ArchiInspection Project: Integrated Non Destructive Testing, A Building Information Model Approach

A non destructive testing process is becoming a technical need, thousands of buildings and huge urban areas will have to be adapted to restrictive energy-saving standards and sustainability criteria. Analysis and diagnostics are required on a massive scale. Building Information Modeling seems to be the adequate environment to assemble huge amounts of data. At this moment both hardware and software technologies are performing moderately well separately. The challenge is to connect them and in the long run automate data collection and conversion to a unified model that could be maintained during the programmed building life cycle. The aim of this research is to discuss the challenge of NDT hardware and BIM software systems integration and define the basic steps for the best practices to undertake it in a fast and accurate manner as well as to define the present and future connections to be developed. A 3 phase joint research project is proposed here and basic needs are analysed. Many lessons have been learned from field work, data translation and data incompatibilities with many shortcomings being detected.