RealEstateCore and VBIS Partner to Advance Standardisation of Open Data in Smart Building Models
2024-12-12, Stockholm, Sweden / Melbourne, Australia
RealEstateCore and the Virtual Buildings Information System (VBIS) are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership to integrate their complementary standardisation frameworks to revolutionise data-driven smart building management. This collaboration will enable the creation of scalable, vendor-neutral solutions that drive energy-efficient, sustainable urban environments while unlocking innovative business models for the real estate industry. VBIS is already aligned to the Brick Schema standard, and by adding RealEstateCore, it will empower applications to access robust, data-rich metadata on specific equipment types and seamlessly integrate it with building-level information, including location, space, elements, occupancy rates, and lease data. This partnership marks a significant step forward in advancing the development of open data standards tailored for smart buildings.
Aligned for Better Insights with Distinct Focus Areas
The RealEstateCore initiative focuses on modeling building interactions through its modular ontology, which provides a collection of data schemas to describe relationships and concepts within building systems. On the other hand, VBIS offers a comprehensive classification structure and asset-specific metatags, enabling the linking of data stored in disparate locations and enhancing data discovery and usability.
By combining these strengths, the partnership will support the creation of semantic models for real estate portfolios, paving the way for scalable deployment of analytics, automation, energy efficiency measures, and advanced facility management practices.
A Practical Example: Unified System for Smart Building Management
Consider a building manager overseeing a commercial office with systems for HVAC, lighting, elevators, and access control:
RealEstateCore
Defines how data from the HVAC system (e.g., room temperature and energy consumption) interacts with occupancy sensors to optimise energy use.
VBIS Standard
Classifies and tags every component (e.g., HVAC units, lighting fixtures, elevators) and links data from separate systems, simplifying maintenance tracking, performance benchmarking, and supplier management.
The result
A unified, streamlined system that optimises energy consumption, schedules predictive maintenance and delivers actionable insights.
Supporting Scalable Smart Building Solutions
This partnership underscores the shared vision of both organizations to unify complementary standards that enhance value without duplicating effort. Together, VBIS and RealEstateCore will map our frameworks to deliver a unified data model that aligns with industry standards, such as Brick Schema.
This unified approach will enable scalable deployment of smart buildings by:
Supporting advanced analytics and energy efficiency measures.
Streamlining asset and facility management, including lifecycle planning and performance benchmarking.
Enhancing automation for seamless building operations.
Looking Ahead
Through this partnership, RealEstateCore and VBIS aim to unlock the full potential of smart building technology, supporting a more sustainable and efficient future for urban environments.
For more information about this partnership and its potential to transform the real estate industry, visit realestatecore.io or vbis.com.au.
Media Contact:
Nathan Semos
Executive Manager - VBIS
nsemos@vbis.com.au
About RealEstateCore:
RealEstateCore is an open-source data ontology tailored for the real estate industry. It provides a standardised framework for modeling building data and enhances interoperability and smarter property management by connecting real estate assets with various infrastructures, facilitating seamless data exchange and urban collaboration.
By addressing key aspects such as building operations, energy efficiency, and occupancy, RealEstateCore drives the digital transformation of the built environment. It empowers stakeholders, developers, property managers, urban planners, and technology providers to integrate real estate assets into smart city platforms and broader digital ecosystems.
Aligned to open standards such as Brick Schema and ASHRAE 223p, RealEstateCore fosters scalable, vendor-neutral solutions that promote energy-efficient, sustainable urban environments and enable innovative business models. Through collaboration with partners and contributors, RealEstateCore is shaping the future of real estate digitalization and unlocking the potential for smarter, data-driven urban solutions.
For further information, visit realestatecore.io and follow us on LinkedIn.
About VBIS:
The Virtual Buildings Information System (VBIS) is an Australian-developed, government-backed standard that provides a comprehensive asset classification system for the built environment. It utilises a four-level hierarchical structure with unique alphabetic tags for each asset type, facilitating consistent categorization and efficient data retrieval across various systems.
By enabling the classification and connection of asset data stored in disparate systems, VBIS enhances interoperability among applications used in the construction and operation of infrastructure. This interconnected ecosystem allows stakeholders—including owners, builders, managers, consultants, and contractors—to access and manage asset information more effectively, leading to improved decision-making and operational efficiency.
Aligned with international standards such as ISO 12006 and ISO 55000, VBIS supports the digital transformation of asset management by providing a standardised approach to data classification and linking. This alignment ensures that VBIS can be seamlessly integrated into existing workflows, promoting scalable, vendor-neutral solutions that foster sustainable and efficient management of the built environment.
Through collaboration with industry partners and continuous development, VBIS is shaping the future of asset data management, empowering stakeholders to harness the full potential of their asset information.
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