A significant and unavoidable part of planning any new development is ensuring compliance with local planning and building codes and regulations. Some regulations are straightforward, while others are complex due to various influencing factors. Waiting for the local planning and building department to manually check your permit applications for compliance is frustrating. If any issues are found, it could be weeks later, during which time your development is stalled. But the introduction of automation technologies promises to change how compliance checks are carried out.
The Traditional Approach to Compliance
Compliance checks have always been manual, labor-intensive processes. They involve sifting through extensive documentation, cross-referencing various codes and regulations, and relying on human interpretation. While thorough, this approach is prone to errors, inconsistencies, and delays.
Automated Compliance Systems
Automated compliance checks use advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence to rapidly assess plans against relevant building codes and regulations. These systems can process vast amounts of data in a fraction of the time it would take a human expert, providing quick and accurate results.
Key Advantages of Automation
The benefits provided by automated compliance checks not only enhance efficiency but also improve accuracy and consistency in the compliance process.
Early Issue Detection
One key advantage of automated compliance checks is their ability to catch potential issues early, sometimes as soon as you submit your permit application. This allows you to address compliance problems immediately, rather than waiting weeks before they are identified.
Uniform Rule Application
Automated systems offer consistency in interpretation. Unlike human reviewers, who may interpret complex regulations differently, automated systems apply rules uniformly across all projects. This consistency reduces disputes and creates a more predictable approval process for developers.
Significant Efficiency Gains
The efficiency gains from automation are substantial. What once took weeks or even months can now be accomplished in days or hours. This acceleration allows developers to move projects forward more quickly, reducing holding costs and potentially bringing properties to market faster.
Minimized Human Error
While no system is infallible, automated checks minimize the risk of overlooking critical compliance issues. They can flag potential problems that might be missed in a manual review, ensuring a more comprehensive assessment of each project.
Adapting to Regulatory Changes
Automated compliance systems are evolving to keep pace with the ever-changing regulatory landscape. These systems can be updated quickly to reflect new codes or changes in existing regulations, ensuring that compliance checks are always based on the most current standards.
Integrating Automation with Human Expertise
It’s important to note that automation is not about replacing human expertise entirely. Instead, it’s about augmenting and enhancing the capabilities of compliance professionals. Human oversight remains crucial, especially for complex or unique projects that may require nuanced interpretation of regulations. Passing automated compliance checks does not mean your permit has been approved.
The Future of Compliance in Property Development
As automation in compliance becomes more widespread, property developers are likely to focus new projects in areas using this technology. Ask your local planning department if they use systems like Archistar’s eCheck for automated compliance checks.
By adopting automated systems, local governments can make their areas more appealing to property developers. Using compliance checking technology makes the permit application process more efficient for developers. Meaning they can move from planning to construction much faster. If they haven’t implemented an automation solution yet, they can request a demo of Archistar’s eCheck platform to see its benefits for them and developers.
