gbXML
gbXML (Green Building XML) is an open data schema designed to facilitate the transfer of building information between architectural design software and engineering analysis tools, particularly for energy modeling and sustainability assessments. It standardizes the representation of building geometry, spaces, materials, and systems in an XML format, enabling interoperability across different applications in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. This allows for seamless data exchange to support tasks like energy simulation, daylighting analysis, and HVAC design.
Developers should learn gbXML when working on software for building energy modeling, sustainable design tools, or BIM (Building Information Modeling) integrations, as it is widely adopted in the AEC industry for interoperability. It is essential for creating applications that need to import or export building data for analysis, such as energy performance simulations in tools like EnergyPlus or OpenStudio. Using gbXML helps avoid proprietary formats and ensures compatibility with a broad ecosystem of design and engineering software.