bSDD and the Quest for Open Standards

Today, I’ve got a tale fresh from the high seas of BIM standards! While plundering the depths of the bSDD (that’s the buildingSMART Data Dictionary, for ye landlubbers), I came across a buried question that might just change how we all think about sharing knowledge and intellectual property on the open waters of data exchange. So hoist the sails and ready the cannons, because we’re about to sail into uncharted waters!

The Quest for Linked Data Freedom

I’ll wager most of ye scallywags have faced the same vexing problem I have: entering the same bits and bobs of data into different databases until yer eyes go cross. It’s a cursed task! That’s why I, your trusty BIM Pirate, have taken a keen interest in the land of linked data—a way to bridge these cursed silos and keep us from endlessly duplicating data entry. And what better standard to test this with than SIA416, Switzerland’s own area classification from the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects? A fine choice, right? Only there be a problem.

The Rub of Intellectual Property

Here’s the rub, lads and lasses: while SIA416 is well-worn and widely used, it’s not exactly free for the takin’. Though it’s a de facto tool in Switzerland, I’m no more the license holder than a shark owns the sea! Legally, I can’t just waltz into bSDD and upload SIA416’s sacred contents. So what’s a clever pirate to do? Abandon the quest? Beg for permission? Nay! I decided to take matters into me own hands and crafted a new classification system all me own.

A New Way to Think About Space Classification

With a wink and a swig o’ grog, I rolled up me sleeves and got to work. Instead of the usual ‘noun-based’ fare (ye know the sort: “Office Space” and “Storage Room”), I turned the whole idea upside down. Instead, I asked meself: What do people actually do in these spaces? And that, mates, is how I ended up with an activity-based approach to space classification.

Imagine: instead of calling it “Office Space,” we call it “Working Space,” covering all the professional things people do in there, from thinking deep thoughts to typing away. It’s simple, easy to understand, and leaves less room for scurvy confusion.

The Treasure Map: Structuring with a New Friend

Now, ye may think creating a classification system takes days, but I had a little help from a new mate: Claude AI. Between us, we managed to whip up a whole structure in under two hours, JSON format and all. That’s what I call efficiency!

In the end, I walked away with a fresh take on space classification that focuses on what folks do in a space rather than what that space is. This subtle twist could very well change how people think about categorizing spaces in BIM—and perhaps inspire others to think about data standards with the same pirate spirit!

Now, Here Be the Burning Questions

This little escapade brought up some mighty important questions for our seafaring minds to ponder. If standards like SIA416 are so widely used, should we really be paying a king’s ransom just to access them? Why must we pirates keep shelling out doubloons for standards that practically everyone in our industry needs?

Ask yerself this: Is the current business model for standards fair, or has it gone stale as last week’s hardtack? In this digital age of ours, where information flies faster than a cannonball, shouldn’t these standards be more accessible? Could we chart a new course toward open-source standards that any BIM pirate, from here to the horizon, could use freely?

Quality Control or Just Hoarding the Booty?

Of course, some might say the treasure chest of licensing keeps quality in check and funds future improvements. But who’s to say open standards wouldn’t be just as high quality with the community behind them? Just look at the world of open-source software! Could we not do the same for our BIM standards?

So, What’s the Verdict, Crew?

As we set sail on these questions, I leave ye with this: what’s more valuable to our industry—accessible knowledge or licensed lockboxes? Should we break the chains of proprietary standards and sail free, or is there a price worth paying for “official” norms?

Share yer thoughts, me hearties! The seas of BIM are vast, and there’s room for many a bold opinion. Should we sail toward open standards, or keep to the traditional business model that guards the treasure? Mark me words, I’ll be keeping a weather eye out for yer thoughts!

Fair winds and full sails,

Links:

https://identifier.buildingsmart.org/uri/abstract/BuildingSpaceActivityClassification/

https://github.com/simondilhas/Building-Space-and-Activity-Classification-System