BOSTON and BUDAPEST, Hungary, March 13, 2012 — (PRNewswire) —   buildingSMART® International, members of the Nemetschek Group, Tekla® and other leading software vendors joined forces to launch a global program to help promote Open BIM collaboration workflows throughout the AEC industry.

Open BIM is a universal approach to the collaborative design, realization and operation of buildings based on open standards and workflows. Open BIM is an initiative of buildingSMART and several leading software vendors using the open buildingSMART Data Model.

The Open BIM approach offers key benefits to the stakeholders of building projects:

• Workflow integration results in greatly reduced coordination errors compared to sheer file exchange-based coordination of the different disciplines.
• Project members can work with the best-of-breed solutions in their respective fields without risking "incompatibility" hence exclusion from certain BIM projects.
• Project members can maintain full control over software upgrades independently from their peers on the different AEC projects they participate in.
• Accessibility of BIM data is provided for the entire lifecycle of buildings including design, construction and operation.

The Open BIM program's aim is to help coordinate efforts related to the promotion and implementation of Open BIM collaboration workflows by providing common definitions, requirements and branding. AEC software vendors, AEC practices (designers, engineers, contractors) as well as AEC projects are all welcome to participate and use the OPEN BIM logo as a promise of successful and streamlined collaboration.

Companies participating in the Open BIM program from day #1 include buildingSMART International, Nemetschek companies including GRAPHISOFT, Nemetschek Allplan, Nemetschek Vectorworks Inc., Nemetschek Scia as well as Tekla a Trimble company and Data Design System. For more information, please visit: www.openbim.com, or join the OPEN BIM webinar organized by GRAPHISOFT, Tekla, and Data Design System on March 27.

About buildingSMART

BuildingSMART is a neutral, international and unique not-for-profit industry alliance supporting open BIM through the life cycle of a building. BuildingSMART has developed, maintains and issues certifications for the data model standard known as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The IFC standard was accepted by ISO (ISO/PAS 16739: 2005). Full ISO accreditation is in progress.

About GRAPHISOFT

GRAPHISOFT® ignited the BIM revolution with ArchiCAD®, the industry first BIM software for architects. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions such as the revolutionary GRAPHISOFT BIM Server™, the world's first real-time BIM collaboration environment, and the GRAPHISOFT EcoDesigner™, the world's first fully integrated building energy modeling application. GRAPHISOFT's innovative solutions have fundamentally changed the way architects around the world design and collaborate.  GRAPHISOFT has been a part of the  Nemetschek Group since its acquisition in 2007.

About Tekla

With its software, Tekla drives the evolution of digital information models and thus provides more and more competitive advantage to the construction, infrastructure and energy industries. The company was established already in 1966, and today it has customers in 100 countries, offices in 15 countries, and a global partner network. Tekla became part of Trimble Group in 2011. More information at www.tekla.com

About Nemetschek Allplan

Nemetschek Allplan is a leading European provider of intelligent IT solutions for architects, engineers, building contractors and facility managers. The core product - Allplan - is the platform for building information modeling (BIM) and optimally supports the seamless planning and construction of buildings in terms of quality, cost and time investment. The software is currently being used by 65,000 customers in 16 languages. Nemetschek Allplan is part of the Nemetschek Group, member of the buildingSMART Alliance and among the companies who initiated Open BIM.

About Nemetschek Scia

Scia Engineer is a leading Modelling, Analysis & Design solution for Structural Engineers by Nemetschek Scia, a member of the buildingSMART Alliance. It is the only Structural Analysis Software that is IFC 2x3 certified. Based upon a powerful 3D structural modeler engine with parametric forms, detailing views & drawings, it allows the design of industrial structure, infrastructure and low-to-high-rise buildings. The software has several international building codes integrated for the technical design and optimization of steel, concrete, timber, aluminum, multi-material constructions.

About Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.

Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nemetschek AG and has been developing software since 1985. The Vectorworks line of software products provides professional design solutions for more than 450,000 designers in the AEC, entertainment and landscape design industries. With a tradition of designing flexible, versatile, intuitive and affordable CAD and Building Information Modeling (BIM) solutions, Nemetschek Vectorworks continues to be a global leader in 3D design technologies

About Data Design System (DDS)

Since 1984 DATA DESIGN SYSTEM (DDS) has developed innovative and cost-efficient software solutions for building services professionals. DDS-CAD is a true BIM platform, compliant with open buildingSMART standards. The company's flagship product DDS-CAD MEP are available both as one integrated multidisciplinary solution and as separate solutions for each of the MEP disciplines (mechanical, electrical and plumbing). DDS' products are being used daily and successfully for MEP design and calculations in BIM projects world-wide.

About the Nemetschek Group

The Nemetschek Group, with ten strong brands, provides intelligent solutions for the international AEC sector. Nemetschek supports sustainable information technologies in all project phases and throughout the entire value chain. The Nemetschek Group is a member of the buildingSMART Alliance and supports Open BIM.

SOURCE GRAPHISOFT