Exploring the Possibility of Integrating Digital Signatures into IFC-Based Built Asset Information Models to Achieve Authentication and Data Integrity Verification at the Object-Level

Abstract: In the built asset industry, data-enriched models are typicallyexchanged at the file level, often via memorandumsas wrappers listing multiple files or converting to 2D PDFsfor signing. These methods pose challenges for authenticationand data integrity, even at the file level. This paperexplores integrating digital signatures into Industry FoundationClasses (IFC)-based data exchanges by identifyinga structure within the existing IFC data schema as a digitalsignature container and applying it to assign signatures toeach object. Consequently, unauthorized changes becomedetectable, fostering trust, traceability, and transparency.