Model Interoperability

AISC has recently come out in support of IFC as the preferred method for model data exchange (Reference "The New AISC Interoperability Strategy"; Modern Steel Construction, November 2011). 

Will IFC be interoperable with ISM?  How does Bentley plan to integrate IFC with the structural products?  Is Bentley planning on helping to steer the direction of IFC to foster interoperability between analysis and drafting? 

  • We do have plans to incorporate ICF import and export functionality through ISM.  The current plan is sort of a 2 phase approach. First a basic ISM export so that the information in a repository can be brought into various other applications that support IFC. That part should be available in just a few weeks. Then, in a second phase, the ability to import and track changes in a bi-directional way.