Research & Innovation

The openBIM domain for applied research, scientific publications and technology transfer in the construction industry — from the IFC standard to automatically verifiable digital permitting.

The Research domain builds an environment that fosters innovative initiatives, provides specialist technical support for implementing projects with a research component, and centralises, quantifies and disseminates scientifically validated information from the construction sector. It works transversally, together with the association's other domains, and constantly seeks external funding sources for BIMTECH's activities.

Mission

Why research in openBIM?

Adopting openBIM in Romania needs a scientific foundation — validated methodologies, replicable evidence and publications that underpin technical and regulatory decisions. The domain turns BIMTECH practice into knowledge: peer-reviewed papers, pilot projects and technology transfer.

The mission: from project experience to validated, disseminated knowledge — the precondition for adopting openBIM at scale, in industry and in public administration.
Lines of action

Three main directions

🏛️

Accreditation

  • Accreditation as an innovation and technology transfer entity (reNITT) — a technology information centre
🔬

Scientific activity

  • Scientific papers published in international peer-reviewed journals and conferences
  • The BIMCON journal / brochure
  • Initiating and supporting pilot projects with a research component
💶

Funding

  • Accessing external research and development funds
  • Campaign to redirect 3.5% of income tax to the association
Scientific publications

Peer-reviewed research, with BIMTECH authors

Members of the domain publish in international journals and conferences, applying the open IFC and IDS standards to concrete cases from the construction industry.

Published · Open Access

A Study on the Classification of Interactive Artworks in a Museum Gallery using IFC Schema and IDS

H.L.S. Zhang, Ș. Constantinescu, D. Ciolacu-Miron, G. Covatariu

Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 3071 (2025) 012023 · Computational Civil Engineering 2025 (CCE 2025) · IOP Publishing

In press

An IFC- and IDS-based framework for the digital review and permitting of construction works in Romania

H.L.S. Zhang, Ș. Constantinescu, D. Theodorou, G. Covatariu, D. Vlăsceanu

SCIC — Smart Cities International Conference (scrd.eu)

84%

of the information required to check the site plan can be validated automatically through IDS, with the remainder fitting into a semi-automated workflow — a result that underpins a replicable technical model for digital permitting in local government.

🏛️ National first · public authority

The first protocol for digitalising construction permitting through openBIM, signed with a Romanian municipality

Together with the Municipality of Suceava, BIMTECH takes openBIM from a theoretical model into administrative practice: we identify, classify and structure the information from the construction permitting process so that it can be verified digitally. A pilot framework — replicable for any public authority that wants faster, more transparent and more predictable permitting.

Council Decision 21 / 2026 24 months digital permitting open data
Are you a public authority and want a similar pilot? Let's talk →
Get involved

openBIM research is a collective effort

Researchers · PhD students · AEC professionals · academia — join the Research domain to publish, test in pilot projects and give openBIM adoption in Romania a scientific foundation.