Decision support tool for optimal renovation planning
A data-driven tool to compare renovation options and balance sustainability and heritage.
Historic buildings require renovation strategies that balance cultural preservation with environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The Decision Support Tool for Optimal Renovation Planning helps achieve this balance by guiding users through a structured, data-driven process to identify the most suitable renovation actions for each cultural heritage site.
Based on multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods, the tool allows users to compare different renovation options according to measurable criteria such as energy efficiency, cost, environmental impact, and heritage value. By combining quantitative data with stakeholder input, it supports transparent, well-informed decisions that respect both sustainability goals and regulatory constraints.
Key Features
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MCDA-driven decision framework
Evaluate complex renovation scenarios using a structured, multi-criteria approach.
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Integrated data access
Work seamlessly with information sourced directly from the INHERIT databases.
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Flexible criteria selection
Assess environmental, economic, social, and cultural factors based on project needs.
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Stakeholder-prioritised weighting
Adjust criteria weights to reflect differing perspectives and objectives.
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Scenario ranking & selection
Compare, rank, and categorise renovation options to identify the most suitable strategies.
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Built-in sensitivity analysis
Test how changes in assumptions or priorities influence the final recommendations.
Benefits
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Identifies renovation solutions that balance sustainability and heritage considerations
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Prevents strong performance in one criterion from masking weaknesses in another.
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Reflects diverse stakeholder priorities within the decision-making process
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Supports compliance with heritage preservation standards and local regulations
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Adjusts criteria and weights to explore alternative strategies and their outcomes
How it works
Users open the service on the platform and import key building details, such as name, characteristics, and potential renovation measures. From a catalogue of over 80 renovation measures and 38 evaluation criteria, users select the factors most relevant to their project, covering energy, environmental, economic, cultural, and social dimensions. Users define the involved decision-makers and assign weightings to each criterion. Each renovation option is assessed against the selected criteria, with data drawn from INHERIT benchmarks or entered manually to reflect the specific building context.
The tool ranks, selects, or categorises renovation options based on their performance. Results can be explored through interactive dashboards showing how each measure performs for different stakeholders. Users can adjust weights, thresholds, or input data to see how changes affect the results, ensuring the final decision is robust and well-founded.
The underlying MCDA framework, particularly the outranking method, ensures that no single factor dominates the decision. Poor performance in one area cannot simply be offset by good performance in another. This counts as a crucial feature for safeguarding critical heritage and environmental values.
