Developing IFC Standards for Implementing Industrialized Building System Components into BIM Applications

At the present time, construction industry is lacking information concerning predefined IBS geometrics and components which can be used in BIM. In order to integrate IBS with BIM successfully, specific frameworks and standards must be determined, developed and embedded in BIM software. This paper aims at developing Industry Foundation Class standards for IBS components to be integrated and programmed into BIM applications. Among IBS classifications listed in literature, Warszawski classification which is based on geometrical configurations of their main framing components was selected as the target category. Similarly, among this classification, planar or panel system employing planar or panel-shaped elements for floor slabs, vertical supports, partitions and exterior walls was selected for developing IFC standard. The language used for developing IFC algorithm in this paper is Extensible Mark-up Language (XML). It was deduced that XML programming language, because of its flexibility in referring the geometric representation of objects, is absolutely suitable for this type of algorithms. By utilizing XML-based IFC standards, prefabricated components can be standardized, programmed and integrated into BIM software and finally the collaboration process between BIM and IBS can be highly promoted.