BHoM

Verified

BHoM (Buildings and Habitats object Model) is a free, open-source interoperability framework for AEC engineers, computational designers, and BIM specialists.

It provides a shared object model with 1,200+ element definitions and adapters connecting 30+ software packages, including Grasshopper, Dynamo, and Excel.

Teams use it to move structural, environmental, and geometric data between design and analysis tools without building custom translators.

BHoM Overview

BHoM (Buildings and Habitats object Model) is a free, open-source interoperability framework for the AEC industry. It solves the tools-translation problem by defining a single shared object model — over 1,200 element definitions covering structural, environmental, and geometric data — instead of requiring a custom translator between every pair of design applications. Any tool that connects to BHoM automatically gains the ability to exchange data with every other connected tool. BHoM is made up of three parts: the object definitions themselves (beams, columns, slabs, and hundreds of other AEC elements), the Engine (a library of algorithms for querying, manipulating, and generating these objects), and Adapters (translators that map BHoM objects to and from external software). Adapters currently exist for more than 30 packages, and BHoM scripts can be run from Visual Studio, Excel, Grasshopper, and Dynamo. The project is developed as an open, community-owned codebase on GitHub, with contributions from a consortium of AEC firms including Arup, BuroHappold, and Ramboll. It is aimed at structural and environmental engineers, computational designers, and BIM specialists who need to move data between authoring tools, analysis software, and custom workflows without building one-off connectors for every combination.
BHoM (Buildings and Habitats object Model) is a free, open-source interoperability framework for the AEC industry. It solves the tools-translation problem by defining a single shared object model — over 1,200 element definitions covering structural, environmental, and geometric data — instead of requiring a custom translator between every pair of design applications. Any tool that connects to BHoM automatically gains the ability to exchange data with every other connected tool. BHoM is made up of three parts: the object definitions themselves (beams, columns, slabs, and hundreds of other AEC elements), the Engine (a library of algorithms for querying, manipulating, and generating these objects), and Adapters (translators that map BHoM objects to and from external software). Adapters currently exist for more than 30 packages, and BHoM scripts can be run from Visual Studio, Excel, Grasshopper, and Dynamo. The project is developed as an open, community-owned codebase on GitHub, with contributions from a consortium of AEC firms including Arup, BuroHappold, and Ramboll. It is aimed at structural and environmental engineers, computational designers, and BIM specialists who need to move data between authoring tools, analysis software, and custom workflows without building one-off connectors for every combination.

Specs

Integrations
Platforms
WindowsMac

BHoM Pricing

PRICING PLANS
Open Source|0/free

BHoM Frequently asked questions

Yes. BHoM is a free, open-source project — there is no paid tier or license fee.

BHoM Alternatives

See how BHoM stacks up against similar tools before you decide.

BEAM

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Green Building XML

gbXML (Green Building XML) is an open, industry-backed XML schema that lets architects and engineers exchange building data between BIM tools and energy-simulation software. It is built for design and engineering teams who need to move a model from authoring software into analysis tools without re-entering geometry or space data. Maintained as a nonprofit standard sponsored by ASHRAE, the US DOE, NREL, and Autodesk, with an open-source schema hosted on GitHub.

Conveyor

Conveyor is a no-code Rhino-to-Revit plugin for architects and computational designers who need to move geometry and data between the two platforms without scripting. It converts Rhino geometry into native Revit elements, tracks design changes for selective updates, and auto-assigns materials by name.