Open CDE: The Next Evolution in Information and Data Management

23 Sept

The Evolution of the CDE: From BS 1192 to ISO 19650

The Common Data Environment (CDE) has long been a cornerstone of digital engineering and infrastructure delivery. Originally defined in BS 1192:2007, the CDE was introduced to bring structure and control to chaotic, siloed project data.

📘 BS 1192 led to the development of PAS 1192, and eventually to ISO 19650, which became the international standard for managing information using Building Information Modelling (BIM).

🗃️ The original concept was simple and powerful: create a single source of truth, a controlled repository where models, documents, and data could be managed in one place. At the time, that approach began to work - at least on smaller projects where delivery teams were co-located, and most information could be realistically housed on a single platform.

Why That No Longer Works in 2025

Fast forward to today, and project delivery looks very different:

Teams are distributed globally
Information is produced and consumed across multiple platforms
Digital twins, GIS, mobile apps, EAM, BIM, ERP, and cloud platforms all play a role

The idea of managing everything in a single system is no longer practical, yet the need for structure, governance, and compliance has only intensified.

In 2025, the CDE must evolve from centralised to connected.
From platform-dependent to standards-driven and interoperable.

Utopia Digital’s Definition of a Modern CDE

At Utopia Digital, we’ve updated the definition of the Common Data Environment to reflect this new reality. Through our work on major infrastructure projects and in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), we define a CDE as:

“An integrated system of platforms, solutions and rules that centrally builds, manages, and shares project and asset data with the aim of fostering a secure environment, and a unified source of information throughout the project lifecycle.”

This definition accepts that project data is now distributed, not centralised. What matters isn’t where the data lives, but how it’s connected, validated, secured, and governed.

Enter the Open CDE

A traditional CDE manages structured workflows within one platform. An Open CDE, by contrast, enables interoperability across multiple systems, without compromising on structure, compliance, or data quality.

This approach is enabled by the OpenBIM standards developed by buildingSMART International:

🏗️ IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) – for model and geometry exchange
🧾 BCF (BIM Collaboration Format) – for issue tracking and comments
✅ IDS (Information Delivery Specification) – for data validation against client requirements
📖 bSDD (Data Dictionary) – for consistent terminology and classification

📦 Instead of locking teams into a single system, the Open CDE allows teams to work in the best tools for their job, while maintaining data fidelity, traceability, and ISO 19650 alignment.

CDE vs Open CDE: Key Differences

  
      Feature
      🗃️ Traditional CDE
      🌐 Open CDE
    
      Platform Model
      Single, vendor-owned environment
      Multi-platform, federated ecosystem
    
      Data Formats
      Proprietary or tool-specific
      OpenBIM formats (IFC, BCF, IDS, bSDD)
    
      Interoperability
      Limited, tool-specific integrations
      Designed for cross-system collaboration and open protocols
    
      Governance
      Centrally administered
      Distributed across roles, with unified compliance rules
    
      Collaboration Scope
      Project-wide, within one system
      Portfolio-wide, across multiple systems
    
      Long-Term Flexibility
      Constrained by vendor
      Data portability across asset lifecycle

Data Security, Ownership & Governance

One of the greatest misconceptions about Open CDEs is that “open” means unsecured or uncontrolled. In reality, Open CDEs enhance security and governance by making data access intentional, auditable, and standards-aligned.

At Utopia Digital, our approach with CDE Sync ensures:

No persistent data storage (data flows, but isn’t duplicated)
Role-based permissions and federated access controls
Full audit logging for compliance, assurance, and digital traceability
Secure hosting on Microsoft Azure, aligned with ISO 27001 principles

🛡️ Open CDEs are not about losing control - they’re about distributing access in a structured, secure, and governed way.

What About AI?

Artificial Intelligence is increasingly entering the digital delivery conversation, from model checking and clash detection to predictive analytics.

But even AI needs context to be useful.

AI can’t infer project risk, compliance status, or operational readiness if the underlying data is fragmented or misaligned. Open CDEs provide the structured, federated information architecture that AI agents need to reason across platforms.

🤖 So before we automate, we must integrate. AI will only be as smart as the environment it operates within, and that environment needs to be governed, connected, and standards-based.

Enabling the Supply Chain - Without Forcing Change

One of the major benefits of the Open CDE approach is its ability to bring the entire supply chain into structured digital workflows, without disruption.

Open CDEs don’t require all vendors or partners to use the same tool. They simply require adherence to open data formats and shared rules. With tools like CDE Sync, each team can continue working in its existing platform - while data is transformed, validated, and shared in structured, ISO 19650-compliant form.

This model is particularly valuable in government and tier-one delivery frameworks where supply chain digital maturity is uneven.

📖 For more on this topic, read our article:
👉 Seamless Supply Chain Integration Is the Future of Digital Asset Management

Bridging Education and Practice

This shift is now embedded in how we educate the future of the industry.

At the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the Digital Engineering Microcredentials program trains professionals to manage data across interconnected environments. The curriculum includes:

📘 ISO 19650-based information management
🧩 Common vs Open CDE workflows
🛠️ Application of IFC, BCF, IDS in real-world delivery
🚦 Governance and compliance in federated systems

Utopia Digital is proud to contribute to the design, theory, and delivery of this program - connecting updated theory with real-world experience using CDE Sync.

Building a Modern CDE: What It Takes

A modern CDE especially an Open CDE, requires more than just a platform. It requires a framework of integrated capabilities, including:

✅ Standards-aligned metadata (ISO 19650, IFC, IDS)
🔗 Interoperability with Autodesk, Bentley, GIS, EAM, ERP systems
🔐 Secure synchronisation and data validation
📊 Real-time dashboards and insights
🧾 Full traceability, audit trails, and assurance
👥 Role-based access and federated collaboration

Final Thoughts: CDEs Haven’t Disappeared - They’ve Grown Up

The original intent of the CDE, to create clarity, structure, and a trusted source of truth still matters. But how we deliver that outcome in 2025 requires new thinking.

🔓 Open CDEs support the reality of distributed data
🔁 They connect systems, rather than replacing them
🛠️ They enable flexibility without losing control

If your current CDE strategy still relies on folders, file drops, or static handovers, it may be time to shift from “common” to connected, and from centralised tools to open, standards-aligned frameworks.

Explore What's Next

📍 Learn how Utopia Digital and CDE Sync are enabling Open CDE strategies across infrastructure, energy, and government:
👉 www.utopiadigital.io/cdesync

📚 Explore UTS Digital Engineering Microcredentials
🌍 Discover buildingSMART OpenBIM standards
🔗 Read: Seamless Supply Chain Integration and the Future of Digital Asset Management

CDEs

Aaron Traylen