The Information Delivery Manual (IDM) is a methodology developed by buildingSMART and certified as an ISO standard (ISO 29481-1 and ISO 29481-2). This methodology supports the description of information requirements related to life cycle processes.
IDMs are created using BPMN, process modeling, with the support of buildingSMART templates.
IDMs are mainly used by technical users and software developers by focusing on identifying model information for specific use cases. IDMs are created taking into account the additional inputs required, the delivery of information between originator and recipient, and its representation in documents and flow charts (process maps).
An IDM defines the scope and type of information requirement that needs to be delivered or provided by specialized BIM organizational units at a given point in time. Describing an efficient exchange in the form of an IDM is crucial to ensure that transmitted data can be correctly interpreted by the receiving software.
ISO 29481-2 specifies IDM zones taking into account user requirements and technical solutions. This includes interaction plans, process maps, reference processes, project schedules and information deliveries. Technically speaking, this includes business objects that specify information as well as building information models. The standard considers IDM zones comprehensively from the perspective of user requirements and technical implementation, including elements such as interaction plans and business objects.
In conjunction with ISO and buildingSMART standards, the IDM takes on the task of correctly describing and making applicable the defined processes for a Model View Definition (MVD) using the IFC schema and the bSDD.