Entity-Based MVD Concept Module Generation for Development of New BIM Data Exchange Standards

Model view definitions (MVDs) in various domains have been developed under the IFC schema, as subset standards for their respective domain-specific BIM data exchanges. To avoid repetitive definitions of data exchange requirements, numerous concepts that entail modularized definitions for entities, attributes, relationships, and properties have been employed to construct MVDs. However, the lack of a framework for solid MVD development and concept reuse has resulted in an inconsistent data mapping among information delivery manuals and MVDs and caused heterogeneous MVD definitions and structures. To address this demanding issue, this study proposes an entity-based MVD integration approach that generates encapsulated MVD concept modules and provides semantic query features allowing MVD developers to identify targeted concepts from an existing MVD concept library and retrieve the associated concepts to develop a new MVD. By using an mvdXML format, this approach currently aggregates the following three MVDs: precast/pre-stressed concrete, steel, and concrete domains. This new approach is expected to facilitate MVD development by providing reusable concept modules to initiate MVD development from other domains’ predefined MVDs by retrieving their concepts and giving them opportunities to confirm the accuracy and integrity of an MVD according to other domains’ ones.