Integrated architectures for IFC interoperability and legacy BIM migration with a deterministic IFC2X3 data-quality pilot
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Interoperability remains a persistent limitation in Building Information Modelling (BIM) because Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) exchanges can preserve file syntax while losing or misrepresenting geometry, properties, quantities, and relationships. This study makes an architectural contribution by defining two proposed systems: the Globe-IFC framework for core-schema and regional rule governance, and the Legacy-IFC Bridge for traceable migration of legacy information into IFC. Evidence combines a structured 95-study review, a cross-industry comparison, a deterministic data-quality pilot, and a de-identified practitioner survey (n = 26). The pilot evaluated 300 seeded elements from three professional IFC2X3 steel models. Class-matched LoadBearing properties were present in 255/300 elements, positive Length properties in 200/300, recognized material grades in 210/300, and identifiers and relationship participation in 300/300. The structural-class check served as the sampling eligibility filter and was therefore satisfied by all 300 sampled elements by design. Two investigators independently annotated every sampled element and the retained manual dataset is the reconciled consensus baseline, which the automated implementation matched exactly. The manual–automated agreement is interpreted only as implementation consistency rather than validation of the proposed AI components. For C1280, no positive Length was returned through the R5 extraction pathway, but inspection of six sampled elements confirmed dimensional Span properties in Pset_BeamCommon and Pset_MemberCommon. Therefore, the 0/100 R5 result reflects how dimensions were represented and extracted rather than absence of dimensional information from the model. Survey respondents primarily used IFC for coordination (12/26), rated legacy integration highly (mean 4.31/5), and rated automated error-resolution tools highly (mean 4.46/5). The findings support the relevance of the proposed integrated IFC-interoperability workflow for infrastructural development and building design, while showing that AI regulatory updating, machine-learning validation, and blockchain provenance remain future components requiring separate empirical evaluation.
Source: Scientific Reports
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W7222879145
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