What is CDT?

Collab Digital Twins is the technology to power web-based, non-proprietary platforms designed for the visualization and interaction of multi-scale geospatial information systems (GIS), open data, open building information modelling (BIM), and a wide range of other digital media — including text, images, animated and static 3D models, IFCs, and point clouds.

The technology is built with full-stack web development frameworks, using React.js for the user interface, state management, and memory optimization, and Next.js for file organization, routing, and server-side rendering (SSR). It integrates multiple open-source packages to support maps and 3D models:

| Layer | Technology | |---|---| | Web map renderer | MapLibre | | Vector tile server | Martin (PostGIS) | | 3D graphics | Three.js | | IFC parsing | Web-IFC (That Open Company) — with IDS & BCF | | Point cloud streaming | COPC / Potree | | Object storage | MinIO | | Database | PostgreSQL | | Infrastructure | Fullhost (Canada) |

CDT efficiently incorporates multi-scale open data (federal, provincial, municipal), fetched directly from organizational APIs without requiring local data storage. Rather than functioning as a system of record, it serves as a framework and infrastructure for referencing and linking distributed data sources.

It also includes a robust authentication system that allows users to form groups, assume different roles and credentials for controlled data and feature access, collaborate effectively, and contribute diverse types of digital media, both publicly and privately.

Mission

CDT bridges BIM and GIS using open standards and free and open-source technologies, enabling stakeholders to visualize and analyze data directly in the browser, thereby eliminating proprietary barriers.

CDT is stewarded by Collab Digital Twins — a Canadian not-for-profit established to promote openness, innovation, and long-term public benefit. Our mission is to democratize digital twin technologies.

Contributing

We welcome community contributions to this project.

• Read the Contributor Guide to get started.
• Read the Contributor Terms before submitting.

Any contribution intentionally submitted for inclusion in a Collab Digital Twins project shall comply with the standard licensing model (AGPL 3.0).

License

GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 — https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.en.html

🚀 Beta Access

To participate in the beta, complete this short beta access form. We will review submissions and contact you with onboarding details.