Building Environment Division

Computer Integrated Building Processes Group

Overview

The Computer Integrated Building Processes Group (CIBP) at NIST promotes advancements in the capabilities of the U.S. building industry by developing measurement science, methods, protocols and testbeds related to information, communication, sensing and automation technologies and improved work processes. Research topics include: building information modeling and interoperability; building controls and emergency management; construction productivity; product data standards and project data standards, e.g., IFCs and CIS/2; intelligent and automated construction job site; integrated and automated project delivery; real-time project control; semantic modeling, systems integration, validation testing and conformance testing. The group works with industry and the research community to apply research results to improving the design, construction and operation of the built environment.

Employment Opportunities

BFRL Careers
Jobs in the Building Environment Division: flyer, details
Postdoctoral Positions: Computer Integrated Building Processes, Construction Integration and Automation Program
Guest Researcher Programs: Domestic, Foreign

For more information contact: Mark Palmer

Project Information

Some of the projects are part of the CONSIAT: Construction Integration and Automation Technology program which is part of the strategic priority area Measurement Science for Breakthrough Improvements in Construction Productivity.

The other BFRL groups that participate in CONSIAT are the Construction Metrology and Automation Group and the Office of Applied Economics. The other projects from those groups that are part of CONSIAT are:

The FIATECH project, Automating Equipment Information Exchanges (AEX) focuses on providing a standard way to exchange data, so that it is available for reuse over the lifecycle of a facility by different stakeholders and varied software packages. To accomplish this the project is developing XML specifications to automate information exchange among various software systems that support capital facility equipment engineering, procurement, construction, and operations and maintenance (EPCOM) work processes. These XML specifications standardize the names of equipment types and their attributes such as those found on common industry equipment data sheets. Industry software owners will be able to use the AEX project results to construct industry-standard software automation interfaces at reasonable cost using readily available, low-cost XML software development tools. Automated data interfaces between software systems will enable significant reductions in manual transcription costs and the occasional, but costly transcription errors. The economic benefits for industry deployment of these XML specifications are estimated to be substantial.

The General Buildings Information Handover Guide and the Capital Facilities Information Handover Guide define methodologies for defining the information requirements for the full facility life cycle to develop and implement an information handover plan for a specific general building or capital facility project. This is accomplished by: (1) establishing an overall facility life cycle information strategy, (2) determine the business requirements for information to be handed over at each life cycle stage, (3) develop a handover plan, and (4) implement the handover. IT developments for the ways in which faciliy information can be specified and managed means that the handover of information can be greatly improved, particularly in relation to its reusability and its quality assurance.

The CIMsteel Integration Standards (CIS/2) is the product model and data exchange format for structural steel project information. It has been adopted by the American Institute of Steel Construction as their format for interoperability. CIS/2 has been implemented by many steel design, analysis, engineering, fabrication, and construction software packages to create a seamless and integrated flow of information among all parties of the steel supply chain involved in the construction of steel framed structures.

NIST has helped software vendors implement the standard; helped steel designers, detailers, and fabricators use the standard; and has contributed to the future directions of the standard. The CIS/2 to VRML translator has been developed to help software developers verify their CIS/2 file export and to help end-users in their work process.

The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) are the product data model developed by buildingSMART to facilitate interoperability in the building industry. NIST has developed a CIS/2 to IFC translator to assist software developers in implementing IFC entities related to structural steel and to help end-users move CIS/2 information into IFC importing applications.

Modern day buildings contain vast amount of static and real time data. Static information such as building schematics are vital for security and rescue reasons. There is an increasing need for first responders to be instantly alerted of building alarms so that actions can be performed promptly. Other features include the ability to remotely control building devices and processes. The Building Information Services and Control System (BISACS) project is created to demonstrate how a conglomeration of software modules can be integrated to realize many of these goals.

Visualization Research

The Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) is used for the visual representation and simulation of construction and building related models, activities, and processes. A VRML plugin detector has been developed to check if your web browser is properly configured to be able to view VRML models.

If you're interested in your own local copy of most of the VRML models below, then download this free zip file to your computer. Unzipping the file will create a directory nist_cic_vrml. Use a web browser to load the file index.html in that directory to find the VRML models.

Structural Steel Product Models

CIS/2, IFC, VRML, and X3D research and the CIS/2 to VRML and IFC Translator

Construction Site

NIST Fire Research Facility Emissions Control System (ECS) showing a simulation of the construction process

Construction Equipment

User-controlled excavator, tower crane, and dumptruck

Virtual Cybernetic Building Testbed

Simulation of the Virtual Cybernetic Building Testbed

Publications

Staff

Mark Palmer, Group Leader
Carolyn Mudano, Secretary
Robert Lipman
Alan Vinh
Kenway Chen

Former Staff
Kent Reed
Jim Barnett
Edwin Begley
Sebastian Palacios (SURF)
Manoj Mishra (GR)
Marcelo Azambuja (GR)
Jens Bakoczy (GR)
Andreas Besier (GR)
R. Otto Barnes (STD)

Other

Mark Palmer has won several awards: (1) FIATECH 2006 STAR Award for Technical Leadership in recognition of his significant contribution to many of the FIATECH initiatives and his leadership of the AEX Project, (2) 2005 NIST William P. Slichter Award for outstanding achievements by NIST staff in building or strengthening ties between NIST and industry, and (3) 2003 International William J. Conroy Standards Professional Award.

NIST in Your Community (Construction Productivity)

Group History (PDF), IGES

BFRL Highlights featuring the group: November 2008, October 2008, February 2008, May 2007, March 2007, October 2005, May 2005, November 2004, January 2004, April 2003, October 2002, September 2002, September 2001

Old versions of the group web pages

Web statistics (NIST only)