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Tracking and restoring IFC identifiers in cross-platform BIM workflows : master thesis
ID Vehovec, Žiga (Author), ID Cerovšek, Tomo (Mentor) More about this mentor... This link opens in a new window, ID Česnik, Jure (Comentor)

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Abstract
The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard provides an open and durable basis for information exchange in Building Information Modelling (BIM). Its reliability depends on the persistence of the GlobalId (GUID – Globally Unique Identifier), which ensures stable references to model elements across versions and platforms. In practice, however, identifiers are frequently regenerated during routine modelling, parametric scripting, or import–export roundtrips. When identifiers change, elements are interpreted as new, links to associated information are lost, and comparison results become incomplete. This thesis analyses the conditions under which identifiers are altered and evaluates how selected BIM management platforms respond to such discrepancies. Empirical tests confirm that unstable identifiers are a recurring outcome of standard workflows. To address this issue, a custom Python-based analysis script was developed. The script compares two IFC versions, detects changes in geometry, placement, and properties of elements, and restores original GUIDs through a rule-based mapping process. The outputs include Excel audit reports and enriched IFC files that visualise and re-establish identifier continuity. Validation on simplified test cases and large-scale project models demonstrates that identifier mapping reliably recovers connections otherwise broken by regenerated GUIDs. The results confirm that identifier instability is a critical barrier to robust IFC-based workflows, while also showing that it can be transformed into a manageable process. By restoring identifiers, the method enables reliable change detection, stable information linkage, and a durable foundation for lifecycle-spanning project data management.

Language:English
Keywords:master thesis, BIM interoperability, BIM data integration, CDE, IFC data exchange, IFC identifiers, GUID discrepancies, tracking GUID, restoring GUID, change detection
Work type:Master's thesis/paper
Typology:2.09 - Master's Thesis
Organization:FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
Place of publishing:Ljubljana
Publisher:[Ž. Vehovec]
Year:2025
Number of pages:1 spletni vir (1 datoteka PDF (X, 87 str., 37 str. pril.))
PID:20.500.12556/RUL-173846 This link opens in a new window
UDC:004.42:69(043.2)
COBISS.SI-ID:251698691 This link opens in a new window
Publication date in RUL:24.09.2025
Views:158
Downloads:40
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Secondary language

Language:Slovenian
Title:Sledenje in obnavljanje identifikatorjev IFC v medplatformnih delotokih BIM : magistrsko delo
Abstract:
Standard Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) omogoča odprto in trajno osnovo za izmenjavo informacij med platformi za informacijsko modeliranje zgradb (BIM). Zanesljivost izmenjave ogosto temelji na obstojnosti identifikatorja GlobalId (GUID – Globally Unique Identifier), ki omogoča stabilno referenciranje elementov med različicami modela in programskimi okolji. V praksi pa se identifikatorji pogosto ponovno ustvarijo med rutinskimi operacijami pri modeliranju, parametričnim modeliranjem ali med uvozom in izvozom modelov. Elemente s spremenjenimi enolični identifikatorji programska orodja obravnavajo kot nova, kar povzroča napačno interpretacijo sprememb in nedoslednje primerjave. Še pomembneje pa je, da nestabilnost GUID-ov prekine povezave v BIM orodjih za vodenje projektnih informacij, kjer identifikatorji zagotavljajo vez z dokumenti, informacijami in opravili. Magistrsko delo raziskuje primere izgube identifikatorjev ter analizira odzive obstoječih orodij. Empirični testi potrjujejo, da so nestabilni GUID-i ponavljajoč izid standardnih delovnih procesov. Za obvladovanje problema je bila razvita skripta, ki primerja dve različici IFC modela, zazna spremembe v geometriji, poziciji in lastnostih elementov ter, kjer je mogoče, ponovno vzpostavi prvotne identifikatorje. Orodje omogoča izvoz preglednih Excelovih poročil ter IFC datotek s prikazom sprememb in obnovljenimi identifikatorji. Validacija na poenostavljenih in obsežnih projektnih modelih je pokazala, da lahko z uporabo skripte zanesljivo sledimo spremembam GUID-ov, pravilno prikažemo razlike in ohranimo povezave v BIM okoljih. Rezultati potrjujejo, da je nestabilnost GUID-ov ena ključnih ovir pri delovnih procesih z IFC datotekami, hkrati pa dokazujejo, da jo je mogoče z obnovo izvornih identifikatorjev obvladovati ter zagotoviti trajno povezovanje podatkov in dolgoročno upravljanje informacij skozi celoten življenjski cikel projekta.

Keywords:magistrska dela, interoperabilnost BIM, integracija podatkov v BIM, skupno podatkovno okolje (CDE), izmenjava podatkov IFC, identifikatorji IFC, odstopanja GUID, sledljivost GUID, obnavljanje GUID, zaznavanje sprememb, IfcOpenShell

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