact and web-friendly format, enabling easier sharing and web-based access to BIM models.
Current Version: Not applicable
Schema location: https://technical.buildingsmart.org/standards/ifc/ifc-formats/
Standard: ifcXML is based on the ISO standard for representation of STEP data in XML format ISO 10303-28
Type of data: XML
Primary purpose : Structured data exchange
API available: Not applicable
License details: No cost
Data model (Power BI): Available on request