BIM collaboration format BCF

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a very broad term that describes the process of creating a digital model of a building or other facility (such as a bridge, highway, tunnel, and so on).

BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) is an open file format based on XML that allows the addition of comments to an Industry Foundation Classes BIM model (IFC is a neutral, non-proprietary data format used for sharing and exchanging BIM data across different software applications).

The BIM Collaboration Format is intended to simplify collaboration between different parties working on a model by allowing them to raise issues, provide answers and make comments within an open file format that does not itself contain model elements. That is, it provides a communication capability that is separated from the model itself.

Issues and comments, which can be enriched by screen-shots, are linked to model elements using Global Unique IDs (GUIDs).

Many commonly used BIM software packages include BCF capability, like UsBIM.bfc.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• BIM.
• BIM articles.
• BIM co-ordinator.
• Collaborative practices.
• Global Unique IDs (GUIDs).
• Industry Foundation Classes.
• Open data.

[edit] External references

• [Open]BIMer, BCF. BIM Collaboration Format Explained.
• Building Smart, BCF intro.