1 The power of community-driven knowledge in nondestructive testing Tamara DIEDERICHS NDT.net, Mayen, Germany, td@ndt.net Abstract Nondestructive testing (NDT) is a crucial discipline that ensures the safety and integrity of critical infrastructure, including aircraft, railways, energy networks, and bridges. By enabling early detection of damage without compromising the material's integrity, NDT plays a vital role in preventing accidents and ensuring operational reliability. Given the complexity of NDT methodologies and technologies, access to comprehensive knowledge resources is essential for practitioners and researchers alike. This paper emphasizes the importance of open knowledge in the field of NDT, exploring how community-driven platforms can facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, and co- creation. By fostering an environment of open access to NDT-related information, we can drive innovation, enhance safety standards, and advance best practices in nondestructive testing. Keywords: NDT knowledge, community-driven, online platform, open access 1. What does knowledge mean today? In the words of the English philosopher Francis Bacon, knowledge can be described as power. In today's world, knowledge is the foundation of our modernising society. Knowledge enables people to act and to be productive [3]. The knowledge we acquire at school is no longer enough to last a lifetime. In today's fast-paced society, lifelong learning is essential to actively engage with and shape our world. Lifelong learning covers not only all stages of life, from childhood to old age, but also different settings. Beyond formal institutions such as schools, universities and training programmes, we also learn informally - whether at work, in museums, while travelling or in everyday settings such as the World Wide Web. The Internet in particular has become one of the most powerful platforms for learning. In our complex world, it is important to recognise different types of knowledge, such as scientific, industry, market and practical knowledge. The information age has enabled more people than ever before to participate in the production of knowledge and to express their ideas to a global audience. More info about this article: https://www.ndt.net/?id=30313 e-Journal of Nondestructive Testing - ISSN 1435-4934 - www.ndt.net © 2024 The Authors. Published by NDT.net under License CC-BY-4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://doi.org/10.58286/30313