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An International Agreement Supporting Building Information Modeling

March 1, 2008

GSA and their equivalents in Denmark, Finland, and Norway signed a historic document January 17, 2008 to support open BIM related research, development, and collaboration taking advantage of existing forums including buildingSMART (formerly IAI).

This initiative would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of Charles Matta and Calvin Kam in the Office of the Chief Architect and Stephan Hagen from the National Capital Region. Great thanks and congratulations.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is fast becoming an essential tool in project delivery and facilities management of any real estate portfolio. BIM generates finely detailed 3-D and 4-D computer building models. It can be layered to distinguish among systems and materials. It can be integrated with software to design HVAC systems and predict energy consumption. It can help customers visualize and fine tune the design of their spaces and the phasing of tenant moves. It can assist contractors with material take-offs and an understanding of construction details.

In the federal government, we benefit if this sophisticated computer modeling is built on an open standards platform enabling the seamless and accurate exchange of digital data across programs from different software developers. To this end, GSA is partnering with public real estate organizations in other nations to develop and ensure interoperability in BIM software and systems.

In an historically noteworthy event, an international agreement supporting this objective was executed with the public real estate organizations in Finland, Denmark and Norway. It was signed in Washington, DC, on January 17, 2009. Our partners in this agreement are Senate Properties (the Finnish public real estate enterprise), the Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority and the Directorate of Public Construction and Property in Norway.

Our commitment is "to initiate and participate in open BIM-related research, development, and collaboration efforts." This includes making our own construction projects accessible for piloting. We will also issue corresponding BIM requirements, open standards mandates, and adoption schedules with the goal of using these on a regular basis within two to four years. We will take advantage of existing forums to implement the agreement including The Workplace Network and the International Alliance for Interoperability. Other countries also plan to join in this effort.

This is a significant collaboration. It gives users a leadership role in the development of this important tool. And it promotes global cooperation and creativity.

You can find the latest on BIM at PBS at www.gsa.gov/bim.