Integrated assessment technology for heritage building restoration: a structural equation modelling approach

Purpose This research develops and validates a comprehensive technology-based assessment system for heritage building restoration that integrates project management triangle factors with adaptive reuse sustainability factors, addressing the critical gap in standardized evaluation frameworks for developing countries. Design/methodology/approach The research design used structural equation modelling-partial least squares, data were collected from 100 construction professionals across seven heritage buildings in Java Island, Indonesia. The model integrates capital investment, asset condition and regulatory factors with scope, time and cost management dimensions through advanced psychometric validation. Findings The data collected from 100 construction professional in Indonesia, and the results reveal capital investment as the dominant factor influencing project management outcomes (β = 0.481–0.567), while regulatory factors show moderate relationships particularly with scope management (β = 0.328). Asset condition exhibits weaker associations, reflecting funding prioritization over technical considerations in developing country contexts. The system explains 29.8–44.5% variance in project management constructs with strong psychometric properties (Construct Realibility (CR) > 0.7, average variance extracted >0.5) and acceptable fit (SRMR = 0.076, Normed Fit Index (NFI) = 0.912). Originality/value This research provides the first empirically validated integrated assessment technology combining adaptive reuse sustainability factors with project management principles in heritage restoration contexts, offering practitioners systematic tools for feasibility assessment and resource optimization through rigorous quantitative validation in Southeast Asian developing country settings.