Other software vendors are also providing an exchange file format between their compatible software. How is ISM different from these offerings?
ISM is different in many fundamental ways from common standards supported by individual products. No single common standard currently contains all the information and capabilities users need to communicate between most structural applications. The standards are often industry focused (steel, concrete), targeted to specific structure types (building, bridge, general purpose), and usually not defined for round-trip communication between products. These standards are also typically governed by a consortium of members and understandably cannot change quickly to adapt to changing needs. Structural Synchronizer V8i, on the other hand, provides not just a standard but an enabling technology that allows users to visualize and control the exchange workflow between products. It also provides an environment for visualization and design collaboration that does not require any of the Structural-Synchronizer-enabled applications to be installed. Structural Synchronizer can also rapidly adapt to meet
