Everything you need to know about Information Delivery Specification (IDS)

What is IDS?

IDS stands for Information Delivery Specification and has been proposed by buildingSMART as a visionary approach for defining information requirements and exchanging them within BIM workflows.

Previously, BIM coordinators needed to manually create information rules within their BIM tools, which increased possible mistakes and costs.

However, an IDS file enables faster, automatic model verification. IDS files are a standardized machine-readable format for tools, such as Solibri, to automatically check and verify if a BIM model matches the requirements set from the IDS file.

IDS is currently in version 0.9.6. with version 1.0 set to be released in March 2024.

Why is IDS important?

Simply put, IDS helps people in the built asset industry by creating a format to define and automatically check BIM requirements within a chosen tool.

The advantage of IDS is that it can be used to ensure that the requested information is contained in the model. This means that the necessary information is also available for other stakeholders, and tasks such as advanced quality checks, ITOs, or classification can be carried out without missing information that would block the execution of these tasks.

With an IDS file, users have greater control over what they want or need to be checked, including but not limited to:

• Properties (quantities and attributes)
• Materials
• Classifications
• Entity types
• Object dependency

NB. IDS currently does not have the capabilities to define intrinsic details of geometry.

Benefits of using IDS

• IDS enhances the agreement and sharing of BIM requirements across various levels, from national to project-specific.
• IDS enables information requirements to be communicated digitally with stakeholders.
• Due to the format being machine readable, stakeholders do not need to interpret requirements from lists or spreadsheets but can directly import them into their BIM software.
• This standard expedites model compliance validation and boosts data trust and usage in BIM, with information requirements able to be defined, managed and distributed centrally.

Ultimately, IDS leads to time savings, fewer mistakes, and improved stakeholder communication.
 

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IDS and IFC

IDS files are optimized for readability and machine interpretation. While IDS can specify any data within the built asset industry, it’s structured according to the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data standard.

Even though this specification can be used for non-IFC data, IDS naturally works in parallel with IFC.

IDS in BIM Workflows

In a BIM context, all model data must adhere to specific formats and placements. IDS emerges as a structured framework detailing the type, format, and intricacies of information exchange among parties involved in construction or infrastructure projects. This framework guides the creation, management, and sharing of information throughout the project lifecycle.
 

Key Components of IDS

• Data Requirements: These specifications detail the data necessary for distinct project stages or tasks. Specifications are designed to be easy for humans to understand and highly structured for computer software to check information requirements automatically and accurately.
  Specifications are broken down into three separate parts:
• Description: Why is a specification important to the project and instructions on how to achieve it?
• Applicability: Which type of objects does the specification apply to? E.G., walls, doors, windows (objects within IFC models)
• Requirements: The information needed for the objects specified in part 2, such as classifications or properties.

This information has been taken from GitHub.

Example Use Cases:

• Streamlining Reliability of Checks
  A centralized information file provides access to a project's requirements for all stakeholders involved in the construction project. Another likely scenario is to use the IDS format to create a file for each milestone or project phase.
• Shareability of up-to-date information
  Using a CDE to share an IDS file will enable access to all participants. When an IDS file is updated and shared in the CDE, a stakeholder will simply have to download the latest version and upload it into their software. Instead of lengthy, manual checks, an IDS file will conduct an automated check, increasing the speed and reliability of checking.
• Requirements for Building Permits
  Municipalities and local governments are able to use IDS files to provide the requirements needed to attain a building permit for the construction project.

How and where are IDS files created?

IDS files can used throughout the whole construction lifecycle by anyone who wants to create requirements to have a model checked against. Typically, IDS files are created in the earlier stages of the construction lifecycle where requirements are set and defined ensuring BIM models are created to meet these requirements.

Solibri offers a complete IDS workflow for all customers, from the original creation of IDS files with our IDS editor, to validating IDS files with out unique IDS validator rule in Solibri Office, to exporting complete IDS files to selected locations through BCF live.

Try out our new IDS Editor and get started with your IDS workflow.

Checking models with IDS in Solibri

To help users ensure BIM models match IDS requirements, Solibri has an IDS Validation rule in Solibri Office, automatically checking your model against the set specifications.

The IDS Validation rule (#244) checks the BIM model against the building requirements specified in the IDS file. This will greatly speed up compliance checking and enable a more efficient workflow between project stakeholders.

Looking to the Future

IDS is continually being developed by buildingSMART, along with other collaborators including Solibri. This includes highly anticipated software certifications and advancements in openBIM and GIS integrations, helping to refine the standard.

Furthermore, buildingSMART “anticipates the existence of IDS libraries where examples of separate requirements are shared for everyone to use. Users can search IDS requirements and drag them into a selection basket to create their own IDS file.”

IDS will be pivotal in the industry’s future for automated compliance checking and efficient information exchange. Solibri has a complete IDS toolbox for you to take use of, from creating IDS files, validating BIM models against requirements and exporting files through BCF.

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