A tool for cooperation among companies involved in restoration and maintenance of old buildings

Tecnalia is participating in the creation of a new computer tool that facilitates cooperation amongst European companies in the sector of construction related to the restoration and maintenance of old buildings, including those registered as Historical Heritage Buildings.

To this end, Tecnalia is taking part as a partner and technical coordinator in the H-KNOW (Advanced Infrastructure for Knowledge Based Services for Buildings Restoration) project, within the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme.

The main objective of this project is to satisfy the growing needs of small and medium-sized businesses in the European construction sector for the management of knowledge, collaboration and learning, which were detected during the development of the project.

The project consortium, of which Tecnalia forms part, and based on an initial study of the state of the art and the needs of end users, has developed a computer tool in which management of information has been complemented with other services, in order to create virtual networks of collaboration and learning amongst businesses in this sector.

Moreover, this tool enables sharing knowledge and experiences about restoration and maintenance activities being undertaken at a European level within a community and the generating of collaboration agreements between sector companies that form part of this community

This tool was initially designed for companies in the construction sector, but is also suitable for adaption to other sectors in which knowledge and experience has to be managed in an appropriate manner, given their participation in projects with little repetitiveness of activities.

Provided by Elhuyar Fundazioa