     | About the Facility Information Council
The Facility Information Council (formerly the Computer Aided Design and Drafting-CADD Council) of the National Institute of Building Sciences provides an industry-wide forum for the standardization and integration of CADD and other computer software for the full automation of the entire life cycle of buildings. The Institute's authorizing legislation assigned NIBS the responsibility to assemble, store and disseminate technical data and other information directly related to its technological and regulatory responsibilities. The need to develop an integrated electronic system for building design and construction has been recognized since the 1960s when the construction industry first started to use computers commercially. During this period, several individuals and organizations proposed the development of integrated computer systems through research papers and organizational plans. As always, dreams precede reality. Thirty years ago it was impossible to implement such grand concepts; but, with the widely available and affordable power of today's personal computers, such a concept is within reach of virtually all building community sector participants. The activity and excitement of the 1960s to produce these integrated systems peaked in the 1970s. The industry had to accept the realities imposed by computer hardware and software limitations. The 1980s and 1990s brought significant advances in both computer hardware and software. However, because of its extreme professional and intellectual fragmentation, the construction industry resigned itself to the fact that all electronically generated information within each compartmentalized segment of the industry, must proceed through inefficient conversion processes before exchange and use between sectors. Growing information use dominated every aspect of our society during the 1990s. At the heart of the value added by these activities is the old admonition to "work smarter," not just harder. More and better information to make better choices and decisions is the basis upon which we can use technology to rebuild our national competence and resourcefulness for competing in the global marketplace. The technology needed to bring more, better, and more timely information to bear upon decisions, designs, and plans at all levels of all organizations has been readily available since the 1990s. The Facility Information Council provides an industry-wide forum for the standardization and integration of electronic systems for the full automation of the entire life cycle of buildings. The purpose of the Council is to improve the performance of the life-cycle of facilities including design, engineering, construction, operations, maintenance and retirement by fostering: a common integrated life-cycle information model for the A/E/C industry, and standards which allow for the free flow of graphic and non-graphic information through the information model. Membership in the Council is open to all individuals and organizations with an interest in and commitment to the Council's purposes. The Council's Board of Direction is made up of representatives from user organizations, private software developers and vendors, and governmental agencies. |
