Development and Utilization of Open Information Transfer Formats in Infrastructure Sector

Fluent information exchange between different work phases, software and systems used in infra construction is a key for successful execution of infra construction projects. Open and publicly available information formats with the determined data models aim to facilitate the interoperability between different software and systems developed by competitive vendors. While building and construction industry has developed and used IFC format for years, infrastructure sector has just recently started to target clear efforts on the development of open information formats for infra construction processes. In the paper, a new Inframodel3 extension just developed in Finland and based on the LandXML1.2 international standard is to be introduced. The aim of the Inframodel3 was set to meet the requirements of information transfer needed especially between BIM based design software, measurement systems and 3-D machine control systems used in road, railway and watercourse construction projects. Some test results are reported and evaluated in the paper. In the field of bridge engineering, the IFC format and IFC Bridge extension have been tested and evaluated in Finland. The results from the experiments show and verify as well the applicability of these open formats to the information exchange requirements in bridge engineering. The current limits for open information transfer of these formats are shown. The active co-operation with the International Building SMART Organization has led to the achieved status and position for both the Inframodel3 and IFC Bridge formats and hence the continuing international support provided by Building SMART.