BIM–FM Interoperability Through Open Standards
The interoperability between Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Facility Management (FM) represents a critical area in the digital transformation of the built environment. While BIM is widely adopted for design and construction, FM integration lags due to fragmented workflows, proprietary data formats, and insufficient alignment of organizational requirements. OpenBIM standards, developed within the building SMART ecosystem, provide a vendor-neutral pathway to enable structured, reusable, and machine-readable information exchange across the building lifecycle. However, challenges remain in their operational adoption, particularly in bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks and real-world FM applications.
Technical Dimensions of OpenBIM Integration
At the technical level, interoperability relies on standardized schemas such as IFC, COBie, IDS v1.0, and bSDD. Despite progress, persistent semantic inconsistencies and limited real-time, bidirectional data exchange constrain effective FM integration. Current research highlights the need for machine-checkable deliverables, API-friendly serializations, and improved data validation workflows to support FM-ready models. Bridging the gap between BIM and IoT-driven asset monitoring remains a pressing challenge, with ongoing research exploring semantic web technologies and ontology-based integration approaches.
Managerial Barriers in BIM–FM Workflows
Managerial challenges are often underestimated but play a crucial role in BIM–FM adoption. Weak alignment between Organizational Information Requirements (OIR), Asset Information Requirements (AIR), and Exchange Information Requirements (EIR) results in inconsistent deliverables and unclear acceptance criteria. Additionally, governance structures and role definitions are often poorly articulated, leading to inefficient workflows. Research is increasingly emphasizing workflow modeling, governance frameworks, and decision-support systems to ensure traceable acceptance and improved FM readiness.
Strategic Implications for Procurement and Risk Management
From a strategic perspective, procurement frameworks and risk management policies must evolve to embrace open standards and avoid vendor lock-in. Public and private clients are beginning to mandate IFC and COBie deliverables in tender documents, but contractual clarity and incentive structures remain insufficient. Research into digital procurement policies, contract standardization, and risk mitigation frameworks is critical to encourage broader adoption of OpenBIM for FM. The strategic shift also includes capacity-building, policy incentives, and organizational readiness to fully leverage interoperability.
Research Gaps in FM Ontologies and Digital Twins
While BIM has matured significantly, FM-related ontologies remain underdeveloped. Current standards do not fully capture the dynamic nature of asset management, IoT integration, and lifecycle data requirements. This gap is particularly evident in the synchronization between BIM and real-time Digital Twins. Research opportunities exist in ontology engineering, automated rule-checking, and interoperability frameworks that align BIM data with sensor-based monitoring systems to enable predictive maintenance and operational intelligence.
Future Agenda: Automation, Verification, and Data Quality
The future of BIM–FM interoperability lies in advancing automation and ensuring verifiable data quality. Automation in information exchange, supported by IDS and bSDD, can reduce manual errors and streamline FM deliverables. Moreover, verification frameworks are needed to ensure data accuracy, traceability, and compliance with ISO standards. Research must also address quality assurance mechanisms for Digital Twins and establish governance models for continuous data validation. The agenda emphasizes OpenBIM ecosystems as the foundation for reliable, scalable, and future-proof FM practices.
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