buildingSMART International are very pleased to announce that Bricsys have joined as members.

Bricsys is the author of BricsCAD – a CAD platform 100% based on the .dwg file format – which is unofficially the standard file format in the Architecture, Engineering, Contractor (AEC) industry. For the last 4 years Bricsys has integrated a 3D direct modeling technology, a modern technique allowing extremely intuitive 3D modeling by using solids. This innovative technology brings .dwg users to the next level of engineering.

Since the Bricsys team was one of the first to develop a BIM software – formerly known as TriForma running on MicroStation – it has always has been their goal to come up with new intuitive BIM solution, where the model can be created in the preliminary stage of a project but then still will be used till the ultimate delivery of the building project. Along that process it is used to link more data and generate all the necessary documents and reports: 2D sections, details, bill of materials, etc.

Additionally a deep integration with a SaaS based modelserver solution – provided by its sister company Chapoo – allows teams to collaborate. Chapoo contains the same SQLite database as BricsCAD BIM and synchronizes on demand with what the users check in. It has a 3D viewer allowing to explore the full project to the latest detail for both the geometry as for the data and the link between.

Bricsys not only complied for IFC certification of its BIM software but also decided to become an international member of Building Smart Ltd. Bricsys is a strong believer of the ‘open data” principle. Today it is no longer acceptable to lock-in users. Software providers has to collaborate and open up all information to all participants of a project. Bricsys considers buildingSmart as the centre point of this process. It wants to contribute where possible in order to propagate the vision and values of buildingSMART.

Erik De Keyser, CEO of Bricsys and Chapoo added: “ We are excited to be international members of buildingSMART. We see it as our responsibility to give the .dwg community access to the huge potential of the BIM approach. There are hundreds of .dwg based engineering applications for the AEC space. We want to guide them to openBIM. We very recently have released a set of API’s in order to bring them closer to IFC certification and become part of this openBIM journey. We will continue to help and support them. In reverse this will strengthen the use of the standards created by buildingSMART”

Richard Petrie, Chief Executive of buildingSMART welcomed Bricsys to the community. “As well as looking forward to Bricsys being a great support to the development of open digital solutions, because they have chosen the international membership category, they will also be contributing to the activities of our Australasian, German speaking, Japanese, Spanish and United States Chapters“.