An open, crowdsourced library of IFC/BIM test files.

The objective of this initiative is to identify, within the various BIM Platforms, ...

• ...what objects/functionality can be round-tripped currently.
• ...what objects/functionality could be prime candidates for round-tripping in the future.

Hopefully, in the future, this project will evolve to the point that it could be used as the basis for a new type of 'Roundtrip MVD'.

• What is an MVD?
• What are the current, sanctioned MVDs?

As it is open source, and crowdsourced, please add to the project as you see fit. As you can imagine, this is a BIG project.

...

The way i'm tackling it thus far, is to create a native object within a native authoring BIM program that tests one single function/attribute.

examples...

• wall linked/constrained to building elevations
• wall with unique header profile
• slab with a slope
• slab with a opening
• slab with different material profiles/layers
• door with a 2d swing profile
• etc.

The next step is to export out an IFC file using the authoring program's specific MVD settings (Coordination View 2.0 or FM handover, for example)

The next step is to import the test file into another BIM platform, again using a specific MVD setting. From here, I've denoted that if the translation has passed/failed (or partial) based on how much 'intelligence' remains intact upon import.

Although somewhat vague, (could use help tightening this definition), I define ‘intelligence’ as how easy/hard it would be to re-conjure or imbue the import object with the same functionality that was present in the export program.

I use the following logic for file naming (a logic that could change over time, open to ideas)...

• Authoring Program(Version,Element & Test)--Export Program(Version,MVD)--Import Program(Version,MVD)

Examples:

• Revit(2014,Wall(Base_Constraint('Level 1'),Top_Constriant('Level 2'))--IFCExporter(2_9_0,CV_2_0)--ArchiCAD(17,CV_2_0).pln
• ArchiCAD(17,Wall(Home_Link('1st FLOOR'),Top_Link('2nd FLOOR'))--ArchiCAD(17,CV_2_0)--Revit(2014,default).rvt

In terms of help, it would be great to work with other IFC enthusiasts who can either create native/IFC test files from their BIM platform of choice and/or import the IFC files from other platforms, and report results.

As i said before, i expect this project to evolve over time and am open to reinterpretations and reformatting of the approaches. Thus the beauty of open source--please fork at your fancy.

If you're not familiar with Git or Github workflow, I highly recommend using Github's Windows Client. Go here, for an overview. Once you start using this distributed revision control, you will start demanding similar workflows in the AEC industry.

Highly permissive! BSD, MIT... take your pick.