IFC2binary

IFC2binary is a software tool designed to convert Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) files into a binary format. IFC is an open standard for Building Information Modeling (BIM) data, used for exchanging and sharing BIM information between different software applications. The standard IFC file format, typically an .ifc extension, is text-based and can be quite large, which can impact performance when dealing with complex models.

The binary format produced by IFC2binary aims to address these performance concerns. By converting the IFC data into a more compact binary representation, the tool facilitates faster loading times and reduced memory consumption. This can be particularly beneficial in workflows involving large BIM projects, real-time visualization, or data processing where efficiency is crucial.

The conversion process typically involves parsing the IFC data and translating its structures and objects into a proprietary binary scheme. This binary format is not intended to be directly human-readable but is optimized for machine processing. While it offers performance advantages, it's important to note that the binary output is specific to tools that can interpret that particular format, potentially creating a dependency on the IFC2binary tool or compatible viewers. The primary motivation behind IFC2binary is to improve the accessibility and usability of BIM data in performance-sensitive applications.