There is much talk about Universal Scene Description (USD) overtaking Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) or the potential for IFC5 to adapt by integrating USD capabilities. But what exactly is USD, and why is it crucial for the digital transformation of the construction industry? Furthermore, IFC5, the latest iteration of the IFC data schema, promises to be a major leap forward in managing and exchanging information for Building Information Modeling (BIM).
This article we’ll showcase the fundamentals of USD and IFC5, explore their latest developments, and consider how these two frameworks might converge to revolutionize the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.
What is USD and why is it important?
Universal Scene Description (USD) is an open-source framework originally developed by Pixar for encoding and managing 3D scene data. Designed for the demanding workflows of the film and animation industry, USD supports layered editing, non-destructive composition, and real-time rendering. Over time, USD has transcended its entertainment roots, finding applications in industries like automotive design, gaming, and now, the construction industry.
USD in construction
Although used primarily in the entertainment industry, the construction industry is eyeing USD as a tool for visualization and collaboration, especially in client-facing presentations and immersive project simulations. By integrating USD into BIM workflows, stakeholders can experience real-time, high-quality 3D visualizations of their projects, enhancing decision-making and communication.
Key Features of USD
- Efficient Data Management: USD enables users to layer and compose 3D assets, allowing multiple teams to work simultaneously without overwriting each other’s work.
- Interoperability: USD is compatible with various software, making it a powerful format for visualizing and interacting with 3D assets.
- Scalability for Real-Time Applications: USD handles complex datasets efficiently, ideal for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
What is IFC and the next iteration (IFC5)
Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) is the leading open standard for exchanging BIM data. Managed by buildingSMART International, IFC ensures interoperability among BIM tools, enabling seamless collaboration between architects, engineers, and contractors. With IFC5, the standard is poised for its most significant update yet.
IFC5
IFC uses a standardized semantic structure to represent both physical building components and their relationships, ensuring comprehensive and connected datasets. By adopting an object-based modeling approach, IFC enables precise analysis and interoperability across various BIM tools, facilitating seamless collaboration among stakeholders.
In practice, IFC files are created in BIM authoring tools and exported for exchange, allowing different disciplines to use the same foundational data for tasks such as structural analysis, clash detection, or quantity takeoffs. This workflow ensures that all project participants can coordinate effectively, reducing errors and improving project efficiency.
IFC plays a critical role in ensuring data consistency, interoperability, and collaboration in the AEC industry. By providing a common language for BIM data exchange, it bridges the gap between different software ecosystems, enabling more efficient and coordinated workflows.
Key IFC5 updates
- Enhanced Modularization: IFC5 introduces a modular approach to its schema, simplifying data exchange by breaking down complex building models into smaller, manageable components.
- Improved Performance for Large Projects: Optimized workflows and streamlined schemas make IFC5 better suited to handle the massive datasets common in large-scale infrastructure projects.
- New IFC5 Viewer: A state-of-the-art viewer supports better interaction with BIM data, offering faster and more intuitive navigation of 3D models.
Check out the Future of IFC5 on the buildingSMART International Forum
| Concept | USD | IFC5 |
| Primary Use Case | Visualization, real-time rendering, and 3D asset management. | Data exchange and collaboration for BIM workflows. |
| Focus | Asset-centric workflows with layered, non-destructive edits. | Building-centric workflows with detailed semantic metadata. |
| Openness | Open-source, with growing adoption across industries. | Open standard, backed by buildingSMART International. |
| Flexibility | Highly customizable via plugins and extensions. | Standardized schema ensures consistency across tools. |
| Performance | Optimized for real-time and interactive applications. | Enhanced performance for handling large BIM datasets. |
IFC has come a long way in standardizing and organizing construction information. It has been instrumental in enabling seamless data exchange across various BIM tools and disciplines. However, the complexity and comprehensive nature of IFC files can sometimes pose challenges, particularly when it comes to efficiently creating, editing, or managing large datasets. For smaller projects or those requiring rapid iteration, this can become a daunting task for professionals who need a streamlined workflow.
A potential link between IFC5 and USD represents an exciting opportunity to address these challenges. By leveraging USD’s real-time rendering and asset-centric management capabilities, professionals could exchange project information more efficiently and intuitively. For those who primarily need to transmit simplified project data—such as clients or subcontractors who do not require the full semantic depth of IFC—this integration would provide a much-needed bridge. The result would be faster communication, less reliance on intricate project coordination, and a reduced learning curve for stakeholders not deeply embedded in BIM workflows.
The ability to simplify workflows without sacrificing quality or interoperability is precisely what the AEC industry needs as it pushes for greater digitalization. USD’s flexibility, combined with IFC5’s rigor and semantic richness, could unlock entirely new paradigms for managing and sharing construction information. From immersive client presentations to efficient design iterations, the collaboration between these frameworks would make BIM more accessible to a wider range of professionals while preserving its core strengths.
In summary, USD and IFC5 are not competitors but potential allies. Together, they could transform how the construction industry approaches data exchange, visualization, and collaboration. For BIM professionals and stakeholders, the convergence of these technologies offers the promise of simpler, more efficient workflows and greater innovation across all phases of the project lifecycle. The future of digitalization in construction looks brighter—and more interconnected—than ever.
You can also take a course to know IFC5 insights, check it out!
Enroll in the IFC5 course, by buildingSMART.org
