ABSTRACT
The preface of Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions's 2008 conference proceedings sets forth that "the successful preservation of an historic building, complex or city depends on its continued use and the daily care and maintenance". Since the 1990s, a pro-active approach towards monitoring has indeed become an important development in conservation field. The chapter describes to preventive conservation research by discussing a built heritage management approach based on scheduled maintenance, periodical monitoring and integral condition assessments. Regular inspections on the level of the heritage building stock, rather than targeting individual historic structures, can enable effective resource expenditure. In 1991, Monumentenwacht was established in Belgium, more specifically in Flanders as immovable heritage is competency of the Regional authorities. Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen was initially not established as a public administration, but as a group of 6 non-profit organisations under private law at the service of built heritage owners and managers.
