What is COBie?
COBie (Construction-Operations Building information exchange) is a standardized data format used in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries to manage and share asset information during a building’s lifecycle. It is part of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) process and focuses on delivering structured, non-graphical data needed for facility management.
Which aspects COBie follows?
– Data Exchange Standard: COBie helps transfer building information from design and construction teams to owners and facility managers in a structured format.
– Non-Graphical Information: Unlike traditional BIM models that emphasize 3D geometry, COBie primarily contains textual and tabular data about building components, equipment, spaces, and maintenance requirements.
– Lifecycle Management: It ensures that all necessary asset data collected, organized, and available for operations and maintenance (O&M) after construction completed.
– Spreadsheet Format: COBie data commonly delivered in Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx) or XML files, making it easier to integrate into facility management systems (CAFM, CMMS, IWMS).
– ISO 19650 & Industry Compliance: It aligns with international BIM standards such as ISO 19650 and widely used in government and large-scale projects.
What Information Does COBie Contain?
- Facility Information: Building name, location, owner, and general project details.
- Spaces & Zones: Rooms, areas, and their relationships within the building.
- Equipment & Assets: Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) components, furniture, and other maintainable items.
- Attributes & Properties: Manufacturer details, model numbers, warranties, installation dates, and maintenance schedules.
- Contacts & Documents: Lists of project stakeholders, warranties, manuals, and operation procedures.
Why is COBie Important?
It Reduces Paperwork and Eliminates manual data entry and handover inefficiencies. By COBie we could Enhance Facility Management and Provide a structured dataset for maintenance teams.
Improving Project Handover, ensures that complete and accurate asset information is available from day one. On the other hand, Interoperability will Supports integration with various BIM tools, facility management software, and enterprise asset management (EAM) systems.
COBie often required in public sector projects and increasingly adopted in private sector developments to streamline data management and improve operational efficiency.
Auther: Masoud Khani Bakhtiari