Overview

From IFDWeb

1 What is IFD Library?
2 Who is IFD Library?
- 2.1 Management Group (MG)
- 2.2 Technical Group (TG)
3 Target Market
4 IFD and buildingSMART Integration
5 Contact Us

[edit] What is IFD Library?

In its simplest form IFD is a mechanism that allows for creation of multilingual dictionaries or ontologies. IFD Library is one of the core components of the buildingSMART technology, the others being IFC and IDM/MVD. IFD Library is a reference library intended to support improved interoperability in the building and construction industry. IFD Library provides a flexible and robust method of linking existing databases with construction information to an IFC based Building Information Model (BIM). Due to the multilingual capabilities of IFD Library this linking is language independent as well. IFD Library:

	Is developed according to the principles of ISO 12006-3:2007.
	Is operated and managed by IFD Library Group #Who is IFD Library?.
	Is a part of buildingSMART International more.
	Is a non profit operation but aims to become financially self-sufficient.

IFD Library began as collaboration between with the BARBi project in Norway and the Lexicon project in The Netherlands in 2006. Many people have been imperative in the conceptual development of BARBi, LexiCon and the ISO 12006-3:2007 standard. In addition, many more people has been vital for the continued development of IFD Library and the buildingSMART technology overall. All together, way too many to mention by name, but IFD Library would never have made it so far without this enormous effort.

More information about IFD Library can be found reading:

	IFD Library Business Plan Version 1.0
	IFD Library White Paper (R. Grant, CSI and IFD Library Group).
	IFD Library in a nutshell (L. Bjørkhaug and H. Bell, SINTEF Building and Infrastructure).

[edit] Who is IFD Library?

IFD Library Group is a consortium of organizations (IFD Partners) which operates as a group within the buildingSMART International, supporting the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) building model exchange standard (ISO/PAS 16739). IFD Library Group operates under buildingSMART International according to its Charter.

Presently, there are four (4) founding members from four countries:

buildingSMART Norway

Construction Specifications Canada (CSC)

Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)

STABU Foundation

In April 2008 in Washington DC, a new and more formal partner agreement was signed.

Signing the IFD Library partnership agreement in Washington DC, April 2008

Shake on it! The organizations currently responsible for the development of the IFD Library signed an IFD Library partnership agreement. The agreement formalized their commitment to the development of the IFD Library and their commitment to support its role in buildingSMART International.

Although, IFD Library Group is currently limited to four partners the intention is to gradually expand the partner group by including relevant organizations covering other language domains. Interested parties from countries already having a partner in IFD Library is encouraged to contact that partner and investigate the opportunity for a shared responsibility for the IFD Library Group work. Norway already has such an organizational model with buildingSMART Norway, representing a wide range of organizations, being the IFD Library Group partner.

To participate in IFD Library Group an organization can apply to become either an IFD Library Affiliate or IFD Library Observer, for more information please see Membership.

[edit] Management Group (MG)

The Management Group (MG) operates the business aspects of IFD Library, establishing global strategy, managing the Technical Group and other operational committees. IFD Library Partners can become members of the MG.

[edit] Technical Group (TG)

The Technical Group is responsible for the technology issues, including management of the software infrastructure, as well as the procedures and quality control of IFD terminology content.

For questions about Technical Group please contact TG leader Radboud Baayen

[edit] Target Market

IFD Library works primarily as a component of the buildingSMART technology. The users of IFD Library technology are expected to be software developers and providers of digital knowledge systems who wish to link information in their systems to IFC-BIMs. IFD Library also enables linking and mapping of information across languages. For example IFD Library can provide a mapping mechanism for product properties and thus allow electronic links between CAD (or specification) software and product databases. Some potential user groups are:

	Software companies.
	Information publishing companies.
	Building Product Manufacturing companies.
	Codes and standard setting organizations.

[edit] IFD and buildingSMART Integration

IFC standard defines an exchange format for information related to a building and its surroundings. The release of version 2x4 of the IFC standard (September 2008) will include functionality for the exchange of GIS data, (e.g. where the building is located and information about surrounding buildings) and facilities to tag all information with a globally unique ID from an internationally agreed ontology. With this added functionality the IFC will provide a computer understandable format in which all relevant building information can be exchanged between two parties.

For more information about the relationship between IFD Library and the other buildingSMART technologies please see IFD in a nutshell, buildingSMART, Ifc and Ifd and the IFD Library White Paper.

For technical documentation of IFC and IFC 2x4, please see buildingSMART International Model Support Group (MSG)