Retrofitting heritage with HBIM

How do heritage authorities make decisions on energy retrofits in protected buildings, and how can digital tools like Heritage Building Information Management (HBIM) support these processes without replacing professional judgment? This research explores the role of a tailored HBIM framework in guiding institutional decisions on sustainability interventions, with a focus on regulatory workflows, real-world usability, and transparency.

• heritage authorities

• energy retrofitting

• HBIM framework

• regulatory frameworks

• decision-making processes

• digital tools in conservation

• sustainability and heritage

Context

As climate adaptation becomes more urgent, heritage authorities face increasing pressure to balance energy efficiency with conservation values.¹ While energy retrofitting is central to sustainability goals, interventions on protected buildings remain complex due to legal restrictions, historical significance, and uncertain data.² HBIM has been proposed as a tool to support this complexity. Yet, public heritage administrations often lack the digital infrastructure, workflows, or user-oriented tools needed to use HBIM meaningfully.³

Existing HBIM research has largely focused on documentation and modelling, while neglecting the regulatory, institutional, and decision-making realities of heritage governance. As a result, HBIM is rarely used in practice by the very authorities responsible for approving and managing retrofits. This research shifts the focus from modelling per se to institutional usability, asking how an HBIM framework could support heritage authorities in making informed, transparent, and traceable decisions about energy retrofitting.

Aims

This PhD investigates the role that an HBIM-based decision-support framework can play in the workflows of heritage authorities evaluating energy retrofits. It aims to bridge the gap between digital modelling and real-world administrative practice by identifying concrete user needs, process inefficiencies, and information gaps. The final goal is to develop a conceptual HBIM framework that aligns with existing procedures, legal requirements, and stakeholder realities.

The project is rooted in an understanding of decision-making as a collaborative, knowledge-intensive process shaped by institutional structures, regulatory constraints, and a tacit expertise. Rather than proposing automation or generalized tools, the research develops a purpose-built model adapted to energy retrofitting workflows, with a focus on usability, transparency, and institutional readiness.

Research design

The research follows a four-phase qualitative methodology, combining stakeholder engagement with grounded framework development and case-based testing:

1. Explorative inquiry and contextual grounding: Semi-structured interviews with heritage professionals are used to map stakeholders, identify decision-relevant documents, and understand current workflows. A targeted review of laws and administrative documents complements the qualitative insights.

2. Workflow reconstruction and problem identification: Process and actor mapping will visualize existing approval procedures, highlighting bottlenecks, data gaps, and inconsistencies. A thematic analysis will identify where transparency and digital traceability are lacking, and where HBIM could offer realistic benefits.

3. HBIM framework design and adaptation: Based on the findings, a conceptual HBIM framework will be developed. It will specify the information needs, model functionalities, and acceptable formats relevant to institutional workflows. The framework will focus on supporting (not replacing) human judgment.

4. Case collaboration and validation: The framework will be tested using a real case. Through application and critical reflection, the research will assess usability, integration potential, and institutional value.

Supervisors: