Quarterly Report • Nov 6, 2009
Quarterly Report
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Quarterly Statement as of September 30, 2009
Dear shareholders, ladies and gentlemen,
As expected, the third quarter of 2009 was difficult, particularly as sales revenues are traditionally lower in the summer quarter. Nevertheless, the Nemetschek Group performed well in an industry comparison: in 2009, our competitors were more seriously affected by the global economic crisis.
We were helped not least by our strong domestic base. Germany's construction industry had already been through difficult times when the markets suffered globally, and that prevented a severe drop. In addition, the government's massive economic programs are slowly starting to have an effect: while economic and residential building has weakened, investment in refurbishment and the preservation of existing buildings has risen sharply.
The Nemetschek Group is also profiting from this. With its solutions for energy-efficient construction and renovation, the current software programs address exactly the right topics in the area of planning. With its software version ArchiCAD 13, Graphisoft has taken a real quantum leap: with the new Teamwork function, users can work on joint projects in the network on a location-independent basis – an important theme particularly for different architecture offices working together on one project.
The new software releases of Vectorworks and our multimedia subsidiary Maxon have also been well-received. In addition the US market appears to be stabilizing at low level. But we will have to wait and see how long the signs of initial economic recovery will last - the crisis has not yet been weathered.
However, the Nemetschek Group is confident it will be able to meet its forecasts. This means we should be able to keep our operating margin largely stable with a fall in sales of around 10 percent. We have proven many times that we have firm control over our costs.
That will not prevent us from continuing to invest in the future. The Group will continue to invest more than 20 percent of its sales revenues in research and development. In addition, we are working resolutely on expanding our partner network. In order to offer customers comprehensive solutions, Nemetschek requires partners – and we have taken a major step forward in this respect in recent months.
For example, Allplan is working with the Swiss company Plancal, an international provider of building services software, on an integrated solution for architecture, engineering and building services on the basis of the vendor-independent data exchange format IFC.
The integrated offering of software solutions on the basis of IFC is also the focus of the most recent cooperation agreement between Nemetschek AG and the Finnish Tekla Corporation. Our products and the software solutions from Tekla with their focus on steel construction and production preparation complement each other excellently. Together, our subsidiaries and Tekla are working to optimize data exchange between their programs and will coordinate their product offering for multidisciplinary architecture and engineering offices.
This proves how seriously we take our strategy of growing together with partners. That is only possible on the basis of free, vendor-independent data exchange. The group is committed to this in many ways – for more information, see pages 4 and 11.
I would like to thank all shareholders for their confidence.
Yours,
Ernst Homolka CEO
After a somewhat weak start – at 10 euros, the price reached its month low on July 1 - the Nemetschek share continuously rose in the 3rd quarter and even outperformed individual indexes such as the TecDax. On July 16, the price rose to almost 14 euros and with 68,000 achieved the highest single-day sales of the year to date. The half-year figures published at the start of August boosted the value further. After Goldman Sachs increased the price target from 23 to 24.50 euros, shares surpassed the 14 euro mark. On September 9, the stock achieved its high of the year to date, 15.24 euros. However, this was followed by profit-taking, so that the value at the end of the quarter was 13.85 euros. Since then, shares have stabilized at a level around 15 euros, and have therefore tripled in value since the lowest point in March 2009.
Price development of the Nemetschek share in comparison to the TecDAX (indexed) Nemetschek TecDAX
| September 30, 2009 Millions of € |
September 30, 2008 | Change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | 96.9 | 109.0 | –11% | ||
| Operating income | 99.2 | 110.9 | –11% | ||
| Gross Profit | 93.4 | 103.9 | –10% | ||
| as % of revenue | 96% | 95% | |||
| EBITDA | 18.9 | 22.7 | –17% | ||
| as % of revenue | 20% | 21% | |||
| per share in € | 1.96 | 2.36 | |||
| EBIT | 11.7 | 15.2 | –23% | ||
| as % of revenue | 12% | 14% | |||
| per share in € | 1.22 | 1.58 | |||
| Net income (Group shares) without PPA effects *) | 10.9 | 13.7 | –20% | ||
| per share in € | 1.13 | 1.42 | |||
| Net income (Group shares) | 6.3 | 8.9 | –29% | ||
| per share in € | 0.65 | 0.93 | |||
| Net income | 6.5 | 9.4 | –30% | ||
| Cash flow from operating activities | 18.1 | 22.8 | –21% | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents **) | 26.7 | 23.2 | 15% | ||
| Equity **) | 73.7 | 67.9 | 9% | ||
| Equity quote **) | 46% | 41% | |||
| Average number of outstanding shares (undiluted) | 9,625,000 | 9,625,000 | 0 |
*) PPA = Purchase Price Allocation
**) Presentation of previous year as of December 31, 2008
Since the end of the 1990s, productivity has stagnated in the German construction industry. Sharp declines in the economy are also afflicting the industry. In the United States, the situation is even worse: there, productivity has been falling for 40 years. The need to act is clear – across the world, the sector must become more efficient and above all, must communicate and cooperate more effectively.
Architect, construction engineer, building service provider or building contractor – no-one can avoid the subject of "Building Information Modeling" (BIM) any longer. BIM is the integrated process of planning, building and management, supported by a consistent, digital building model. This model – created using object-oriented, 3-dimensional CAD software – integrates both geometric and descriptive information and is enhanced with other details by all those involved in the process. Data is no longer lost, and does not have to be input again for each new process step – for example following changes requested by the building client.
That, at least, is the ideal case. For smooth data exchange, however, industrial standards are required that everyone observes. The industry association buildingSmart, which wants to promote BIM on an international level, has therefore developed the "Industry Foundation Classes" (IFC). IFC is a vendor-independent, freely-available data exchange format that has proven particularly efficient for the exchange of 3D object-oriented planning data in the building industry. You could see IFC as a type of template that defines how designers can import and export the relevant data into and out of the building model – completely independent of the kind of software used by the cooperation partner.
It sounds simple, but the devil is in the detail and practical clarification and tests are required. Here the Nemetschek Group is involved in many ways. The company already offers software solutions that communicate with each other on the basis of IFC. At the same time, Nemetschek needs to cooperate with partners in order to satisfy its customers' many requirements. Functioning data exchange is a fundamental requirement here.
It is therefore no coincidence that all architecture programs under the Nemetschek umbrella and the Scia Engineer structural analysis software are IFC-certified. This means that the Nemetschek development departments can implement IFC with a high level of quality. In addition, group representatives are involved in the national and international management boards of the buildingSmart initiative and are members of topic-oriented working groups. At the same time, the Nemetschek subsidiaries are working on the practical implementation of the IFC format. A cooperation between Allplan and Plancal, a provider of building services software (HVAC), for example, is working on optimizing data exchange in both directions with the help of IFC. Each party defines which information it needs from the other, so that they
do not overload each other with unnecessary details. The aim of this cooperation is to offer an integrated solution for architecture, engineering and building services on the basis of an integrated 3D building model. In a buildingSMART working group, Nemetschek Scia is honing the IFC interfaces of its structural program to other design programs and to the engineering programs offered by other software vendors. Graphisoft and Vectorworks are involved in the "Aquariums" of the buildingSMART initiative (see p. 11).
In practice, Germany is perhaps not yet one of the pioneers of BIM – in contrast to a few of the Scandinavian countries. However, things are changing in the industry: Recently, associations and chambers approved the "Leitbild Bau" [Building Mission Statement], in which all those involved have, for the first time, committed to a joint strategic vision for BIM.
Building Information Modeling, the integrated process on the basis of a digital building model, leads to more efficiency on building sites - provided the data exchange works
After nine months, the Nemetschek Group was able to keep its EBITDA margin stable at 20% (previous year: 21%) despite the anticipated drop in revenues. Compared to the same strong period in the previous year revenues dropped by 11% from 109.0 million euros to 96.9 million euros. The group EBITDA was 18.9 million euros (previous year: 22.7 million euros). At 6.5 million euros, net income was below the
previous year's level (9.4 million euros). The Group achieved cash flow from operating activities of 18.1 million euros compared to 22.8 million euros in the same period of the previous year.
Compared to the same period of the previous year, the Nemetschek Group increased revenues from maintenance contracts from 45.3 mil-
for the period from January 1 to September 30, 2009 and January 1 to September 30, 2008
| Thousands of € 3rd quarter 2009 | 3rd quarter 2008 | 9 month 2009 | 9 month 2008 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | 31,695 | 35,638 | 96,914 | 108,986 |
| Own work capitalized | 25 | 23 | 138 | 115 |
| Other operating income | 413 | 742 | 2,138 | 1,814 |
| Operating Income | 32,133 | 36,403 | 99,190 | 110,915 |
| Cost of materials / cost of purchased services | –2,113 | –2,448 | –5,795 | –7,020 |
| Personnel expenses | –14,343 | –14,950 | –45,155 | –45,493 |
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets |
–2,377 | –2,664 | –7,197 | –7,495 |
| thereof amortization of intangible assets due to purchase price allocation | –1,763 | –1,846 | –5,344 | –5,537 |
| Other operating expenses | –9,682 | –11,555 | –29,333 | –35,699 |
| Operating expenses | –28,515 | –31,617 | –87,480 | –95,707 |
| Operating results (EBIT) | 3,618 | 4,786 | 11,710 | 15,208 |
| Interest income | 30 | 342 | 254 | 1,525 |
| Interest expenses | –988 | –1,605 | –3,029 | –3,854 |
| Income from associates | 42 | 82 | 129 | 215 |
| Earnings before taxes | 2,702 | 3,605 | 9,064 | 13,094 |
| Income taxes | –871 | –1,203 | –2,524 | –3,726 |
| Net income for the year | 1,831 | 2,402 | 6,540 | 9,368 |
| Other comprehensive income: | ||||
| Difference from currency translation | –266 | 556 | –700 | 1,266 |
| Total comprehensive income for the year | 1,565 | 2,958 | 5,840 | 10,634 |
| Net income for the year attributable to: | ||||
| Equity holders of the parent | 1,683 | 2,251 | 6,297 | 8,912 |
| Minority interests | 148 | 151 | 243 | 456 |
| Net income for the year | 1,831 | 2,402 | 6,540 | 9,368 |
| Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to: | ||||
| Equity holders of the parent | 1,417 | 2,807 | 5,597 | 10,178 |
| Minority interests | 148 | 151 | 243 | 456 |
| Total comprehensive income for the year | 1,565 | 2,958 | 5,840 | 10,634 |
| Earnings per share (undiluted) in euros | 0.17 | 0.23 | 0.65 | 0.93 |
| Earnings per share (diluted) in euros | 0.17 | 0.23 | 0.65 | 0.93 |
| Average number of shares outstanding (undiluted) | 9,625,000 | 9,625,000 | 9,625,000 | 9,625,000 |
| Average number of shares outstanding (diluted) | 9,625,000 | 9,625,000 | 9,625,000 | 9,625,000 |
lion euros to 46.1 million euros. Revenues from maintenance contracts therefore made up 48 % of the total revenues (previous year: 42 %). Revenues from the sale of licenses fell by 21 % from 55.9 million euros to 44.0 million euros.
In the domestic market, the Nemetschek Group was able to increase revenues slightly to 42.0 million euros (previous year: 41.3 million euros). As a result of the economic situation, the revenue development abroad – in particular in the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom – was negative and amounted to 54.9 million euros (previous year: 67.7 million euros). Foreign revenue therefore made up 57 % (previous year: 62 %) of the total revenues.
The companies in the Design segment achieved revenues of 78.4 million euros (previous year: 90.2 million euros). The EBITDA margin was 17 % (previous year: 20 %). The companies in the Build segment reported growth of 5 % over the previous year. In this segment, revenues increased to 9.8 million euros (previous year: 9.3 million euros). The EBITDA margin was 34 % (previous year: 27 %). The Manage segment achieved revenues of 3.0 million euros (previous year: 3.1 million euros), and the EBITDA margin was 16 % (previous year: 19 %). The Multimedia segment reported revenues of 5.8 million euros (previous year: 6.3 million euros). The EBITDA amounted to 1.5 million euros (previous year: 1.9 million euros), corresponding to an operating margin of 26 % (previous year: 30 %).
as of September 30, 2009 and as of December 31, 2008
| Assets Thousands of € |
September 30, 2009 | December 31, 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Current assets | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 26,705 | 23,227 |
| Trade receivables, net | 17,658 | 20,314 |
| Inventories | 1,030 | 651 |
| Tax refunded claims for income taxes | 2,539 | 2,840 |
| Current financial assets | 489 | 139 |
| Other current assets | 3,944 | 4,815 |
| Current assets, total | 52,365 | 51,986 |
| Non-current assets | ||
| Property, plant and equipment | 3,785 | 4,327 |
| Intangible assets | 49,471 | 54,599 |
| Goodwill | 51,886 | 52,079 |
| Associates /investments | 553 | 659 |
| Deferred tax assets | 1,827 | 2,043 |
| Non-current financial assets | 903 | 1,010 |
| Other non-current assets | 704 | 706 |
| Non-current assets, total | 109,129 | 115,423 |
| Total assets | 161,494 | 167,409 |
|---|---|---|
Thanks to strict cost management measures Nemetschek achieved an EBITDA of 18.9 million euros despite the drop in revenues in the first nine months (previous year: 22.7 million euros). Operating expenses were reduced by a total of 9 %. The measures implemented to date will continue to have a positive effect on the result. Personnel expenses fell by 6 % compared to the second quarter. The group reduced other operating expenses by 18 % from 35.7 million euros to 29.3 million euros. This is due to numerous individual measures throughout all of the group companies, including savings in advertising, sales expenditures and external personnel costs. Following depreciation from purchase price allocation of 5.3 million euros and interest of
3.0 million euros from the bank loans, the net income was 6.5 million euros (previous year: 9.4 million euros). The financial result contains the interest expenses resulting from the negative market valuation of the interest hedge of 1.2 million euros. The earnings per share (consolidated shares, basic) are 0.65 euros, compared to 0.93 euros in the previous year.
In the first nine months, the Nemetschek Group generated a cash flow of 18.1 million euros from current business activities (previous year: 22.8 million euros). The cash flow for the period reached 17.8 million euros (previous year: 20.5 million euros). This is largely attribut-
| Equity and liabilities Thousands of € |
September 30, 2009 | December 31, 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Current liabilities | ||
| Short-term loans and current portion of long-term loans | 8,220 | 8,077 |
| Trade payables | 3,099 | 6,640 |
| Payments on account | 124 | 151 |
| Provisions and accrued liabilities | 9,633 | 11,547 |
| Deferred revenue | 18,572 | 12,133 |
| Income tax liabilities | 1,992 | 1,524 |
| Other current liabilities | 2,696 | 6,225 |
| Current liabilities, total | 44,336 | 46,297 |
| Non-current liabilities | ||
| Long-term loans without current portion | 31,881 | 41,324 |
| Deferred tax liabilities | 6,993 | 8,432 |
| Pension provisions | 553 | 513 |
| Non-current financial obligations | 3,490 | 2,326 |
| Other non-current liabilities | 564 | 613 |
| Non-current liabilities, total | 43,481 | 53,208 |
| Equity | ||
| Subscribed capital | 9,625 | 9,625 |
| Capital reserve | 41,611 | 41,611 |
| Revenue reserve | 52 | 52 |
| Currency translation | –3,742 | –3,042 |
| Retained earnings | 24,710 | 18,413 |
| Equity (Group shares) | 72,256 | 66,659 |
| Minority interests | 1,421 | 1,245 |
| Equity, total | 73,677 | 67,904 |
| Total equity and liabilities | 161,494 | 167,409 |
for the period from January 1 to September 30, 2009 and January 1 to September 30, 2008
| Thousands of € | 2009 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Profit (before tax) | 9,064 | 13,094 |
| Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets | 7,197 | 7,495 |
| Change in pension provision | 40 | 37 |
| Non-cash transactions | 1,576 | –159 |
| Income from associates | –129 | –215 |
| Losses from disposals of fixed assets | 22 | 211 |
| Cash flow for the period | 17,770 | 20,463 |
| Interest income | –254 | –1,525 |
| Interest expenses | 3,029 | 3,854 |
| Change in other provisions and accrued liabilities | –1,914 | –1,612 |
| Change in trade receivables | 2,244 | 2,746 |
| Change in other assets | 2,896 | 1,572 |
| Change in trade payables | –3,541 | –2,795 |
| Change in other liabilities | –551 | 993 |
| Cash received from distributions of associates | 235 | 284 |
| Interest received | 253 | 854 |
| Income taxes received | 605 | 456 |
| Income taxes paid | –2,659 | –2,502 |
| Cash flow from operating activities | 18,113 | 22,788 |
| Capital expenditure | –1,660 | –3,651 |
| Changes in liabilities from acquisitions | –1,299 | 273 |
| Cash received from the disposal of fixed assets | 78 | 220 |
| Cash flow from investing activities | –2,881 | –3,158 |
| Dividend payments | 0 | –6,256 |
| Minority interests paid | –67 | –703 |
| Repayments of borrowings | –9,651 | –14,771 |
| Interest paid | –1,831 | –3,086 |
| Cash flow from financing activities | –11,549 | –24,816 |
| Changes in cash and cash equivalents | 3,683 | –5,186 |
| Effect of exchange rate differences on cash and cash equivalents | –205 | 286 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period | 23,227 | 29,121 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period | 26,705 | 24,221 |
from January 1 to September 30, 2009 and January 1 to September 30, 2008
| 2009 Thousands of € |
Total | Elimination | Design | Build | Manage | Multimedia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue, external | 96,914 | 78,359 | 9,760 | 3,026 | 5,769 | |
| Intersegment revenue | 0 | –364 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 344 |
| Total revenue | 96,914 | –364 | 78,359 | 9,767 | 3,039 | 6,113 |
| EBITDA | 18,907 | 13,576 | 3,362 | 475 | 1,494 | |
| Depreciation/amortization | –7,197 | –6,916 | –104 | –41 | –136 | |
| EBIT (Segment operating result) | 11,710 | 6,660 | 3,258 | 434 | 1,358 |
| 2008 Thousands of € |
Total | Elimination | Design | Build | Manage | Multimedia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue, external | 108,986 | 90,221 | 9,322 | 3,109 | 6,334 | |
| Intersegment revenue | 0 | –447 | 0 | 19 | 10 | 418 |
| Total revenue | 108,986 | –447 | 90,221 | 9,341 | 3,119 | 6,752 |
| EBITDA | 22,703 | 17,711 | 2,491 | 575 | 1,926 | |
| Depreciation/amortization | –7,495 | –7,060 | –103 | –201 | –131 | |
| EBIT (Segment operating result) | 15,208 | 10,651 | 2,388 | 374 | 1,795 |
for the period from January 1 to September 30, 2009 and January 1 to September 30, 2008
| Equity attributable to the parent company's shareholders | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thousands of € | Subscribed capital |
Capital reserve |
Revenue reserve |
Currency translation |
Retained earnings |
Total | Minority interests |
Total equity |
| As of January 1, 2008 | 9,625 | 41,646 | 52 | –4,169 | 14,395 | 61,549 | 1,337 | 62,886 |
| Difference from currency translation | 1,266 | 1,266 | 1,266 | |||||
| Net income of the year | 8,912 | 8,912 | 456 | 9,368 | ||||
| Total comprehensive income for the year | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,266 | 8,912 | 10,178 | 456 | 10,634 |
| Share-based payments | –158 | –158 | –158 | |||||
| Dividend payments minorities | –35 | –35 | –668 | –703 | ||||
| Dividend payment | –6,256 | –6,256 | –6,256 | |||||
| As of September 30, 2008 | 9,625 | 41,488 | 52 | –2,903 | 17,016 | 65,278 | 1,125 | 66,403 |
| As of January 1, 2009 | 9,625 | 41,611 | 52 | –3,042 | 18,413 | 66,659 | 1,245 | 67,904 |
| Difference from currency translation | –700 | –700 | –700 | |||||
| Net income of the year | 6,297 | 6,297 | 243 | 6,540 | ||||
| Total comprehensive income for the year | 0 | 0 | 0 | –700 | 6,297 | 5,597 | 243 | 5,840 |
| Dividend payments minorities | 0 | –67 | –67 | |||||
| As of September 30, 2009 | 9,625 | 41,611 | 52 | –3,742 | 24,710 | 72,256 | 1,421 | 73,677 |
able to the drop of 4.0 million euros in earnings before taxes. The cash flow from investment activities amounted to -2.9 million euros (previous year: -3.2 million euros). Besides significantly reduced investments in the replacement of fixed assets, this also includes final payments for the variable purchase price debts already reported in the balance sheet for the acquisition of the Scia Group as well as Nemetschek Bausoftware GmbH. The cash flow from financing activities amounted to -11.5 million euros (previous year: -24.8 million euros). The Nemetschek Group had repaid a total of 9.6 million euros from loans by September 30, 2009. The previous year's value essentially included debt repayments amounting to 14.8 million euros as well as dividend payments of 6.3 million euros.
Compared to December 31, 2008, the liquid assets increased by 3.5 million euros to 26.7 million euros. As a result, the Group's net debt is 13.0 million euros (December 31, 2008: 26.1 million euros). Paid interest fell to 1.8 million euros (previous year: 3.1 million euros). In the fourth quarter, further loan repayments are planned, consisting of mandatory (3.5 million euros) and extraordinary repayments.
At 52.4 million euros, the current assets remained at practically the same level as in the previous year (December 31, 2008: 52.0 million euros). The value of non-current assets fell to 109.1 million euros (December 31, 2008: 115.4 million euros). This was primarily the result of planned depreciation of asset values from purchase price allocation.
7.9 million euros of the current liabilities relate to the current portion of the bank loan from the Graphisoft acquisition. 31.8 million euros of the non-current liabilities relate to the long-term portion of the bank loan. The equity ratio was 46 % (December 31, 2008: 41 %). Equity is 73.7 million euros (December 31, 2008: 67.9 million euros).
There were no significant events after the end of the reporting period.
On September 30, 2009, the Nemetschek Group employed 1,069 people (December 31, 2008: 1,114).
As of September 30, 2009 there is no change in the share ownership of the board members: Professor Georg Nemetschek (supervisory board) owns 1,411,322 shares; Ernst Homolka (managing board) owns 225 shares.
There are no significant changes compared to the information provided in the consolidated financial statements as per December 31, 2008.
Please see the consolidated financial report of December 31, 2008 for details on the most significant opportunities and risks for the prospective development of the group in 2009. There have been no major changes in the meantime.
The construction industry is suffering as a result of the global economic crisis: for the European construction industry, the industry association Euroconstruct expects a drop in revenues of 9.9 percent in 2009 and predicts a further slight fall in growth of 2.2 percent for 2010. Worldwide, the fall in 2009 will be even greater. Germany is still performing comparatively well: here, the construction industry association HDB expects a fall in revenues of 3 percent for the current year. The comparatively stable development of the German construction industry – which is also reflected in Nemetschek's revenues – is due not least to the economic programs that are slowly making an impact. While economic and residential building is depressed, investment in refurbishment and the preservation of existing buildings, for example, has risen significantly.
In view of its strong position on the domestic market, stable revenues from maintenance contracts and its innovative software solutions, particularly for refurbishment and energy-efficient building, the Nemetschek Group still expects to be able to limit the drop in revenues for 2009 as a whole to around 10 percent and to keep the group's operating margin (EBITDA margin) in the range of 20 percent.
The Nemetschek Group's quarterly statement is compiled in accordance with the International Accounting Standards Board's (IASB) International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). In contrast to December 31, 2008 the consolidated earning statement was drawn up in accordance with IAS 1 (revised 2007) based on the "one statement approach" as of March 31, 2009. The quarterly statement on September 30, 2009 has not been audited and has not undergone an audit review. It is based on the same accounting, appraisal and calculation methods as the consolidated statement dated December 31, 2008. The group of companies corresponds to the situation on December 31, 2008.
To promote the subject of "Building Information Modeling" (BIM) in the construction industry worldwide (see page 4), the buildingSMART initiative has set up "Aquariums". These are industry-representative pilot projects within which practical experiences are gathered together and made accessible for all, and practical solutions are developed for the exchange of valuable planning data.
In these Aquariums there is a lot of activity: building clients, designers, software developers and other experts from a wide variety of areas relating to construction are enhancing detailed templates for the use of 3D object-oriented planning data in the construction industry on the basis of the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) – a vendor-independent, freely available data exchange format. Based on the idea
of a real aquarium, which provides a view of what's happening under water from all sides, observers can track in detail and from the outside how participants are optimizing the digital process step by step and can see the advantages the new software solutions offer the participants in the Aquarium.
The process in this transparent construct is usually divided into three phases: first, participants define their requirements relating to the project or the other experts involved. Among other things, they define which data and facts they do and do not need from other parties for their tasks. Once this information has been de-
fined, the IT developers involved modify the required software accordingly. In the third step, the developed solutions are implemented and the pilot test is conducted.
The results from the Aquariums offer considerable advantages to all those involved: they make it possible to make effective decisions at an earlier stage, reduce the sources of errors or make corrections to specifications at an early stage. Among other things, they render unnecessary the huge volumes of paper the participants would previously have had to struggle with manually.
It's an advantage that also impressed the Corps of Engineers: responsible for the construction and maintenance of US military institutions and
the coordinator of state infrastructure construction orders, the civil engineers of the US army set up a precursor of the "AEC-FM-Handover" Aquarium called COBIE (Constructions Operations Building Information Exchange) in 2008. It concentrated on data exchange in the life cycle of a building - starting with the early design phase and with the aim of gathering together all the relevant information at an early stage in order to determine the required quantities, for example, or the future energy requirement, and to avoid costly subsequent improvements.
The participants in the COBIE project included the Hungarian Nemetschek subsidiary Graphisoft, which had already had relevant experience with pilot projects of this type. For COBIE, Graphisoft and its
CAD system ArchiCAD provided exactly the data needed for the key analyses in the design phase.
For the Corps of Engineers, however, COBIE was just the first step: ultimately, they want to simplify the management of the buildings they are responsible for. Among other things, in future they want to contractually define how and in what form building data is to be delivered to them at the end of a planning and construction process. In Germany, where the Corps of Engineers also operates and manages buildings, similar demands are likewise being heard.
This is precisely the subject of the current successor project to CO-BIE, the "AEC-FM-Handover" Aquarium (FM stands for facility management) of the buildingSMART initiative. In terms of content, the new Aquarium builds on COBIE – now with the aim of transferring all the relevant data updated during planning and building execution to the building operator in such a way that it can be used as quickly as possible by the managers of buildings in their FM systems.
With this, the process of "Building Information Modeling" has been thought through right to the very end, because facility managers are at the very end of the building value chain and they are the ones who have to deal with the result of the project in the decades to come.
NEMETSCHEK Aktiengesellschaft Konrad-Zuse-Platz 1 81829 Munich Germany Phone + 49 89 92793 – 0 Fax + 49 89 92793 – 5200 [email protected] www.nemetschek.com
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