Information/Knowledge Architecture & BIM - eCAADe 29 383 ArchiInspection Project Integrated Non Destructive Testing, A Building Information Model Approach Farid Mokhtar Noriega 1 , Victor Garcia Barba 2 , Jose Antonio Merino 3 , Jose Julio Zancajo 4 , Teresa Mostaza Pérez 5 1,2,3 Escuela Superior de Arquitectura y Tecnología, Camilo Jose Cela University, Spain, 4,5 Escuela Politécnica Superior de Avila, Salamanca University, Spain 1,2,3 http://www.ucjc.edu, 4,5 http://www.usal.es 1 fmokhtar@ucjc.edu, 2 vgarcia@ucjc.edu, 3 Jamerino@ucjc.edu, 4 jzancajo@usal.es, 5 teresamp@usal.es Abstract. 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 unifed 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 defne the basic steps for the best practices to undertake it in a fast and accurate manner as well as to defne 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 feld work, data translation and data incompatibilities with many shortcomings being detected. Keywords. BIM; Architectural Non Destructive Testing; Architectural conservation databases; information interoperability INTRODUCTION Architecture is becoming a strategic asset for com- munities and countries with a rich heritage. Mil- lions of houses and buildings were erected during the 20th century when, until recently, energy sav- ing and sustainability were not a global concern (ECOFYS, 2005). Traditionally, buildings were not maintained periodically by their users or owners but left abandoned till they reached a state that required extensive rehabilitation or restoration. This short-term thinking is now obsolete, sustainability is becoming a constant concern and energy-saving regulations are imposing strict standards for build- ing efciency. Architects and building engineers require input data to produce accurate diagnostics and to plan efciency and conservation protocols (Koo and Van