Organization Overview

Functions and power in the organization

Function and structure for International Council (IC) and Executive Committee (ExCom) are defined in the Articles of Association. The Articles gives IC the power to establish standing committees. There are two standing committees today: International Technical Management Committee (ITM) and International User Group (IUG). The standing committees can establish sub – committees and working groups.    

International Council power and function (from Articles of Association)

The Council shall be the legal governing body of buildingSMART International and all legal powers of buildingSMART International shall reside in and be exercisable by the Council.  The Council shall possess those powers necessary and appropriate for managing the affairs of buildingSMART International, including the authority to take appropriate legal action before relevant local, state, provincial, federal or international organizations to enforce intellectual property rights, legal and copyright registrations and protect other properties of buildingSMART International, and to enforce compliance with contracts entered into by the buildingSMART International for goods and services.  The Council’s powers shall be limited by applicable law, regulations imposed on tax-exempt organizations by governmental agencies and provisions of its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

For more information follow this link or select "IC" from the navigation menu on the right.  

ExCom power and function (from Articles of Association)

The ExCom shall function as the Council surrogate during the intervals between meetings, provided that it:

• Shall strictly adhere to the directives, policies and guidance of the Council.
• Shall have the authority to enter into contracts for support and professional services only to the extent provided by the Council and within the approved budget.
• Shall have discretion to reallocate specific expenditure line items within an adopted budget to meet existing requirements, only provided such reallocation does not exceed the total budget approved by the last regularly scheduled meeting of the Council.
• ExCom Ratification. All actions taken by the ExCom during the intervening periods between Council meetings shall be recorded and submitted for ratification by the full Council during its next regularly scheduled meeting.

For more information follow this link or select "ExCOM" from the navigation menu on the right.

Standing Committees

Standing committees of buildingSMART International shall be established by the Council to conduct such business and perform such duties as may from time to time be determined; each such committee shall report to the Council at its regular meetings and to the ExCom as required.

It shall be the responsibility of the Council, working with the ExCom, to exercise oversight of all committee activities, to ensure that each committee is working to achieve the goals of buildingSMART International, and that each is performing in accordance with Council policy and budgets.

International Technical Committee power and function (ITM)

The International Technical Management Committee is the highest level technical decision-making and technical project management body for buildingSMART International. It reports to the International Council. The ITM co-ordinates international technical activity and evaluates project proposals to ensure that they meet the development goals of buildingSMART International. It also reviews the resources required to complete projects.
For each release of the IFC specifications, ITM appoints a Product Manager. The role of the Product Manager is to define, agree and subsequently manage the scope, timetable and budget for the appointed release.

For more information follow this link or select "ITM" from the navigation menu on the right.

International User Group power and function

It is the aim of the International User Group and the Regional User Groups to promote and stimulate use of buildingSMART deliverables in order to improve interoperability in the construction industry, and to share experiences among its members in a bi-directional way in which there is a balance between giving and taking.
The International User Group (IUG) reports to the International Council (IC). The International User Group is lead by the International User Group Chair.

For more information follow this link or select "IUG" from the navigation menu on the right.

Sub-committees’ power and functions

The sub-committees have no power. All resolutions from the sub-committees must be submitted to a standing committee for formal decision. It is in the power of the standing committee to define the mandate of its sub-committees.

These sub-committees are presently active:

• Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
• Model Support Group (MSG)
• Implementers Support Group (ISG)
• IDM coordination (IDM)
• IFD management group (IFD – MG)
• IFD Technical Group (IFD TG)

Working groups

Working groups should be used to solve specific tasks; their existence should appear and come to an end together with the task (task and finish groups).