formatting = semantic design data framework
more than just a file format - a development platform ...
what our industry is lacking is true whole house design - but to start you only need the objects you need.
completed project example 2007:
Our team saved Jacksonville home builder Dostie Homes approx. 50% the cost of a complete redraw by instead converting 12 production home designs (base house plus elevations and options) from Nemetschek [Graphisoft] ArchiCAD to AutoCAD Architecture (formerly ADT) using Industry Foundation Class (IFC) smart object walls, windows and doors.
current 2007 offerings:
DWG translation, migration, and conversion
up coming 2008 offerings:
DWF, IFC, and RDF based import/export