H-KNOW

Advanced Infrastructure for Knowledge Based Services for Buildings Restoring

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Increasing number of complex works in buildings restoration/maintenance urgently requests an advanced and systematic access to the relevant knowledge. A highly promising approach to enable such an access and to foster advancing of construction industry SMEs toward the knowledge organisations are innovative forms of collaborative knowledge&business networks of SMEs and RTD partners. The innovative solutions for (a) collaborative SME-RTD communities for knowledge creation/reusing along the common work, to assure also a bidirectional learning (SMEs from knowledge funds and RTDs, and RTDs from collaborative work and 'tacit-inherited' SME knowledge), and (b) closer business collaboration among SMEs and RTDs, are needed to assure higher efficiency of the knowledge-based approach spreading, resulting in creation of new full services with a high added value for clients. The project plans to develop ICT solution, suitable for SMEs to include (1) innovative, competitive knowledge and training providing services, and (2) support for realisation of new forms of SME-RTD networking through a specific knowledge integration. SOA-based platform will be developed in which KM services for collection, structuring and reuse of relevant content will be complemented by services for Management of Social Interactions (MSI) for realisation of virtual collaborative networks, and Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL). Main innovation is provision for the first time of a holistic, highly harmonised solution to achieve a strategic breakthrough in SME-RTD collaboration in a specific construction industry domain by (1) methodology addressing innovative SME-RTD network models, and methods/procedures for identification, collection and structuring of the specific knowledge for buildings restoration/maintenance, taking care of ecological and energy saving aspects, and (2) SOA platform combining MSI, KM and TEL services. The system will be tested on knowledge collection/reuse in 4 BCs.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Cultural heritage (CH) sites are an important part of European identity. Scientists developed a collaborative platform uniting the research and construction communities for cutting-edge restoration and maintenance.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Information and communication technology (ICT) tools are indispensable for streamlining construction projects and maintaining a competitive position. While these tools are an important component of the design repertoire of large firms, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often do not have access to them. Many SMEs cannot afford expensive commercial software, and they also may not have in-house personnel who can develop custom-made solutions.

The position of SMEs working on the restoration, retrofitting and maintenance of older buildings is even more isolated. Specific requirements and protective legislation apply to historic buildings, many of which may be CH sites. Construction that complies presupposes a wealth of specialised knowledge to which SMEs may not have easy access.

An effective partnership between research and technology development (RTD) institutions and SMEs would fill this critical gap. This was the impetus behind the EU-funded project 'Advanced infrastructure for knowledge based services for buildings restoring' (H-KNOW). The H-KNOW project developed a software solution for collaborative knowledge management (KM) and e-learning services to support the competitiveness of construction-related SMEs in particular in relation to old buildings and CH sites.

The service-oriented architecture (SOA)-based H-KNOW platform consists of a number of core services. These are network set-up (NSS), collaboration (Management of Social Interactions (MSI)), e-learning (Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)), KM and ontology. H-KNOW is thus a private collaborative space empowering members to share knowledge gained from specific construction projects and to train engineers accordingly.

SMEs make up most of the European construction industry and inventoried European CH objects are quite numerous. H-KNOW addressed the urgent need for access to up-to-date information regarding techniques and legislation affecting reconstruction, retrofitting and maintenance of historic buildings. Results will contribute to the preservation of European culture and identity while enhancing the competitiveness of European SMEs in the construction and restoration sector.