Developing a Decision-Support Framework for Digital Documentation of Palestinian Heritage Buildings Using Photogrammetry and HBIM.
Supervisor Name
Wasim Salama
Supervisor Email
Was-s@najah.edu
University
An-Najah National University
Research field
Architecture
Bio
Dr. Wasim Salameh – Academic Biography Dr. Wasim Salameh is an architect and academic at the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at An-Najah National University, Palestine. His academic work focuses on architectural design education, building systems, sustainable architecture, and the integration of emerging digital technologies and artificial intelligence into architectural practice and education. He is particularly interested in design for disassembly, adaptive and resilient building systems, and sustainable approaches to the built environment, with an emphasis on local contexts and post-conflict reconstruction. He is also engaged in international academic collaboration and innovative teaching methodologies that promote interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and design excellence.
Description
Project Description Developing a Decision-Support Framework for Digital Documentation of Palestinian Heritage Buildings Using Photogrammetry and HBIM This research project aims to develop a practical, context-sensitive decision-support framework to help architects, conservation professionals, and heritage institutions select appropriate digital documentation methods for Palestinian heritage buildings. It focuses on two complementary technologies: photogrammetry, which uses photographs to generate measurable three-dimensional representations, and Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM), which integrates building geometry with historical, material, architectural, and conservation-related information. The project addresses a practical challenge in Palestinian heritage conservation: selecting a suitable digital documentation strategy when financial resources, access to buildings, existing records, technical expertise, time, and software availability may be limited. Rather than assuming that the most advanced technology is always the best solution, the research will establish criteria for determining which approach is most appropriate for different project requirements and local conditions. The study will follow a mixed-methods research approach over eight months. It will begin with a structured review of recent academic literature to identify the capabilities, limitations, resource requirements, and applications of photogrammetry and HBIM in architectural heritage documentation. Online consultations with approximately 10–15 experts in architecture, heritage conservation, geomatics, BIM, and heritage management will then be used to identify locally relevant challenges and prioritise the criteria influencing technology selection. Based on the literature review and expert input, the project will develop a weighted decision matrix and a step-by-step decision pathway for selecting among three principal strategies: photogrammetry-based documentation, HBIM development using existing records, and an integrated photogrammetry–HBIM workflow. The framework will also identify situations in which available evidence is insufficient to justify a particular approach and additional documentation or data collection is required. The proposed framework will be evaluated through expert review and a desk-based demonstration using published or archival information about a heritage building. This exercise will assess the framework's clarity, usability, and practical applicability rather than the geometric accuracy of a newly produced digital model. The principal project deliverable will be a documented and expert-reviewed decision-support framework, accompanied by a comparison matrix, selection criteria, decision pathway, and recommendations for implementation in Palestinian heritage documentation projects. The research is expected to support more proportionate technology selection, improve the alignment between documentation methods and conservation objectives, and reduce the risk of unnecessary costs or overly complex workflows. The project is designed as a desk-based study supported by online expert consultation. It does not include physical site surveys, drone operations, the production of a complete HBIM model, or the implementation of a digital documentation system for an entire heritage building. Its contribution lies in establishing a structured basis for making informed decisions before documentation projects begin and resources are committed.