CDE — Common Data Environment
The ISO 19650 concept, when it is mandatory under Decree 217/2026, how to choose a platform, and platform-specific guides.
What is a CDE?
Under ISO 19650, a CDE is the agreed source of information for a project or asset: the place where all parties collect, manage and distribute information through a controlled process. A CDE is not one specific piece of software — it is a way of organizing information and workflow. ISO 19650 does not prescribe a specific technology: a CDE solution can be one or more software platforms, or other tools.
The four information states
- Work in ProgressĐang thực hiện (WIP)
- The first CDE state: information being developed by a task team, not visible to other teams.
- SharedChia sẻ
- CDE state: information approved for sharing with other teams, the delivery team or the appointing party (for coordination and review), but not yet authorized and accepted for publication.
- PublishedPhát hành
- CDE state: information that has been authorized and accepted, used for more detailed design, construction and asset management.
- ArchivedLưu trữ
- CDE state: a journal of information transactions that provides an audit trail of how a container developed. It is written continuously, not merely a final state after Published; earlier versions are retained for traceability.
Status code of an information container
Besides the four states, every information container on the CDE carries a status code (metadata) saying what the information may be used for. The code set is agreed by the project in its BIM guidance document or project agreement (consistent with TCVN 14177-1:2024 clause 3.3.13) — BIMKit does not impose a code set.
More in the BIM GlossaryBuild a CDE folder tree and file naming convention
When is a CDE mandatory?
CDE mandatory Grade I+ public-investment (§4)
Basis: Decree 217/2026/NĐ-CP Art. 8(4)
| Grade | CDE |
|---|---|
| Special Grade | Mandatory (public inv.) |
| Grade I | Mandatory (public inv.) |
| Grade II | Encouraged |
| Grade III & IV | Encouraged |
Reference only — does not replace legal advice. Verify document currency before relying on it.
Criteria for choosing a CDE platform
Questions to put to any platform before choosing — support for ISO 19650 workflows depends on how the project configures and runs it.
- Features that match how the team actually works.
- User-friendliness: easy to use and quick to learn the basics.
- Adoption: community, training and documentation.
- Adaptability to local workflows and standards.
- Market demand.
- Data integration with other BIM software (ecosystem).
- Product development roadmap.
- Supports the WIP / Shared / Published / Archived information-state workflow, with controlled transitions between states.
- Carries metadata on each information container, including a status code and a revision code (code sets defined by the project), for search and filtering.
- Permissions by organization, role and folder, fine-grained enough to separate delivery teams from the appointing party.
- Keeps an audit trail of uploads, state changes, approvals and releases.
- Supports open formats such as IFC and BCF.
- Data hosting and security measures that meet the security-minded information management requirements of ISO 19650-5 and the project contract.
- Reasonable cost.
Guides by platform
- Forma (Forma Data Management) · formerly Autodesk DocsView guide
Frequently asked questions
Is a CDE mandatory?
Under Decree 217/2026/NĐ-CP Art. 8(4), Grade I or above works in public investment projects that fall within BIM application under Art. 8(1)(a) must establish and operate a Common Data Environment (CDE). The investment decision-maker may decide not to apply BIM to linear projects, special-area projects or state-secret projects — in that case a mandatory CDE is not concluded. In all other cases — including Grade II works that must apply BIM — a CDE is not mandatory but is encouraged.
Check your projectIs a CDE a piece of software?
No. Under ISO 19650, a CDE is the agreed source of project information together with the process that manages it: information moves through WIP, Shared, Published and Archived states, with metadata, permissions and a change history. ISO 19650 does not prescribe a specific technology: a CDE solution can be software (a CDE platform) or other tools, as long as it supports that process; a project may use one or several platforms.
Is Google Drive, Dropbox or a shared network drive a CDE?
Usually not on its own. A shared folder only solves where files are stored. A CDE also needs controlled state transitions (sharing, approval, publishing), status and revision codes on each information container, permissions by role and organisation, and an audit trail of who did what. If a tool cannot provide these, the project has to make up for it with manual procedures and strict discipline.
Who is responsible for setting up the CDE?
Under ISO 19650-2, the appointing party (usually the client) is responsible for establishing the project CDE. This sits in the assessment-and-need step (clause 5.1.7), which comes before the invitation to tender, and UK BIM Framework guidance stresses that the CDE should be ready before tender information is issued; the appointing party also establishes the information protocol. It may have a third party carry out the set-up, but the responsibility stays with the appointing party. Day-to-day operation is usually delegated to whoever performs the information management function.
See the RACI matrixWhat is the status code of an information container?
A code (metadata) attached to each information container on the CDE to say what the information may be used for. ISO 19650 recommends assigning a status code and a revision code to each container; the actual code set is agreed by the project in its BIM guidance document or project agreement (consistent with TCVN 14177-1:2024 clause 3.3.13).
Naming convention builderWhat is Autodesk Docs called now?
Autodesk Docs has been renamed Forma Data Management. From Desktop Connector 2027.0.0 the connector appears as Autodesk Forma / Forma connector; some older local paths such as ACCDocs may remain.
Forma Data Management guide (Vietnamese)What should be prepared before a CDE goes live?
Design first, then configure: a folder structure (following the information states is a common option; ISO does not require it), a file naming convention, status codes set by the appointing party in the project information standard (ISO 19650-2 clause 5.1.4) before tendering and reviewed by the lead appointed party in the BEP, permissions by role and company rather than by individual email, review and publishing workflows, then a pilot with a small group of representative users before opening it to the whole project. Have at least two project administrators.
Build a CDE folder tree