Frequently Asked Questions
What are the goals of the buildingSMART alliance?
The buildingSMART alliance was established to improve all aspects of the facility and infrastructure lifecycle by promoting collaboration, technology, integrated practices and open standards. Our collective goal is open interoperability and full lifecycle implementation of building information models. The focus is to guarantee lowest overall cost, optimum sustainability, energy conservation, and environmental stewardship to protect the earth's ecosystem.
The Alliance has four strategic goals:
- Create a strong industry presence and recognition for the buildingSMART alliance vision and mission and the programs to support and achieve them.
- Connect major participants of the building industry in a stakeholder activity model that promotes improved information exchange processes.
- Implement and support coordination of candidate open standards and guidance to ensure information flows throughout the lifecycle of the building to all stakeholders.
- Develop a consensus infrastructure to advance open industry standards for interoperability and collaboration between practitioners.
Who should be involved?
Anyone involved in the real property and/or building industry will find value in bSa's work and the development of industry standards — and to be successful bSa needs the participation of all industry segments. Property owners, designers, facility managers, government and stakeholder groups will all benefit by participating in bSa.
Why was the buildingSMART alliance established?
There are profound changes coming to the building industry — the effective development of standards and lifecycle modeling will help drive needed efficiency and eliminate waste. bSa was established to develop the standards needed to modernize the industry and to ensure that all industry segments are represented in the process.
How do I join the Alliance?
Whether you are a student, individual, corporation, organization or agency, you can become a member of bSa. There are also sponsorship opportunities available. Simply go to the participants section, sign up online and pay your participation fee.
How do I get involved in a project?
To get involved in a specific project, go to the Get Involved section of the website and fill out the interest form. Your completed form will be sent to the coordinator of the group in which you have an interest. Be sure to include include background about yourself and your interests relevant to the project when filling out the form so that your talents can most effectively be put to work.
Do I have to be a member of the buildingSMART alliance in order to participate on a project team?
Yes, you do. We do need resources to make the buildingSMART alliance work and that is one of the reasons we need you to join. The good news is that you can participate at a level comfortable to you and your membership dues will be contributing to something worthwhile. The National Institute of Building Sciences is a non-profit 501.c.3 organization.
If I join buildingSMART alliance can I drop participation in other councils?
Unfortunately, no. The work being done in other councils is still important and critical to the ultimate outcome. The Alliance will have projects that bring together efforts in the individual market segment groups as well as help to fund the extra resources needed to connect to other group efforts, which will ultimately provide the overall interoperability we are seeking.
Where will the money go?
We are very focused on ensuring that the majority of the money raised will go toward products that can help the industry meet our common goals of interoperability. Some of that will be through direct grants to others and some will be directed toward funding staff to coordinate work for the programs and projects to be undertaken by the buildingSMART alliance.
Who decides where the money will be directed?
The bSa Board of Direction decides. The Board is made up of individuals like yourself. If you are a member of bSa and interested in being involved with the Board of Direction, please contact us.
