Xbim, a developer of Building Information Modelling (BIM) software services and platforms has been unveiled as the winner of Define Hackathon event – after demonstrating how its platform could integrate with a digital data dictionary to undertake a life cycle assessment
Six global construction software companies were involved in the Define Hackathon, which was hosted online over the course of two days by Norwegian software provider Cobuilder. Each company aimed to connect to the Templates API found in the Define data dictionary’s demonstration context.
All organisations participating in the hackathon explored a use case focusing on environmental data and looked at how Define’s API could help them obtain the information required to make carbon footprint calculations. This API integrated with each company’s digital solution or system before the results were showcased.
The winner needed to offer a practical and realistic solution to making the calculation relevant to the market and would provide value to end users. To achieve this, Xbim first validated a BIM model against properties from Define, ensuring a life cycle assessment could be made.
It then carried out an automated embodied carbon assessment, drawing on data from the model. Properties consistent with Define’s templates were augmented, and the results were visualised in Xbim’s cloud-based viewer – before its BIM model was extended using specifications and standards from Define.
Meeting complex environmental data collection requirements
Antony Brophy, UK business development director at Cobuilder, commented: “It was fantastic to see organisations connecting with our data dictionary and benefitting from the free flow of information this creates to meet complex environmental data collection requirements.
“Congratulations to the Xbim team – they presented a strong use case and we’re looking forward to seeing how we can work together moving forward.”
Demonstrating the value of building on open platforms
Martin Cerny, CTO at Xbim, added: “We were delighted to be part of the Cobuilder Define Hackathon. At Xbim we’re long-standing supporters of open standards and Open APIs to enable interoperability.
“Integrating Cobuilder’s Define APIs into our new ‘Flex flow’ BIM automation platform in this Hackathon to address real world challenges proved to be a great demonstration of the value of building on open platforms. Being announced as the winning team was the icing on the cake for us!”
London-based start-up Morta finished as runner-up in the Hackathon, while Norwegian technology company Catenda took third place.
The top three companies will present their use cases and findings in further detail during a Cobuilder webinar early next year.
