DIGITAL BUILDING DATA LONGEVITY AND INTEROPERABILITY CHALLENGES IN THE DOCUMENTATION OF HERITAGE BUILDINGS

Abstract. One of the major motivations behind the introduction of BIM (Building Information Modelling) was to mitigate the challenges of interoperability and interdisciplinary interaction between different stakeholders, this is particularly critical in the heritage buildings sector that involves more diverse stakeholders in a wide range of disciplines compared to a standard construction project. A crucial concern in dealing with heritage buildings is the longevity and safeguarding of the digital documentation data that is usually required to be kept as a digital record for the future. This is especially challenging in the digital medium due to the diversity of the software tools, and the fast-advancing and changing software market.

In order to assess the needs and challenges facing the heritage buildings sector in terms of data longevity and interoperability and to assess the interdisciplinary interaction needs of relevant disciplines, the authors designed an online survey targeting professionals and academics in the heritage buildings sector and the wider AEC industries. This paper presents the preliminary findings of this survey.