Global harmonization of object-oriented libraries

From dev.ifd-library.org

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Contact information: 
Maarten van Hezik, Managing director STABU,  
Phone: +31 318 633026, fax: +31 318 635957, 
email: mvanhezik@stabu.nl

Global harmonization of object-oriented libraries: BARBi and LexiCon join hands

Amsterdam, 26 January 2006

The steering group for the Norwegian BuildingSMART project, represented by the Norwegian Homebuilder Association and STABU, signed a ‘letter of intent’ on 26 January 2006. Both representatives recognize the strategic advantages of collaboration for international support for libraries based on ISO 12006-3 (such as BARBi and STABU LexiCon), including validation of their content by several different parties, expansion of the number of languages and the implementation in different applications.

The language used for the Norwegian and the Dutch libraries is defined in the International Standard ISO 12006-3 Building construction - Organization of information about construction works: Framework for object-oriented information. After a project revising existing Norwegian classification tables concluded that there was a need to look at classification in a completely new manner, the BARBi (Bygg og Anlegg Referanse Bibliotek) project was initiated in January 1998. BARBi is a joint initiative for the Norwegian building industry led by the Norwegian Building Research Institute. In the Netherlands a lot of energy has gone into developing STABU LexiCon, which enables the exchange between computers of information regarding CAD drawings, building specifications and cost information. The great efforts of both countries have resulted in them each developing their object-oriented libraries more than other countries have done.

The supporters of BARBi and LexiCon have frequently discussed interpretation of ISO 12006-3 with each other. After two years of talks an agreement has been put on paper.

The parties intend to collaborate on the exchange of data in libraries based on ISO 12006-3, and to provide access to the content and semantic structures of each other's libraries. They will develop methods of exchanging content and semantic structures between each other's libraries and of allowing the inclusion and editing (without changing the meaning of concepts) of content and semantic structures in each other's libraries.

It is the mutual intention of both parties to ensure continued harmonization of the two libraries as content is further developed. By the end of the first year, a plan and methodology for continued harmonization must be in place, with funding ensured for harmonization. A BARBi-LexiCon exchange format will be developed.

With this new collaboration, the harmonization of global object-oriented libraries can be implemented through the International Framework for Dictionaries.

After signing the 'Letter of Intent', the collaboration between the BARBi and LexiCon object-oriented libraries was confirmed with a handshake between the managing director of the Norwegian Homebuilder Association, Per Jæger (left) and the managing director of STABU, Maarten van Hezik. Standing from left to right: Håvard Bell (project Manager BARBi), Frank Bartelds (Norwegian embassy) and Kees Woestenenk (project manager LexiCon).