What is a Common Data Environment (CDE)?
September 9, 2025 at 8:16 pm
A CDE, or Common Data Environment, is a place where BIM project files and information are stored, managed, and made accessible to the project team.
CDEs can be divided into four groups:
- Local environment (your computer) – usually intended for work that is not yet meant to be shared, with no external access.
- Company server – can be somewhat more flexible, sometimes with remote access, but requires IT support and security solutions.
- General online storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) – convenient for collaboration, but without BIM-specific features.
- BIM-specific CDE – in addition to general functionality, it offers tools to work with models and the data within them.
A CDE is useful because it ensures:
- centralized data management,
- version control,
- clear access level settings,
- understandable workflows for the team,
- the ability to use BIM information for decision-making.
In the next article: BIM CDE advantages in construction projects.