Overview

OpenBIMRL is a collaborative research-driven initiative maintained by Ruhr-University Bochum’s Chair of Computing in Engineering, now updated and maintained by me. The project builds an open, modular ecosystem for creating and executing rule-based validations on IFC building models—bridging digital model standards with compliance verification in construction.

Project Components & Tech Stack

The OpenBIMRL initiative includes multiple interconnected repositories, each serving a distinct purpose:

  • OpenBIMRL-Engine – A Kotlin-powered engine (originally Java) that executes rule checking on IFC models.
  • OpenBIMRL-Engine-REST – A RESTful backend interface providing clean endpoints for rule execution workflows.
  • OpenBIMRL-Engine-Native – A C++ implementation accessing IFCOpenShell for Rules that rely on parsing IFC data and 3D geometry.
  • OpenBIMRL-CreatorTool – A Vue + TypeScript web application enabling visual rule authoring and intuitive rule graph editing.

All components are open source under the MIT License, ensuring flexibility and extensibility for diverse BIM workflows.

Research Foundation & Design Goals

This project is grounded in academic research, including my publication with Daniel Napps at the 2024 Forum Bauinformatik, showcasing a container-based, modular rule engine accessible via RESTful APIs.

Key design highlights:

  • Separation of concerns: Rule engine, REST API, and frontend tools are decoupled for easier integration and modular extension.
  • Containerization: Enables seamless, OS-agnostic deployment and consistent runtime environments.
  • Graph-based DSL: Allows non-programmers to define rules visually using nodes that extract data from IFC models and apply logical operations.

One example: validating German ASR A1.2 workplace regulations by fetching IFC spaces, retrieving properties (like floor area and number of workspaces), performing calculations, and aggregating results using logical operators such as AND.

What Headway We’ve Made

  • Enabled rule creation by non-technical users via an approachable graph-based interface.
  • Enhanced debugging and transparency through node-level JSON responses and direct IFC visualization.
  • Created a modular system that can easily plug into existing BIM pipelines or tools.

Looking Forward

The project continues to evolve—planned improvements include:

  • Groupable graph nodes or “macros” (similar to Unreal Engine’s Blueprint clusters) to simplify complex rule logic.
  • Dynamic or scriptable code nodes for greater flexibility, sandboxed to ensure security without altering core code.

Why This Matters for My Portfolio

OpenBIMRL reflects my strengths in:

  • Architecting modular software systems, cleanly decoupling UI, API, and engine layers.
  • Bridging academic research with practical tooling, turning prototypes into usable solutions.
  • Working across diverse tech stacks: Kotlin, Java, REST APIs, C++, Vue, and TypeScript.
  • Designing for usability, enabling non-technical domain experts to interact with model compliance tools directly.

Explore the codebase and contribute: OpenBIMRL on GitHub