This phase has also included the definition of the three base MVDs namely the Reference View, theĪlignment Based Reference View and the Design Transfer View In addition, property set definitions were made to input into the buildingSMART Data Dictionary which forms part of the standard. This required storylines to be defined that were then validated.
The second phase of these projects was to produce test instructions and deliver software validation of the IFC 4.3 standard. The first phase of the projects within the program concluded in 2019 and they defined the IFC entities for use cases including alignment reference, aggregate structures, earthworks, bridge structural, rail power, rail signalling, rail track, rail telecoms, drainage, maritime elements, and some geotechnics. Each of the domains has many different use cases that they wish to support with the IFC schema.
The full scope of the IFC 4.3 program included Road, Railway, Ports & Waterways, Bridge, and the common elements between all these. That is, infrastructure that stretches across the landscape such as roads and railways and all their associated features. The IFC 4.3 program was established to extend the IFC benefits to what can be termed horizontal assets. Formalization with ISO is a key step on that journey, and I am pleased we have now embarked on it. There will always be ongoing work, but the IFC 4.3 scope is finished it is time to move ahead with implementation and put the standard into use. The conclusion of this standard does not mean that the work is finished – additional domain content is planned for IFC 4.4 and we are working on MVDs for IFC 4.3 which will be published separately. This for me shows both the health and professionalism of our community and is exciting in terms of the opportunities it opens up for our work. The work is now supported in modern, accessible, and transparent tools enabling much broader community engagement and publishing in client-friendly formats as well as a range of technical formats. It is a sign of maturity that we can now run both domain and technical discussions in parallel. During the development of the work, we have been able to deploy elements of our Technical Roadmap. A series of projects in the later phases dedicated to validating the standard with vendors means that this is the best tested IFC version ever issued.ĭomain experts have led and managed much of the work through our ‘Rooms’. Strong client leadership has been essential in providing the drive and prioritising scope and content.