Imagine this scenario: Your design team has invested hundreds of hours modeling a complex facility, only to discover during construction that equipment specifications and maintenance documentation can’t be properly and effectively linked to physical installations. All that because the unique identifier systems weren’t planned and the contractor cannot easily find what is what and where. The result? Time-consuming seeking for objects and relations, confusion, and project delays.
This common challenge highlights why effective unique identifier systems for construction are critical across project stages. In this article, I’ll explore how to implement robust unique identifier systems that prevent data loss in BIM projects while enhancing management capabilities and significantly reducing data waste throughout your entire project lifecycle.
Table of Contents
The Foundation of Effective Unique Identifier Systems
What Makes an Effective Identifier System?
The foundation of preventing data loss in BIM projects is selecting and implementing the right attribute to serve as a joining mechanism between different data sources—essentially, a robust unique identifier system for your construction data. I mentioned in my previous article that an effective identifier system should be:
- Stable - remains consistent throughout the project
- Unique - identifies objects without ambiguity
- Transferable - works across different platforms and project stages
- Appropriate for context - matches your specific data management needs
Common Unique Identifier Systems in Construction Projects
Depending on your project context, different types of identifier systems may be appropriate:
- Room Numbers - ideal for room schedules and data sheets
- Item Numbers - useful when planning equipment and tendering
- IFC GUID - excellent for designed objects in digital models
- Unique Object Tags - bridges digital models with physical installations
Example:
If a building planner is using Excel spreadsheet to define room numbers and afterwards architects are using them to create rooms in modelling software - the spreadsheet is a master for room numbers and they should not deviate (although this is an extremely unstable software pair).
IFC GUID Implementation: The Digital Backbone
Understanding IFC GUID Implementation
When working with BIM models, the Industry Foundation Classes Global Unique Identifier (IFC GUID) implementation provides a foundation for preventing data loss in BIM projects. This automatically generated 32-character code is assigned to every object exported to IFC schema, serving as the digital fingerprint of each model element. The value is uneditable, which is a good prevention against potential misclicks or misuse by uninformed users.
When IFC GUID Implementation Shines
IFC GUID implementation excels when connecting data sources that relate directly to model objects:
- Model coordination and clash detection
- Integration with CDEs and model viewers
- Communication through BCF workflows
- Model-based facility management
Implementation Tips for IFC GUIDs
To successfully implement IFC GUID as part of your unique identifier system for construction:
- Avoid deleting and recreating objects - this generates new GUIDs and breaks existing data connections
- Understand your software's export behavior - some programs regenerate GUIDs with each export unless configured properly
- Check for duplicates - while rare, duplicate GUIDs can create serious data integrity issues and lead to data loss
Limitations of IFC GUID Implementation
Warning: IFC GUID becomes problematic when data needs to move beyond model viewers or when physical objects need identification.
IFC GUID implementation has significant drawbacks that can contribute to data loss in BIM projects:
- Not human-readable (32 random characters)
- Difficult to implement in non-BIM workflows
- Cannot be established before modeling begins
- Impractical for physical tagging (imagine a 32-character equipment label!)
- Different GUIDs for types vs. instances create confusion
Similar alternatives - "Closed BIM"
If your project has decided to stay within only one software vendor environment, it is possible to use its unique identifier instead of the IFC GUID. As a simplified example, Revit Element ID performs a similar task as IFC GUID inside the Autodesk environment.
The idea is roughly the same - as long as you are using vendor's tools, everything works smoothly. Once you go outside of it - the barriers you meet are even higher.
Unique Object Tagging: The Physical Connection
What is Unique Object Tagging?
Unique object tagging systems use structured, human-readable codes that identify elements throughout a project's lifecycle. Unlike IFC GUIDs, these identifier systems are intentionally designed to work in both digital and physical environments, helping prevent data loss in BIM projects when properly implemented.
I have already covered a good chunk of knowledge about object's unique coding in these articles:
- Object's unique coding - property binding all project phases
- Object's unique coding - challenges and how to overcome them?
I advise reading them first prior to continuing below. This will make the picture clearer.
When Object Tagging Works Best
Unique object tagging excels in these scenarios:
- Early project planning (pre-modeling)
- Equipment specification and procurement
- Construction and installation
- Testing and commissioning
- Physical asset management
Implementation Challenges
While powerful for maintaining data flow, object tagging requires:
- Consistent application across all project stakeholders
- Strict adherence to naming conventions
- Regular validation to prevent duplicates or errors
- Careful planning of the tagging structure before implementation
- Sometimes manual data exchanges between particular software
Comparing Approaches
Combined Approach: Maximizing Data Integrity
For most complex construction projects, the optimal unique identifier system combines both approaches:
- Implement IFC GUIDs for digital model coordination, clash detection, and tasks contained within model viewers. Ensure correct model management to swiftly identify object changes
- Develop object tagging systems (or use existing classification) for planning, procurement, on-site identification, and bridges between digital and physical worlds.
Implementation Guide for Your Unique Identifier System
Early Project Stages
- Establish object tagging structure and naming conventions. You can rely on existing object classification standards.
- Document these in a project BIM Execution Plan with clear plan to follow by each stakeholder
- Create a unique ID data fields in each software used to exchange object data
- Train team members on the identifier system rules and protocols
Design Development
- Implement tagging in model elements
- Establish validation procedures for preventing data errors
- Create processes for synchronizing tags between different models and software
Construction Through Handover
- Use tags for physical identification elements on-site (according to the building owner's requirements)
- Maintain relationships between tags for different sources
- Prevent data changes at this late stage of project development
- Connect documents to identifiers in the handover
Common Mistakes
- Starting without a plan - Implementing identifier systems midway through a project creates massive headaches
- Inconsistent application - Different teams using different approaches leads to disconnected data
- Overcomplicating tagging - Extremely complex systems are prone to errors and inconsistency
- Neglecting validation - Regular checks for duplicates and compliance are essential for preventing data loss in BIM projects
Conclusion
Effective unique identifier systems for construction require thoughtful implementation of appropriate approaches. By understanding the strengths and limitations of both IFC GUID implementation and unique object tagging, you can create a robust system that prevents data loss in BIM projects from early planning through facility management.
The goal isn't just to select a single approach, but to implement complementary systems that support your project's specific requirements across all phases. With proper planning and execution, you'll avoid the costly rework and confusion that plague projects with poor data management strategies.
What identification approach are you using in your projects? Have you encountered challenges with preventing data loss across project phases? Share your experiences in the comments!
