The usability of digital building information models would improve if metadata could be added to them with tags – just like on social media. Arkkitehdit Sankari Oy is using prototypes to test tagging in building information models.

What kind of problem did this project try to solve?

The structure and naming conventions of BIMs, or digital three-dimensional building information models, are normally based on the internal data structure of modelling software. In addition, they are often developed using international standards and therefore do not correspond to the usual practices of the local construction industry in terms of structure or hierarchy, or to other information arrangement methods known to the users.

The users of a BIM would benefit from the possibility of adding metadata to the model with tags, in the same way as these are used on social media. This would improve the usability of BIMs during and after the modelling stage.

Objective: Enabling BIM users to add metadata by tagging

In this project, we experimented with adding metadata using tags, a concept familiar to many users through other media. We also tested how tagging could be utilised when saving information on data model objects.

A light and flexible metadata format improves the usability of models during and after the modelling stage. This would allow models to be utilised on a large scale by people other than construction sector professionals, too.

The project developed and tested the “tagging principle” itself. In addition, it explored the opportunities offered by easy-to-approach metadata through three tool development sprints. The project designed and tested saving tags into a BIM and automatic tag inheritance by object class, as well as creating various prototypes.

Who benefits?

Users of building information models, such as architects and construction engineers.

#BIMtag Agile progress from idea to impact: user’s readable metadata in BIMs
Duration: 17 March 2017–1 January 2018
Implemented by: Arkkitehdit Sankari Oy

Contact information

Antti Kauppi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Arkkitehdit Sankari Oy
Tel: +358 50 599 1068
Email: antti.kauppi(at)sankari.fi