bSDD

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The buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD) is an online service for hosting data dictionaries containing classifications, their properties, allowed values, units, translations, etc. It provides a standardized workflow to improve data quality and information consistency.

At the heart of bSDD is a database, where all dictionaries can be related to each other. The main way to access the bSDD is through its APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). This is how most BIM software and other apps can use the data stored in the bSDD. Apart from that, there is the bSDD Search page, where people can look up the content. Authors can publish content to bSDD through the API or the Management Portal. To be able to upload, please fill out the organisation registration form.

More info on https://www.buildingsmart.org/users/services/buildingsmart-data-dictionary/

📢 We inform about planned and recently implemented bSDD updates in this forum topic: bSDD Tech Updates.

Instructions

• How to upload your data into the bSDD?
• How to structure my data to import to bSDD?
• Frequently asked questions (what is it for? does it cost? how does it relate to IFC? etc.): buildingsmart.org/.../buildingsmart-data-dictionary/
• Browse the documentation: Documentation
• List of tools integrating bSDD: https://technical.buildingsmart.org/resources/software-implementations/. This is a self-managed list, so feel free to add missing tools.
• How to turn a dictionary into private in bSDD

For developers 👩‍💻

• The API URL (not a readable website): https://api.bsdd.buildingsmart.org/
• API documentation on Swagger: https://app.swaggerhub.com/apis/buildingSMART/Dictionaries/v1

We also provide a Test environment where the latest features are rolled out first and tested. If you want to check it out, here are the equivalent pages:

• Test Search in the (test) bSDD: https://search-test.bsdd.buildingsmart.org/
• Test upload data to the (test) database: https://manage-test.bsdd.buildingsmart.org/
• Test environment API documentation on Swagger: https://test.bsdd.buildingsmart.org/swagger/
• Test environment GraphQL UI for getting data via GraphQL in the UI: GraphQL UI

Examples, use-cases, tools and presentations

• 2020.08.08 Classyfing IFC model in SketchUp with bSDD and DigiBase plugin: Vimeo: bSDD APIv5 SketchUp connection, and the source code
• 2021.10.13 Use case with ETIM classification accessible from usBIM software from ACCA: YouTube: Use case video ETIM-bSDD - usBIM - ACCA Software
• 2023.03.16 Recording of bSDD session from InfraBIM Open 2023 in Tampere, Finland. YouTube video
  • 00:00:00 How to use the buildingSMART Data Dictionary to extend IFC for your needs - Léon van Berlo
  • 00:26:27 How to utilize bSDD in infrastructure owners perspective - case Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency - Niki Tapper, Teea Kantojärvi
  • 00:55:35 Using IFC 4.3 with bSDD for railway - Giulia Minnucci
• 2020.09.03 Presentation about the bSDD (and relation to IFC): Presentation
• 2020.09.15 Video recording of a bSDD workshop, including Revit plugin demo: Workshop video
• 2023.03.22 BIMVoice podcast with Artur Tomczak answering bSDD-related questions: YouTube: BIMvoice with Artur Tomczak: bSDD
• 2023.08.25 Plannerly YouTube: The Power of bSDD from buildingSMART

Contact us

Need help? Got suggestions? Send an email to [email protected]

or contact the bSDD product manager: Artur Tomczak [email protected]