The document provides an overview of xbim Flex, an open BIM platform. It discusses how xbim helps partners accelerate product development and drive new revenue streams by moving applications to their Microsoft Azure cloud platform. xbim was founded by construction software experts to democratize building information use through open standards. The xbim Toolkit and Flex platforms are introduced, with Flex being a collaborative, cloud-based platform suited for applications needing to manage BIM data over project lifecycles. A demonstration of model differencing capabilities in Flex is provided, allowing change tracking between versions. Partnerships are discussed where xbim can help integrate Flex into existing software.

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Flex Overview
Wednesday 14th July 2021
Andy Ward

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Today’s webinar
• Introduction to xbim
• Summary of xbim Flex and Toolkit
• Working with BIM over time
• Demos
• Working with us
• Q&A

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What drives xbim?
Democratising the use of
building information from
design to operate, through
open standards

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How can xbim help you?
• We help partners accelerate product development to
launch new solutions
• We help partners to drive new revenue streams.
• We help partners move to the cloud via our enterprise
grade Microsoft Azure platform
• We provide “Process Automation” for BIM applications

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Founded by construction software experts
Andy Ward
CEO
Dr Martin Cerny
CTO
Prof Steve Lockley
CRO

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Open is in our DNA
Xbim Flex
Platform
launched
Ifc4x3 Support
Support for
Infrastructure
Linear Assets
BIM Workflow
and Micro
Services
BIM Automation
2020 :
Infrastructure,
Automation
- NetZeroFlow
Start of Cloud-
based version of
xbim
Professional
services for
Toolkit Users
2017 : xbim Ltd
founded
IFC4 support
New WebGL
Viewer
2015 : Viewpoint
Tier2Tier
DPoW
Support for BIM
Query Languages
Providing the
data for BIM
Library & DPoW
2014 : NBS BIM
Toolkit & National
BIM Library
COBie
Compatibility
Model Federation
Moved to GitHub
2012 : 4Projects
4BIM
Developed in
conjunction with
UNN
Introduced a
HTML5 web
viewer
Open sourced
with Commercial-
use licence
2010 : Released
Open Source with
4Projects
Initial .NET
version of XBIM
Capable of
reading and
writing IFC
models
2007 : Prof Steve
Lockley authors
XBIM Toolkit

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Toolkit
Flex
Cloud
Platform
Hidden
costs
&
effort
Your magic
goes here!
Our magic
works here!
Servers
Model
Processing
Workflows
Security &
Permissions
Collaboration
Backups
3D Viewer
Storage
BIM Features & Data
Versioning
Your unique
BIM Service
Cloud APIs
Reporting

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So what does xbim do?
BIM files from design tools. E.g.
• Autodesk Revit
• Tekla, Bentley etc
• Specialist Engineering tools
Data
3D /
wexbim
Flex Cloud
Platform
Dat
a
3
D
Dat
a
Data
3
D
wexbim
Docs
OpenBIM Standards
(IFC, COBie, BCF)
Open source software
library for IFC, COBie
etc.
Used by software
developers
Collaborative, cloud-
based OpenBIM Platform
and OpenAPI
Useful BIM data
A BIM
“Data warehouse”

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Benefits of the Flex Cloud Platform
• 100% based on OpenBIM, IFC
• Transforms BIM files into a writable “database”
• Highly scalable ‘serverless’ model processing
• Powerful querying and data interrogation
• Audit trails and BIM model history
• Estate/Portfolio data-model
• Simple and quick to develop services
• Multi-user, multi-tenant
• Sophisticated role-based access control
• Full control over data sovereignty
• Technology agnostic (Open API)
• Support and expertise of the xbim Team

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Which is best for me? Toolkit or Flex?
xbim Toolkit is great for:
• Fine-grained control over the full IFC Schema
• Creating new IFC models
• Standalone Windows .NET applications/integrations
• Short term transactional processing of BIM data
xbim Flex is ideally suited to:
• Moving BIM applications to “the cloud” (especially Toolkit apps)
• Projects with rapid “time to market” needs
• Collaborating around large ‘federated’ models
• When your software team are not .NET specialists
• Overcoming challenges managing BIM Data over a project
lifecycle. i.e. AIM/CAFM use cases

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xbim Flex – A BIM data management platform
Tackling chaos in BIM information management

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Model Differencing
● Models are “point in time” snapshots of a building database
● We often want to understand:
○ What changed since the last version?
■ What did we add & remove? Was it intended?
■ What elements changed specification/geometry and why?
○ How can I track continuity of elements across versions?
■ If we referenced a system in Concept Design, how can we find it at Handover?

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Tracking changes – why so hard?
1. How can we tell if two items are the same? What is their Identity?
2. How can we tell what is a significant change? What is the Change?
PLUS
● Lack of context: We don’t have the full audit trail / history
● Models are large files/databases: naïve approaches take too long

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How to compare models
Create a mapping
between the “same”
items
• A1 = A2
• B1 = B2
• C1 = <lost>
• D2 = <new>
Identify the relevant
differences
•Domain specific!
•A1.Cost <> A2.Cost
•B1.Material <> B2.Material
Create a report
•Police the changes
•BCF Issues etc.
•Profit!

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How to tell if two items in a model are the same…
● Labels / IDs in IFCs are unstable
● Are GUIDs the answer?
○ Are they stable? Are they unique?
● Unfortunately not!
○ End-user processes (cut & paste)
○ Export bugs/limitations
○ Remodelling & tendering etc.

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How to tell if two items in a model are the same…
● Needs a heuristic approach:
○ GUIDs - + sanity checking
○ Tags - using tool-specific ID conventions
○ Names – Is it uniquely named?
○ Classifications – Can I find a similar Ss_25_30 Door system
○ Semantic relationships – Can I recognise a level from its spaces
○ Spatial relationships / placement – Is this element in the same location
○ Geometry similarities – Is this geometry similar?
○ + Human intervention – I can’t tell, can you?
Lost
• Design Change
• Mis-config
• Design error
Found
• Design Change
• Export change
• Mis-config
Mapped
• Success
• We can
compare these!
Not
Sure
• Ambiguous
results
• Help required!
WHAT has
changed?

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Determining what has changed
● “The only constant in life is change”
● What is a change is specific to your use case
○ Specification / Type data
○ Quantities, Cost, Schedule
○ Placement/Geometry
○ LoD/LoI
● Much easier to test when you know the mappings!

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Flex Platform & Differencing Demo

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We’re looking for partners
We’re looking for:
● Use cases for Flex Workflow
● Existing software business or
function serving the building industry
with BIM needs
● Identifiable clients and projects
● Early adopters of Flex Workflow
Our business model:
● Partner with software businesses and
BIM specialists in the sector
● Jointly work with partners to help
them build & integrate a viable service
● Provide the Flex Platform on a
commercial subscription

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Q & A
Any questions on the Zoom chat?

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Thank you
Get in touch
andy.ward@xbim.net
@xbim_ltd
11 Lansdowne Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne