Information exchange is the process of exchanging and sharing information contained in the information model. The information included in the information model to be used and therefore express its value must be able to be exchanged and shared in a multidisciplinary context and according to the intended use of it. The information exchanges are designed and then fixed in guidelines that take into account the information needs and the software that must operate the information exchanges (transmission, reception).

The open formats

The information exchange can take place with different technologies and different formats. In general, open technologies and formats should be preferred. The open formats are created in compliance with the declared international standards and do not present legal restrictions for their use. Open formats provide a number of benefits, including:

• No link with specific software
• No limitation to free competition between operators in the sector
• Access to data and information always guaranteed, without time limitations

The most widely used open formats in the infrastructure industry are:

• IFC
• LandXML

The files (in open format) for information exchange are created starting from the information models (in proprietary format) managed by the design and modeling software. It follows that the quality of the information present in the information exchange files directly depends on the ability of the design/modeling software to manage the information modeling and to control the output exchange format.

The information exchange

Among the main information exchanges we find:

• As-Found: Land Information (e.g. topography, geology, GIS)
• Design: in a multi-disciplinary context for co-design activities (roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, hydraulics, etc.) and for coordination activities
• As-Built: for the modeling of the built
• Management and maintenance: for the delivery of information models for management, maintenance and disposal activities

When designing the format for information exchange, must be defined:

• Format version
• Domain (buildings, roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, ...)
• Spatial structure and positioning of entities within the structure
• Entities to be transferred
• Geometric representation of entities (shape)
• Information content of entities (data)

SierraSoft BIM Exchange

SierraSoft BIM Exchange is the software extension for the information exchange of models of land and transportation infrastructures.

Discover SierraSoft BIM Exchange >