Journal-7_COBie - A Detailed Analysis

Introduction:

For UK projects BIM strategy was published in June 2011 by UK government. By 2016, the government had made it clear that it would require collaborative 3D BIM on all of its projects requesting all project and asset information, documentation, and data being electronic. The UK National Annex to BS EN ISO 19650-2 stated that non-geometric data exchanges in open data formats should be structured using the Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) standards detailed in the report In January 2019. (Hamil, 2018) This research paper will explore the different aspects of COBie.

COBie - The roots in history

William East, the creator of COBie, authored an initial standard in 2007. The main objective of this pilot project was an efficient handover to the building owners, residents and facility managers to facilitate them an efficient constructed asset. To align with international standards for data and classification, it became COBie in 2008. (Wilkinson, 2021)

COBie - Why it is required?

Once the built asset is in service, the related data is essential. This data includes apparatus lists, product information pieces, assurances, emergency components lists, proactive maintenance plans and so on. From the point of origin, COBie helps to document all these records. (Wilkinson, 2021)

COBie - Documents vs Data

a)??????Information > Authoring Re-usability > One input, Many outputs

COBie process allows authoring Re-usability that helps many outputs having single input only.

b)?????Structured > Management Checkability > One input, Many checks

COBie is structured in such a way that it could lead as many as possible management checks.

c)??????Sharing > Strategic Interoperability > One format, Many paths

COBie facilitates sharing alternatives with strategic interoperability. (Nisbet, 2021)

In conclusion, the author states that COBie is a more effortless and more straightforward format for END users.

COBie - Standard representation for life cycle management of facilities

COBie could be used for any project (small or large), either New, refurbished or existing. ?

Moreover, COBie could be adopted by Building, Infrastructure or Landscape etc.

In addition to this, all tiers of the design chain, the supply chain, the ownership, and the operation chain use COBie.

Finally, any CIC stage, especially CIC 6: Handover, is suitable for COBie use.

BS1192 part 4, Defines the UK use of COBie Support in 2015 by

·????????The client purposes (EIR) that are to be supported

·????????Uniclass 2.4: 2015

·????????The digital plan of work

COBie - How does it work

a)??????Import process:

As a facility building project, COBie helps to produce the data for the BIM process. BIM user imports the COBie data with the help of BIM tools for the project. This import procedure could distinguish by asset, location of the project, key contacts, and job plans.

COBie data, which is defined in.CVS or. XLS files are a series of data fields organized in a spreadsheet with multiple worksheets. Each worksheet corresponds to a COBie table. Users can import data from the following COBie tables:

Facility, Floor, Space, Component, Type, System, Zone, Attribute, Contact, Document, Job, Tools in the Resources table and Assembly.

b)?????Guidelines for a productive import:

Following are the guidelines for a successful import of COBie data:

o??Stick to the bare minimum table obligations

The services and floor lists are essential to import COBie information. Use the components table to collect the data required to support business processes.

o??Distinctive model IDs are essentials

All spaces and assets require a model ID. Model IDs should identify each model element uniquely. This area is filled from the COBie ExtIdentifier column.

o??Use unique table IDs.

For matchless ID, one or more columns have been used by COBie; It is recommended to use individual id for Tables referenced by other tables. With some design tools, unique IDs might not be available.

o??Space needs to be defined carefully

All the components must be referred to a space in the COBie specification. Having a space definition is a must in COBie.

o??Careful and consistent standardized categorization

Unified classification systems such as OmniClass or Uniformat should be used in all project contracts. The import functionality equates the value for the Category attribute in the COBie records to the ideals in the classification tables in the database lists.

o??Large files and buildings break-up strategy.

The import utility accepts multiple files, such as architectural, mechanical, and plumbing (MEP) and facility model files, for input and reunites them. In some COBie exchange tools, the size of models is restricted. Operators can divide a larger file into several smaller files and produce COBie data from each file.

o??Avoid the import of needless attributes.

Specific attributes are not mandatory to use COBie data. Careful design and planning of import can avoid the import of redundant attributes. (IBM, 2020)

COBie - Colour Codes

COBie Colour Laws, filed data could be classified as follows:

o??Required – Yellow: User must always fill these.

o??Reference to another sheet or picklist – Salmon: Denotes records associated with other worksheets or pick lists

o??External reference – Purple: Denotes fields populated to create the association between the authoring tool and the COBie file. The Globally Unique Identifier makes it possible to link up graphical features and data features.

o??If specified as required – Green: Denotes areas needed for the phases discovered in the matrix underneath.

Figure 1 - A typical COBie datasheet colour-coding system (East, 2013a).

Conclusion

COBie was developed by Bill East in 2007, since then there are a lot of improvements has been incorporated. This paper explored different aspects of COBie starting from the history, requirement, document vs data, standard life cycle management, the working and Colour codes of the COBie process. The author states that although COBie is a user-friendly and user-friendly approach, there is a lack of proper training.