Dear IUFRO Division 5:
The survey below will be of interest to professionals who restore heritage
wooden buildings.
Regards,
Sheila Ward
IUFRO WP 1.02.04, WP 4.02.01, and TF57
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*Survey for heritage building professionals on regulatory ambiguities.*
Heritage building professionals, especially for wooden buildings, are
invited to participate in a study examining how heritage professionals
interpret regulations governing digital documentation. Of special concern
are construction, conservation, and heritage preservation of timber/wooden
buildings. Your practical knowledge could help address key gaps in how
digital tools are applied to forest products, including tropical woods, in
the built environment.
The Main Goal: This research seeks to validate which regulatory ambiguities
create the most significant barriers to digital documentation in practice,
and how professionals navigate these uncertainties.
Brief Context: Our analysis of international charters, professional
standards, and legal frameworks has identified over 40 interpretive
ambiguities—ranging from undefined concepts such as "precise documentation"
to emerging uncertainties regarding HBIM copyright. However, these
ambiguities have only been identified through document analysis. Your
direct experience is essential to validate whether they genuinely create
barriers in practice.
Your Call to Action: Please complete the questionnaire at
https://eu.surveymars.com/q/7IQVcibU3 by sharing your professional
experience with regulatory ambiguities. Your responses are anonymous and
will directly inform practical guidance for the heritage community. The
deadline for response is 25 Nov 2026.
Benefits to the Community: Your participation will help develop
evidence-based guidance for navigating regulatory uncertainty, supporting
professionals in justifying digital methods, and ultimately enabling more
effective heritage documentation.
Your Giveback: You will receive an Executive Summary of findings and a
"Regulatory Ambiguity Navigator" quick-reference guide for your
professional practice.
This survey is being undertaken as part of the research project “Regulatory
Barriers to Digital Documentation In Heritage Contexts” at Portsmouth
University. If you have any questions please contact up819747(a)myport.ac.uk
Thank you for your expertise.