Living museums: creating a Built Heritage Asset Management Information System (BMIS) to assist decision making in the heritage sector

The conservation of Living Museums is at a critical juncture, threatened by accelerating climate change and the complex demands of maintaining authenticity. This thesis responds to these pressures by developing a novel Built Heritage Asset Management Information System (BMIS) - a digital framework and toolkit designed to transition heritage stewardship from reactive repair to proactive resilience. Using the Ulster Folk Museum as a primary case study, the research harnesses geospatial technologies, high-resolution aerial mapping, and predictive climate modelling to create a dynamic decision-support tool. By integrating environmental risk data with historical asset records, the BMIS facilitates evidence-based interventions that navigate the tension between structural preservation and adaptive reuse. This study demonstrates that bridging conservation theory with digital innovation is not merely a technical enhancement but a fundamental necessity for safeguarding built heritage against future ecological and conceptual challenges. Thesis is embargoed until 31 July 2029.