New European directives on energy efficiency, targeting a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to be achieved by 2023, are triggering deep renovation building projects, which are largely responsible for these emissions. This high demand for the transformation of the existing building stock makes us consider the need to execute this type of renovation projects in the shortest period of time. Furthermore, it is important to offer an adequate cost/benefit balance for the proposed interventions.
And in this process of transition towards climate-neutral buildings, how can the use of new technologies and the application of methodologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) help in the implementation of deep renovation projects? The adoption of BIM models, traditionally used for new buildings, can provide important decision support when selecting solutions to be implemented in renovation projects. This was one of the main objectives of the H2020 BIM-SPEED Project, to improve deep renovation projects of residential buildings, reducing the time and costs associated with them, and promoting the use of BIM among the different stakeholders involved. To this end, standardised processes, with the creation of Use Cases, and different BIM‑based tools were developed as part of the BIM‑SPEED web platform ecosystem, as well as training materials on how to use these services1. To address interoperability issues, different ETLs (Extract, Transform and Load) and BIM connectors were implemented.
Interoperability framework between BIM tools and the BIM-SPEED web platform, showing the connection to the implemented ETLs and BIM Connectors. To ensure the reliability of the data, different Checker tools were applied
It was also possible to see how beneficial the combination of Machine Learning techniques with BIM models is for decision making in deep renovation projects, allowing the automatic selection of the most appropriate renovation option. This selection is based on national building envelope regulations, and also takes into consideration a number of user-defined input parameters on the limitations of its application2. The combination of the Scan to BIM process with the automatic creation of walls in BIM, using point clouds as input data, was also of great interest to end users3.
And now, what else?
The possibilities of using BIM models do not end with the renovation phase of the building. These models can also play a key role in the Operation and Maintenance phase. The development of Digital Building Twins based on BIM models can help in the optimisation and control of buildings to improve their energy performance. In line with this, projects such as BuildON, coordinated by CARTIF, and SMARTeeSTORY, the latter focused on monitoring and optimisation of the energy performance of non-residential historical buildings, are starting. We will keep you updated on further developments in future posts.
2 Mulero-Palencia, S.; Álvarez-Díaz, S.; Andrés-Chicote, M. Machine Learning for the Improvement of Deep Renovation Building Projects Using As-Built BIM Models. Sustainability2021, 13, 6576. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126576
3 Álvarez-Díaz, S.; Román-Cembranos, J.; Lukaszewska, A.; Dymarski, P. 3D Modelling of Existing Asset Based on Point Clouds: A Comparison of Scan2BIM Approaches. In 2022 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Living Environment (MetroLivEn); IEEE, 2022; pp 274–279. https://doi.org/10.1109/MetroLivEnv54405.2022.9826964
The BIM approach (Building Information Modelling) is all around Architecture, Engineering and Construction professionals, but when it comes down, very few companies are founding their daily work on this paradigm and applications are really far from being homogeneous. BIM is many times (let’s say “usually”) incorrectly identified as a specific software package or a type of 3D digital model. However, BIM is much more than a newer version of CAD or a 3D visualisation tool.
The BIM approach provides a digital featuring of a building or infrastructure throughout its whole life-cycle, adding extra information to help making better and more-timely decisions upon a 3D model that allows a multidimensional analysis: 4D (evolution); 5D (costs); 6D (sustainability -including energy efficiency-); 7D (maintenance).
Although there is still a lack of knowledge on how BIM and associated digital innovations are applied across European countries, the European Directive 2014/24/EU imposes BIM Level 2 for government centrally procured projects. Level 2 refers a collaborative process of producing federated discipline specific models, consisting of 3D graphical data (those visually represented) and semantic data (those significant additions) as well as associated documentation (for instance: master plans). Information is exchanged using non-proprietary formats, such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC).
Consequently the built heritage is subject to BIM for the purposes of documentation, conservation and dissemination, but the distinctiveness and sensitivity to meet heritage demands requires technological and methodological particularizations leading to the concept of Heritage-BIM (H-BIM). The purpose of H-BIM is to provide a 3D parametric model as a “container” of information generated all over time by different procedures, by different people, and from different sources (hw & sw). The model would capture the multidisciplinary nature of Heritage, far away from the simplicity and modularity of conventional construction, and would be very useful to study, evaluate the state of conservation and plan interventions on the assets in a profitable way. It is quite a challenge for a sector where digitization is a pending issue.
This technologically means facing many challenges, starting with the minimum amount of graphical and semantic data that would be adequate to support the activities of the sector. Two of the most important are:
The combination of 3D data with different types of images (thermography, high resolution photographs or multispectral recordings) to produce a really useful H-BIM model for exhaustive assessment.
The photorealistic texturing of 3D models for a rigorous representation of reality.
Both aspects are being worked by CARTIF to decisively help companies, managers and public administrations in the digitization of Cultural Heritage.
Forests are one of the most valuable pillars of our natural environment. Not only do they provide renewable raw materials such as wood and resin, but they also perform essential functions for life: they regulate the climate, act as carbon sinks, conserve biodiversity, protect the soil from erosion, and provide spaces for well-being and rural development.
However, these ecosystems face major challenges. Climate change, biodiversity loss, forest fires, and rural depopulation threaten their balance. Added to this are structural difficulties within the forestry sector itself, such as international competition, a shortage of skilled labor, and the need to improve operational efficiency. In this context, active forest management is more important than ever. A well-managed forest is a resilient forest, capable of withstanding pests, diseases, and, above all, fires. The devastating fires of recent years have highlighted the urgent need to modernize the sector, moving towards a digital and ecological transition that will transform traditional forestry into an innovative and sustainable bioeconomy.
In regions such as Castile and León, where forest areas represent a significant portion of the territory, sustainable management of natural resources has become a strategic priority. This requires not only technical knowledge, but also advanced digital tools that facilitate decision-making and process optimization. Forests are not just natural landscapes: they are complex ecosystems that provide incalculable benefits, from maintaining biodiversity to providing economic sustenance for rural areas. Furthermore, their role as natural carbon sinks makes them indispensable allies in the fight against climate change.
Modern forest management involves much more than conservation: it means planning, monitoring, and adapting land use, drawing on knowledge, technology, and collaboration between administrations, companies, research centers, and society. The ecological and digital transition in this area is an opportunity to improve efficiency, prevent environmental disasters, and consolidate a forest bioeconomy that generates employment and development in rural areas.
Innovation and digitization at the service of forests
The drive towards digitization and the use of advanced technologies—such as GIS systems, BIM models, and data spaces—are transforming the way we understand and manage forest ecosystems. These tools provide accurate, real-time information on the state of forests, optimize harvesting, and strengthen prevention against fires and other environmental risks.
One of the most notable innovations is the development of continuous forest inventory systems, which provide real-time information on the existence, growth, and carbon stock of forest areas. Thanks to remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and satellite image processing, it is possible to monitor millions of hectares, detect changes in land use, and plan actions more efficiently.
Digitization is also changing the way forest fires are tackled. Automatic detection systems using artificial intelligence, combined with meteorological and satellite data, enable dynamic risk maps to be generated and improve the coordination of firefighting teams. All of this reduces response times and increases the effectiveness of emergency management. The forest bioeconomy, understood as the comprehensive and sustainable use of forest resources, finds a decisive ally in technology. From mobile applications for real-time management to digital certification or traceability platforms, digitization is redefining the sector’s value chain. Artificial intelligence-based solutions enable the automation of processes, improved occupational safety, and optimized forest logistics, thus promoting a more competitive and sustainable model.
The European framework: investing in resilience and digitalization
The European Union has made a firm commitment to transforming the primary sector through the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, financed by Next Generation EU funds. This is the framework for Order MAV/626/2025, issued by the Regional Government of Castile and León, which regulates subsidies for the implementation of the RetechFOR project, Technological and Territorial Network for forest monitoring and environmental disaster reduction as levers for the development of the forest bioeconomy, one of the initiatives of the RETECH program, Territorial Networks of Technological Specialization, a tool launched by the Secretariat of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. The project is worth €28.45 million, 75% of which is co-financed by the European Union and 25% by the autonomous communities of Castile and León and the Canary Islands.
This initiative seeks to modernize the management of forest resources through the intensive use of enabling technologies and the creation of an interoperable data infrastructure connecting administrations, companies, and research centers.
The RetechFOR project focuses on developing advanced solutions in three key areas. First, monitoring and prevention through the use of satellite data, sensors, and artificial intelligence algorithms for early warning and dynamic generation of fire risk maps. Secondly, data management through the creation of an interoperable forest data space, a crucial infrastructure for the flow of information between the administration, managers, and industry. Finally, precision forestry through the implementation of a continuous forest inventory that, through the use of digital twins, allows for the optimization of forest use and planning, ensuring an efficient and sustainable forest bioeconomy.
RetechFOR partners
CARTIF: innovation for digital forest management
As part of this initiative and with the aim of ensuring the best technological implementation, CARTIF is actively collaborating in the execution of the AG-RetechFOR project. This technology center is leading the development of forest data spaces that guarantee the interoperability, sovereignty, and traceability of information, which are fundamental elements for the success of the sector’s digital transformation.
CARTIF’s participation in the RetechFOR project focuses on three key areas that are essential for the modernization of the forestry sector. First, the design and implementation of interoperable connectors that facilitate the secure integration of heterogeneous data from multiple sources, allowing dispersed information to be consolidated and analyzed efficiently while maintaining the sovereignty and governance of the information sources.
Secondly, the development of digital platforms for natural heritage management, incorporating multi-layer geographic information system technologies that enable the visualization and integrated analysis of geospatial information. These tools are essential for understanding territorial complexity and making informed decisions about natural resource management.
Finally, the application of information modeling methodologies for construction in the digital management of critical forest infrastructure represents a significant innovation. This approach allows for the creation of accurate digital representations of forest facilities, facilitating their maintenance, optimization, and long-term planning.
CARTIF’s technical capacity, combined with its compliance with European standards on data spaces, positions the technology center as a strategic player in the sustainable digital transformation of the region. Its contribution is key to building a more resilient, efficient, and competitive forest ecosystem in Castile and León, demonstrating that technological innovation and environmental sustainability can and must go hand in hand.
Beneath the vaults of a Gothic church, within the thick walls of a Cistercian monastery, in the stucco of a Renaissance palace or the rammed earth and timber frames of a traditional house, a single truth emerges: built heritage is an essential part of our history and collective identity. It is a physical legacy made of stone, wood, lime, brick or raw earth, conceived with construction wisdom adapted to its time.
Today, however, many of these buildings are deteriorating, left empty, and, far too often, disappearing without ever having been given a second chance. The lack of contemporary use, societal passivity, the absence of maintenance plans, the associated costs and, above all, something rarely discussed or deliberately overlooked: a technical misunderstanding of how they were built, are accelerating their loss.
Lifecycle of the Monastery of Nuestra Señora del Prado (Valladolid), pilot building of the INHERIT project. Source: own elaboration
How can we preserve what we don´t understand? How can we maintain with sound judgement if we ignore how something was built, why specific materials were used, or what structural logic underlies it? Preventive conservation is not a trend, it is an urgent necesssity if we want to safeguard our cultural heritage with rigour and responsibility.
At CARTIF, we believe it is essential to research and develop technical, innovative, yet realistic and implementable solutions that address this challenge through knowledge and respect for what has already been built. We aim to contribute to asmarter, more useful conservation approach, one that avoids improvisation and standard formulas, and instead promotes a deep understanding of how things were constructed, in order to care for them better. We are convinced that heritage conservation is a collective process: a way of valuing what connects us, engaging citizens, and reinforcing our bond with the built environment.
Projects we have been involved in, such as INHERIT andiPhotoCult, support this vision and underscore the need for a new technological perspective on heritage conservation. We already explored this line of thought in our blog post “A proper approach to inspecting historic buildings”; if you’re interested in digging deeper, we recommend giving it a read.
Why can´t we apply the same criteria userd for contemporary buildings?
Historic buildings do not follow the rules of modern construction. Their materials, lime, brick, stone, wood, earth, are porous, natural, and adapted to local climates and contexts. Their construction systems, load-bearing walls, vaults, timber roof frames, obey a different logic. Assessing them using the same technical criteria as reinforced concrete or steel buildings is not only incorrect, it’s unjust.
We need tools that speak the language of built heritage. A specific approach that values their unique technical nature, because constructive diversity is not a problem, it’s a valuable asset.
A technical proposal for knowledge-based conservation
Today, many diagnostic inspections still rely almost exclusively on the expertise of the technician conducting them. While that professional judgement is valuable, even essential, it becomes insufficient if the data gathered is not structured in a consistent, traceable and useful way for follow-up actions such as maintenance planning, rehabilitation, or risk assessment.
Workflow towards preventive maintenance based on HBIM: from data collection to knowledge. Source: own elaboration
That’s why we believe it is crucial to open the debate and move towards the development of a methodological proposal that addresses the specific needs of this field, through clear technical criteria and a systematic approach that enables us to:
Identify and evaluate historical construction systems according to their own internal logic.
Detect and structure deterioration symptoms by technical domain (foundations, structure, façades, roofs, interior partitions and finishes, metalwork and joinery, accessibility, installations and smart systems).
Assess associated risks, whether physical, functional or environmental.
Generate structured, reusable data that can be connected to digital tools such as H-BIM models or maintenance platforms.
This approach does not aim to simplify through standardisation, but to intelligently unify technical criteria through consensus among professionals, adapting to different contexts and typologies while respecting the architectural and cultural diversity of the built heritage. It remains fully aligned with current regulatory frameworks, such as the UNE 41805 standard for building diagnostics, and takes as a reference the National Preventive Conservation Plan of Spain’s Institute of Cultural Heritage (IPCE).
What are the benefits of a well-designed technical tool?
Adopting a technical methodology adapted to heritage buildings offers tangible benefits for technicians, companies and public administrations alike:
Reduced medium- and long-term costs by avoiding emergency interventions.
Greater transparency and traceability through structured, comparable data across buildings.
Enhanced appreciation of traditional technical knowledge, acknowledging the logic and effectiveness of historic systems and materials, while also addressing professional niches that currently lack recognition.
Real support for decision-making without replacing professional judgement.
Seamless integration with digital models and H-BIM platforms to plan maintenance, evaluate deterioration risks, monitor material ageing or assess energy performance (when appropriate).
These tools are key to achieving a more useful and proactive form of management, enabling better planning, fewer interventions, and more effective conservation, helping us move towards sustainable, resilient, resource-efficient and ultimately cost-effective heritage.
Looking ahead: meaningful digitalisation
The potential of this approach does not end with inspection or diagnostics. It opens the door to digital tools capable of integrating 3D models, geolocated imagery, environmental or structural sensors, and lesion monitoring systems, or even AI-based tools capable of predicting deterioration patterns.
Workflow applied to the former collegiate church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Roa (iPhotoCult project), with data acquisition using a ground-based robotic platforma (UGV). Source: own elaboration
But none of this will be useful without a solid foundation: reliable, technically sound and well-structured data. Because technology alone doesn’t preserve buildings. It’s people, with sound judgement, supported by tools that respect and understand what has been built.
Built heritage is not merely a collection of old stones. It is a living expression of our identity, our way of inhabiting space, our craftsmanship, our decisions and our memory. And today, more than ever, preserving it is a way of taking care of ourselves as a society.
In a world where sustainability is increasingly at the forefront of our concerns, the need for innovative solutions to transform our built environment is more pressing than ever. The current state of the EU building stock presents a significant challenge, acting as one of the largest energy consumers in Europe and responsible for over one third of the EU’s emissions.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the European Commission unveiled a new strategy in October 2020: “A Renovation Wave for Europe – Greening our buildings, creating jobs, improving lives.” This strategy represents a crucial step forward, aiming to incentivize investments in renovation and support the implementation of efficient methods and technologies.
Despite these efforts, the reality remains stark – over 75% of the EU building stock is not energy-efficient, and the annual renovation rate languishes at a mere 1%. The strategy emphasizes the need for deep renovations, those achieving over 60% reduction in energy consumption, as a top priority. The overarching goal? To double annual energy renovation rates over the next decade, not only to reduce emissions but also to enhance the quality of life for building occupants and create green jobs in the construction sector.
To achieve the depth and volume of renovation required, a strong and competitive construction sector is essential. Embracing innovation and sustainability is paramount to increasing quality and reducing production and installation costs. The Built4People European Partnership highlights three pillars crucial to this endeavour:
Industrialized Technological Solutions: Embracing advanced technologies to streamline construction processes.
Digitalization of the Construction Industry: Leveraging digital tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) to improve transparency and efficiency.
Integration of Circularity Principles: Incorporating circular economy principles across the entire value chain, from materials sourcing to waste management.
In the midst of this pressing need for renovation innovation, REHOUSEemerges as a beacon of hope. Coordinated by CARTIF and under the Horizon Europe program, REHOUSE is poised to lead the charge in innovation within the construction sector. With a laser focus on deep renovations and circularity principles, REHOUSE aims to develop and demonstrate eight renovation packages incorporating promising technology innovations up to TRL7 (Integrated pilot system demonstrated).
These renovation packages are meticulously designed to overcome the main barriers that impede current EU renovation ratios. Through the integration of active/passive elements, prefabrication, and off-site construction, REHOUSE seeks to deliver affordable and sustainable renovation solutions with the flexibility to address nearly 100% of building renovation challenges at the EU level.
But what truly sets REHOUSE apart is its people-centric approach. By actively engaging residents and building owners throughout the renovation process, the project ensures that solutions are not only sustainable but also affordable, satisfactory, and attractive.
REHOUSE is now at its halfway point, demonstrating remarkable progress and achievements. The project has already established the basis for the social innovation strategy, detailed the specifications of innovative solutions, and produced digital versions of the Renovation Packages. Additionally, an innovative evaluation framework and technical building diagnosis of the demo-sites have been completed. The validation of the Renovation Packages (RPs) is underway to achieve TRL6 (Prototype system verified), accompanied by the development of guidelines for their industrialization. Furthermore, the project is actively defining specifications for the Digital Building Logbook, designing and preparing the groundwork for the later construction of the demo-sites, and outlining the pathway towards market achievement after the project concludes. These efforts mark the beginning of our journey to revolutionize renovation processes, driven by innovation and collaboration.
Join us on this transformative journey as we pave the way for a brighter, greener tomorrow with REHOUSE. Together, we can reshape our built environment, create sustainable spaces, and preserve our planet for generations to come.
This project has received funding from the European Union´s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101079951.
