Building Interior Space Data Model

The value of any standard is in its utility. The utility of a data modeling standard is determined by its value to the applications that access the data. Ultimately, the value of those applications, especially of their potential interaction, is the reason we establish data modeling standards at all. As the applications that access in-building data models become
more common, they also become more important. And, the more important these applications become, the more important it becomes to link or share their data models. The demand for “holistic” (inside/outside) applications has led not only to better techniques and technologies to provide the data but also to the establishment of an in-building best practices data model for GIS applications. This model, a GIS database-ready template called the Building Interior Spatial Data Model (BISDM¹), has two very important attributes. First, it was created to satisfy the needs of known in-building GIS applications. Second, all data modeling derived from its use can yield applications that can be readily and completely integrated with existing “outside” GIS applications.