Bringing IFC to the Forefront: Bridging 2D and 3D for Every Estimator

In today’s construction industry, precision and efficiency are paramount. Quantity surveyors play a crucial role in ensuring accurate cost estimates, and with the rise of digital tools, Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) have become essential for working with 3D models. However, for IFC to truly become a universal standard, it needs to be accessible not only to large commercial projects but also to smaller builders and subcontractors. This article explores the value of IFC and how bridging the gap between 2D PDFs and 3D IFC models can make estimating easier for everyone.

In this short discussion, we explore how IFC is transforming the estimating process for quantity surveyors and why bridging the gap between 2D PDFs and 3D IFC models is so important.

IFC is becoming the go-to standard for data exchange in Building Information Modelling (BIM) when working with 3D models. Here’s why IFC is valuable to quantity surveyors:

• Interoperability: IFC files for 3D models can be used across multiple platforms, enabling collaboration between architects, engineers, and quantity surveyors. This improves accuracy and reduces miscommunication.
• Consistency: By using IFC, quantity surveyors can work directly with 3D models to extract accurate quantities, which ensures a higher level of precision, especially for complex structures.
• Versatility: While PDFs are the standard for sharing 2D plans, IFC allows estimators to seamlessly switch between 2D PDFs and 3D models when working on large commercial projects or smaller developments.

Bridging 2D and 3D Takeoffs: A Practical Approach

Commercial Projects: Leveraging Existing Models

In the commercial space, estimators typically have access to 3D models in IFC format, but they may still find it easier to extract quantities from 2D PDFs, which are the universal method of sharing 2D drawings.

• Many commercial estimators blend both 2D PDF takeoffs and 3D IFC models to gain a fuller understanding of the project.
• The flexibility of working with both formats allows them to cross-check quantities and ensure no details are missed, particularly in larger, more complex projects.

Smaller Projects: Dipping a Toe in the IFC Waters

For smaller projects, many builders and subcontractors are still working with 2D PDF floor plans. While they may not yet fully adopt 3D IFC models, they have the opportunity to begin experimenting with IFC for takeoffs and estimating.

• By gradually adopting IFC for 3D models, smaller project teams can explore more accurate 3D takeoffs while still relying on 2D PDFs for familiar reference points.
• This allows them to experience the benefits of 3D without fully abandoning their traditional 2D methods.

The Importance of Taking Off from Geometry, Not Just Model Data

One challenge with IFC is that different software platforms—such as Revit, Tekla, and Archicad—export IFC files for 3D models differently. This inconsistency means that relying solely on the information within the model can sometimes lead to errors or confusion.

Taking Off from Actual Geometry Reduces Errors

• Rather than depending on how the 3D model was structured by a particular software, quantity surveyors can focus on the actual geometry within the IFC file.
• This ensures that the quantities extracted are accurate, regardless of how the 3D model’s information was presented by the exporting software.
• By focusing on geometry, estimators reduce the risk of misinterpreting model data and avoid extrapolating incorrect information.

Using Estimators' Own Rates and Structures

For IFC to be widely adopted, it must integrate smoothly with the existing workflows of quantity surveyors. This includes the ability to easily import and apply their own rates and structures, which are often used in both 2D PDFs and 3D IFC models.

• Whether an estimator is working with rates from AIQS or their own internal systems, being able to apply these consistently to any project—big or small—is key to successful adoption.
• The ability to easily use pre-existing structures across all project types ensures that estimators can transition to IFC without needing to completely overhaul their estimating systems.

Conclusion: Making IFC Accessible to All Projects

For IFC to truly be adopted as a universal standard for 3D models, it needs to be accessible and easy to use across all project sizes—not just commercial developments. By maintaining an open standard and ensuring that technology allows quantity surveyors to use their own rates and structures across both 2D PDFs and 3D IFC models, IFC can bridge the gap between traditional 2D and modern 3D takeoffs. This enables estimators to deliver accurate, efficient estimates for any project, no matter its complexity or size.

At the forefront of this shift is CostMiner, a platform designed to support estimators in effortlessly working with both 2D PDF takeoffs and 3D IFC models. CostMiner makes IFC accessible not only to large-scale projects but also to smaller builders and subcontractors, making it a powerful tool for quantity surveyors looking to streamline their workflows.