The Data Backbone of BIM: Semantics and Interoperability in the Built Environment

This talk explores how semantics and interoperability strengthen BIM workflows, beginning with a comprehensive walkthrough of the methodology, including its standards, specifications, and domains of application. A detailed analysis of the IFC schema is presented, highlighting its hierarchy, semantics, and role as the backbone of data exchange.

The talk introduces A2Heritage, a library that integrates CIDOC-CRM into IFC to support analysis and documentation of architectural heritage through digital twins. Case studies from European projects illustrate how structured data models enhance analysis, documentation, and long-term asset management.

Dr. Jesús Muñoz Cadiz

Dr. Jesús Muñoz Cadiz holds a PhD in Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Marche (Italy), a Master’s degree in Representation and Design in Engineering and Architecture from the University of Córdoba (Spain), and a degree in Archaeology from the University of Sevilla (Spain).

His publications bridge Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM), Facility Management, and User Experience Design, with a focus on applying digital workflows to the management of complex heritage assets. He developed A2Heritage, a data library that integrates the CIDOC-CRM ontology into the IFC schema to support analysis, preventive conservation, and long-term management of architectural heritage.

Dr. Muñoz Cadiz has extensive experience in construction phase modeling and historical documentation, with projects ranging from different built heritage across Europe. His work also advances the use of digital twins, Machine Learning, and point cloud segmentation within interoperable frameworks, providing tools that enhance decision-making for facility managers, technical architects, archaeologists, and stakeholders involved in preservation and adaptive reuse.

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