The workflow in historic architecture projects presents problems related to the lack of clarity of processes, dispersion of information and the use of outdated tools. Different heritage organisations have showed interest in innovative methods to resolve those problems and improve cultural tourism for sustainable economic development. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a suitable computerised system for improving heritage management. Its application to historic buildings is named Historic BIM (HBIM). HBIM literature highlights the need for further research in terms of the overall processes of heritage projects, its practical implementation and a need for better cultural documentation. This work uses Design Science Research to develop a protocol to improve the workflow in heritage interdisciplinary projects. Research techniques used include documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. HBIM is proposed as a virtual model that will hold heritage data and will articulate processes. As a result, a simple and visual HBIM protocol was developed and applied in a real case study. The protocol was named BIMlegacy and it is divided into eight phases: building registration, determine intervention options, develop design for intervention, planning the physical intervention, physical intervention, handover, maintenance and culture dissemination. It contemplates all the stakeholders involved.

The continuous increase in cultural tourism, together with the deficient planning of public use, increases the risk of heritage resource degradation. Currently, there are collaborative methodologies enabling all the agents involved in the conservation of a heritage site to work in a coordinated way (HBIM), such as in the management of public use. However, in this study, through a review of the scientific literature, the lack of a method and tool that allows sustainable conservation management and the planning of cultural tourism of heritage assets in a specific geographical environment is demonstrated. The objective of this research is thus to explore and identify the possibilities of interoperability between HBIM and GIS for the development of a protocol aimed at synchronizing the information concerning heritage architecture across the management and cultural tourism planning and preventive conservation. This protocol was implemented for three monumental buildings in the historic centre of the city of Valencia (Spain). This novel protocol provides a new technological system that fosters the cultural development and preservation and conservation of heritage assets through a single tool integrating HBIM and GIS.

The building information modeling (BIM) technology is a methodology that allows the exchange of information efficiently; it is used by stakeholders who participate in the building life cycle. This methodology is successfully utilized for new buildings; however its implementation in heritage architecture is still emerging. The purposes of this research are to perform an analysis on the BIM state of the art for existing buildings, to identify the knowledge gap in historic buildings, and to propose a theoretical method for heritage architecture management. To achieve these objectives, a total of 65 articles and papers have been analyzed. These documents were grouped into five categories, and conclusions were drawn. Furthermore, a theoretical method was proposed by reviewing the BIM literature and by inventorying the monument’s needs. The results illustrate the emerging state of BIM for heritage architecture, also called historic building information modeling (HBIM); there are few practical applications so far, including database management of the historic monuments. The analysis aimed to propose a method to manage architectural patrimony. In conclusion, the creation of this HBIM method for movable and immovable heritage analysis, research, documentation, and management represents progress in how the exchange of information occurs between the different professionals and stakeholders involved in architectural patrimony. This research is part of the scientific project entitled: The Design of a Database, Management Model for the Information and Knowledge of Architectural Heritage; HAR2013-41614-R, subsidized by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the National Programme for Research Aimed at the Challenges of Society.

It is obvious that the primary document will always be the building itself, but within the field of conservation, restoration or maintenance it is necessary to have a large documentary archive where the interventions are recorded. The older the monument is, the greater the knowledge of the built element must be before any intervention and this requires a lot of time in prior research and which can develop prior studies, in addition to the economic cost that it entails. This is why with the advancement of technology and digital repositories, digital platforms can be created within Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM). This article reflects the experience of an eight-century-old monument, San Juan of Hospital of Valencia (Spain), in which a virtual twin has been made with software and specific web platforms in facility management such as Archibus©, EcoDomus©, Zutec© that allow the integration of information from BIM models and data acquired through sensors. With this work, although it is economically expensive and requires a lot of time for people specialized in the required programs, is improving the efficiency of facility management. and maintenance planning for large buildings and infrastructure.

This study explores the potential of Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for assessing tourist visitation and managing public use of heritage buildings. By integrating these tools, the research aims to improve preventive maintenance and conservation management in culturally significant buildings and urban outdoor spaces. The findings demonstrate the value of HBIM and GIS in handling spatial information and facilitating reliable decision-making for tourist itinerary design and visitor flow management. By examining three buildings of the highest degree of protection as assets of cultural interest, the information obtained can be extrapolated to a municipal management network that encompasses numerous urban models. The integration of databases enables the combination of data at different scales, from the building level to the territorial level, involving all relevant stakeholders from various disciplines. The results highlight the importance of using digital tools in the context of heritage architecture and public use management, promoting more sustainable practices in the preservation and conservation of our cultural heritage.

One of the greatest challenges in heritage management is to find a balance between the demands of visitor access and heritage conservation. The income generated prevents decay and benefits the conservation of buildings. At the same time, cultural tourism can accelerate the deterioration of buildings from increased use and an increase in agents harmful to conservation. This unique research analyses the influence of building use at San Juan del Hospital, the oldest church in the city of Valencia. Its architectural characteristics and the climate of the city mean that visits to the building put the conservation of its heritage assets at risk. Monitoring data from the summer months were put into a digital twin generated from a heritage building information model (HBIM), and the modelling of visitor numbers and the impact on indoor environmental quality was conducted. Monitoring and simulations confirmed that visitor numbers need to be reduced or mechanical conditioning systems need to be installed to prevent damage to the heritage artefacts within the building. This research provides building managers with information to make informed decisions about the preventive maintenance of heritage buildings. This research also demonstrates for the first time the value of using monitoring and a digital twin for conservation management.