European openBIM forum: key roles, goals, and participating nations

Digitalization is the key asset in the future of construction and the building industry. To fully exploit the opportunities offered by this change, it is essential to promote collaboration and interoperability among all sector stakeholders. This is where openBIM comes into play, an approach based on open standards for data and process exchange, promoting a more efficient and sustainable construction ecosystem.

In this scenario, the initiative of the European Forum on openBIM takes shape, aiming to propose initiatives aligned with the EU strategy in the digital construction path and to support the implementation of openBIM in European strategies.

Let’s delve into what it is, what the objectives are, and the role of this fundamental body.

It is important to remember that the digitalization of construction and infrastructure projects, based on sharing and exchanging information between systems and organizations, requires as an essential condition the use of certified IFC software and openBIM collaborative platforms.

Why was the European Forum on openBIM created?

openBIM is rapidly establishing itself as a fundamental pillar for efficient data management and the creation of a more sustainable and digitalized future.

Several European chapters of buildingSMART International have contributed to the development of national roadmaps for the implementation of openBIM standards in their respective countries. At the same time, the EU BIM Task Group promotes the adoption of digital practices in the construction sector for the public market.

In this context, the idea of establishing the European Forum on openBIM arose to propose initiatives consistent with the EU strategy in the path towards digital construction and to support the implementation of openBIM in European policies.

What is the purpose of the openBIM Forum?

The European OpenBIM Forum represents an important initiative to guide the construction sector towards a digital, interoperable, and sustainable future.

Its main objective is to promote and facilitate the creation of a shared strategy for openBIM implementation, integrating it with EU policies.

Emphasis is placed on standardizing the approach to data exchange, management, and protection, essential to advance openBIM standards. This common approach will promote the dissemination and adoption of best practices among different countries, thus accelerating the implementation of regulatory processes based on openBIM.

Defining a common strategy entails a series of significant advantages, including:

• increasing the importance of openBIM standards within EU directives;
• strengthening the relevance of openBIM standards within CEN and ISO committees;
• obtaining recognition of openBIM in procurement procedures, benefiting the entire construction supply chain;
• benefiting from international progress based on openBIM standards;
• fostering greater collaboration between European buildingSMART chapters and their respective national governments.

Initiatives and BIM standards in Europe

The European Parliament introduced the concept of BIM with the 2014 directive.

Subsequently, in 2016, the EU BIM Task Group was established, co-financed by the European Commission, which published the EU BIM Manual in July 2017, contributing to identifying national policies for BIM dissemination.

Between 2014 and 2022, CEN/CENELEC revised several CEN standards to provide common and verifiable definitions, and the EN ISO 14090:2019 standard was developed, addressing climate change adaptation, establishing principles, requirements, and guidelines.

Starting in 2020, particular emphasis was placed on digitalization and environmental sustainability, with the European Commission developing various support policies through projects like Horizon 2020.

In 2021, a collaborative process began with the High-Level Forum on Construction. The European Commission is progressing on various aspects related to the construction sector, such as digital building permits, digital construction registers, and electronic procurement. It is also working on broader issues such as taxonomy, reference framework levels, and the CPR.

Finally, the DG GROW department is continuing its efforts to connect the “digital decade” and the “green deal” through a strategy called the “Transition Pathway for Construction,” announced in March 2023.

In addition to the Commission, other actors are also contributing to the evolution of the construction sector, with EU funding tools and European-level programs such as reports from the Joint Research Centre on zero-impact construction and the WBCSD’s PACT program, supported by the EU.

Other standards

In addition to the mentioned initiatives and provisions, in the construction and facility management sector, data organization and sharing are regulated by additional standards such as EN ISO 16739 and IFC 4.3, which include data definitions for building and infrastructure assets throughout their lifecycle.

There are also regulations governing:

• information process organization (EN ISO 19650);
• building information models (EN ISO 29481);
• structuring business knowledge related to building objects (EN ISO 23386).

To these is added the PLCS standard (ISO 10303-239), ensuring data consistency, maintainability, exchange, and durability regardless of information systems and throughout the product lifecycle.

Why is the idea of the openBIM Forum emerging now?

The birth of the openBIM Forum is happening now to respond to a series of developments in the construction sector. So far, initiatives have focused on integrating BIM standards, but often overlooked the full use and value of openBIM.

Despite the recognition of the importance of openBIM at the European level and significant investments by the European Commission in digitizing the construction and infrastructure industries, the current adoption and implementation of openBIM are not uniform.

European chapters of buildingSMART International, on the other hand, are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of open standards in promoting collaboration and digitalization in the construction sector.

For this reason, there is now a need to establish a European forum on openBIM with the main objective of spreading this knowledge to the European Commission and promoting the adoption and use of open standards, thus contributing to a more consistent and sustainable evolution of the construction sector.

What is the role of the European Forum on openBIM?

The European Forum on openBIM acts as a catalyst to accelerate the adoption of openBIM and maximize its positive impact in Europe.

By bringing together the European chapters of buildingSMART International, the forum aims to:

• promote awareness and implementation of openBIM: by collaborating with European institutions, national governments, and other organizations, the forum is committed to spreading knowledge about openBIM and supporting its implementation through policies and regulations;
• promote standardization and interoperability: by defining common standards and shared practices for digital information exchange, the forum contributes to creating a neutral and collaborative environment for all sector stakeholders;
• enhance skills and training: through certification programs and educational initiatives, the forum aims to improve the skills of industry professionals and promote a better understanding of openBIM;
• innovation and research: by identifying new research areas and developing innovative solutions, the forum aims to keep the construction sector at the forefront of digital transformation and sustainability.

What is the governance of the openBIM Forum?

The European Forum on openBIM operates with a transparent and collaborative governance, actively involving its members in defining strategies and priorities and coordinating with European institutions for the adoption of integrated approaches.

The work program will be defined through an agreement, and progress will be communicated to forum chapters under the guidance of a steering committee.

What objectives does the European Forum on openBIM promote?

The European Forum on openBIM aims to consolidate the efforts of European buildingSMART chapters through collaboration. This synergy offers numerous benefits for both Europe and buildingSMART chapters and the entire buildingSMART community.

Through the creation of the forum, chapter representatives set various objectives, including:

• supporting the global commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector and promote the circular economy of materials through the adoption of common standards and practices for digital information;
• fully leveraging the opportunities of digital transformation to strengthen the resilience of the construction sector;
• assisting governments in implementing digital building permits based on openBIM standards;
• enhancing the skills of professionals in the construction sector and promoting openBIM knowledge through certification programs;
• expanding the use of digital twin technology in various sectors, including advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain;
• identifying new research areas and challenges aligned with the interests of key stakeholders, proposing new ideas for research and development;
• urging the European Commission to fund the implementation of BIM standards, knowledge-sharing events, and workshops on openBIM standards;
• promoting unified European standards, services, and tools based on openBIM standards to provide a common reference point for digital construction, benefiting individuals, businesses, projects, and the entire community;
• advancing projects funded within the European framework;
• supporting the adoption of open BIM standards in the renovation of existing European infrastructures;
• recognizing the importance of BIM data within a common European approach to security.

Obiettivi openBIM Forum EU

Who is part of the European openBIM Forum?

The European openBIM Forum is an entity representing the European chapters of buildingSMART.

The countries of the buildingSMART community that have already agreed to establish the European openBIM Forum include:

• Austria
• Benelux
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Lithuania
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• UK and Ireland

To date, both buildingSMART International and the EU BIM Task Group have declared their support for this initiative.

European openBIM Forum level and buildingSMART national chapters level

openBIM Tools for the Digitalization of Construction

In an era increasingly oriented towards openBIM and the digitalization of the built environment and constructions, I suggest using cutting-edge tools like the BIM management system usBIM, with which you can efficiently manage the openBIM workflow.

This online cloud platform offers a range of features including:

• visualization, management, and collaboration on BIM models in various formats;
• creation and management of BCF files;
• storage and sharing of documents and projects in various formats and devices;
• online quantity takeoff;
• issue management directly in the cloud;
• real-time collaboration with chat and online meetings;
• integration of IoT data into the BIM model;
• visualization on GIS maps.

Watch the video to discover the main features.