A technical brief authored by Smart Buildings, LLC managing principal Jim Sinopoli notes how the buildingSMART alliance, with the input of the US Army Corps of Engineers, has developed and proposed new data structures for representing information related to building automation and controls.
Falling under the large umbrella of Building Information Modeling (BIM) platforms, "a standard called Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) was developed by a laboratory of the US ArmyCorps of Engineers," writes Sinopli. He adds, "COBie is a format of data for building assets. It’s associated with BIM, but doesn’t involve spatial modeling."
According to the brief, as part of the National Building Information Model, COBie may include data such as preventative maintenance schedules, model numbers, warranty information, product data sheets, and "everything needed to operate and maintain the particular asset."
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The paper goes on to explain how the modeling of automation systems involves the development of a specific IFC for automation and control systems. An IFC is an open and neutral data model that describes building and construction industry data to facilitate interoperability of the data between designers, contractors and facility management. The IFC model specification is registered by [ISO] and is an official International Standard (ISO 16739:2013). The effort is referred to as Building Automation Modeling Information Exchange or BAMie.
"The proposed BAMie is not only a repository for comprehensive data in automation and control systems, but it provides a means that the data can be easily exchanged with other systems and other various colleagues involved in design, construction and operation of the building," writes Sinopli. He adds,"The building automation industry needs to embrace and support the BAMie effort. Construction directors and facility managers should request designers and contractors provide system data and submittals in electronic format."
View/Download the technical brief here.