London, U.K. – November 23, 2020 – buildingSMART International is pleased to announce that the US Chapter has re-launched to drive broader adoption of open standards in the US market. With a focus on building and infrastructure projects, and in response to owner mandates and resolutions being passed to support Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and openBIM, buildingSMART International is supporting efforts to develop a new engagement model for the US market.
As the leading industry body in the digital transformation of the built asset industry, buildingSMART is committed to delivering open standards and interoperable solutions that meet growing industry demand. With the recent publication of Candidate Standards for IFC Bridge, IFC Road and IFC Rail, there is an increasing demand to adopt these international open standards locally in the US. This has driven the re-launch of the buildingSMART USA Chapter which is now actively seeking new members and recruiting participation in ongoing IFC, openBIM and openCDE standards development projects.
Ian Howell, the US Representative for buildingSMART International who is leading this initiative explained that “buildingSMART has previously operated under the auspices of the BIMForum and as the buildingSMART Alliance Committee under National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS). At this time the opportunity to re-establish the US Chapter as an independent, non-profit, professional association, buildingSMART USA, has presented itself. For too long our industry has been hindered by fragmentation between disciplines and trades and by proprietary systems that have siloed information which then cost our industry billions of dollars every year in change orders, cost overruns, project delays and rework. We welcome US companies, associations, public agencies, organizations and industry professionals to join us in our mission to bring the voice of US industry and US user requirements to the buildingSMART process to create and enhance open standards that provide interoperable solutions that will fuel the digital transformation of the built asset industry”.
“We are delighted to be announcing this re-launch and encourage organisations from the US industry to engage in our international efforts. We see the US as a strategic market, and we acknowledge that more needed to be done to involve it in our work. I believe that re-launching the US Chapter as an independent, not-for-profit entity will provide the right platform for ensuring that our standards meet the requirements of US industry and for promoting the broader adoption and use of open standards on building and infrastructure projects in the US,” said Richard Petrie, Chief Executive, buildingSMART International.
Visit the new US Chapter website: https://www.buildingsmartusa.org/
You can also subscribe to the US Chapter mailing list here: Sign me up.
To contact the US Chapter by email: USA@buildingSMART.org
About buildingSMART International
buildingSMART International is a vendor-neutral and not for profit body that leads the development of open digital information flows across the built asset industry. Its mission is to proactively support industry participants who want to develop open standards for planning, design, procurement, assembly and operation of buildings and infrastructure worldwide. It provides the international network plus the necessary technical and process support. Its members, who range from across the built environment spectrum, collaborate under the buildingSMART organization. buildingSMART is engaged with other international standards bodies such as ISO, the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). Its core Industry Foundation Class (IFC) standards achieved ISO approval in 2012.
About buildingSMART USA
As the newly re-established US Chapter, buildingSMART USA is chartered with bringing international open standards efforts into focus in the US as major global market through recruiting the support and participation of US Companies, Professionals, Industry Associations, Research Organizations, Academic Institutions and Government Agencies. Participation by US leaders of industry will help steer how the IFC, BCF, openBIM and openCDE international open standards are being defined to meet the needs of the US market and allow members to compete globally. A number of cross-discipline Industry Committees focus on information exchange requirements, work process optimization and managing interoperable digital data for the design, construction and operation of built assets. buildingSMART USA is also committed to education, training and professional certification of industry stakeholders to derive the full benefits of deploying open standards on US building and infrastructure projects.
buildingSMART International Press Contact:
aidan.mercer@buildingsmart.org
Aidan Mercer, +44 7181-304-3435
buildingSMART USA Press Contact:
Janice Do
janice.do@sbi.international
+1-626-679-6583