A generic framework for federated CDEs applied to Issue Management

This paper analyses the requirements for managing interoperable building data in a federated Common Data Environment (CDE). We discuss the need for generic (meta)data storage patterns, semantic query interfaces, decentral authentication, data aggregation, and adaptation and prove that their combination is feasible with current-day technologies. We illustrate the mechanisms of such federated CDE by considering the topic of digital Issue Management, one of the primary functions of a CDE. In an exemplary data flow process, we show how generic (federated, Semantic Web-based) data patterns for Issue Management can be aggregated and restructured to match existing industry standards like buildingSMART's BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) API. Finally, we show the methodology is compatible with current-day practice by implementing this process in a proof of concept. The main contribution of this research is a generic, federated framework for project-related, interdisciplinary collaboration for CDEs.