IFC Schema Extension for BIM-based Automated Code Checking of Korean Design Standards for Bridges

In Korea, research initiatives have commenced to digitize engineering and construction codes, and automate their compliance using BIM models for mandatory submission in public projects. The initiatives require employing IFC, a neutral and standard data format, to associate individual codes with relevant BIM elements. However, the IFC does not provide explicit extensions to represent the varied codes, which include the Korean Design Standards (KDS) and the Korean Construction Specifications (KCS). To address this limitation, this study developed an extended IFC schema called ‘IFC-KR’, focusing initially on bridges. The extensions define subtypes to represent various types of bridges, structures, and elements, along with property sets that capture the relevant attributes and properties of 1,437 KDS codes. Moreover, a specialized extension module named ‘IFC-KR Toolkit’ has been developed to automate the addition of KDS data relevant to each element within the IFC Physical File. To validate the functionality of the module, KDS items were applied to an Extradosed (ED) cable-stayed bridge model. The results confirmed that all data were accurately integrated, and the extended data was consistently verified using a third-party IFC viewer, demonstrating its accuracy and interoperability.