3D LANDSCAPE OBJECTS FOR BUILDING INFORMATION MODELS (BIM)

Abstract. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a method for the digital collaborative design, construction and operation of buildings. However, in order to realize a complete view on needed work and expenses of a building, the surrounding landscape elements must be considered as well. Within this paper, the BIM authoring tool Autodesk Revit and the open BIM data model and exchange format Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) has been investigated for its capability to represent landscape elements like a terrain model, retaining walls, and ways. Therefore, a feasibility study has been carried out including the surveying of real-world landscape objects like terrain, buildings, ways and paths, playgrounds, and retaining walls, in order to use actual existing objects instead of idealized, theoretical elements. The aim was to develop and evaluate a workflow from the surveying over the modeling in BIM-able software to the export of an IFC data file. Therefore, the general modeling concepts of BIM and their suitability and limitations for representing landscape elements has been investigated. Experiences made within the project are discussed and first solutions and concepts are recommended. In addition, this paper reports from the buildingSmart International working group “Site, Landscape, and Urban Planning”, their current work and future goals, in order to extend IFC for landscape objects. Additionally, a concept for level of information need referring to landscape elements is shown.