Digital permits and compliance checks for buildings and infrastructure (IA) -

Expected Outcome

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Efficiency and productivity gains in design and construction processes;
• Fewer errors in planning, design and construction processes;
• Automated, faster, more accurate and more efficient permitting and compliance for construction works (e.g. regulatory, health and safety, performance);
• Improved build quality and resource efficiency in construction, in line with the aims of the New European Bauhaus initiative.[1]

Scope

There is a need to develop, connect and align new technologies and digital tools for construction, including improved and automated methods of designing, building and authorising construction works. The manual processing and delivery of administrative, legal and regulatory information such as planning and construction permits, and related compliance processes, are complicated and lengthy procedures. This leads to delays and ambiguity in the construction process, as well as errors, extra costs, waste and inefficiency.

Information generated or imported into digital models during early design phases can potentially streamline the application and granting of digital administrative permits. This will in turn facilitate informed decision making including compliance checks later in the design and construction process and throughout the life cycle of the built asset.

Proposals should:

• Develop and demonstrate novel ways of digitalising permitting and compliance processes for construction works;
• Demonstrate new tools and solutions for the storing, processing, analysis and retrieval of administrative and regulatory information related to construction works; and facilitate stakeholders to consult the current status of the process at all times. The new solutions should make use of neutral data formats, addressing rule interpretation and machine-readable information, and supporting analysis and exploitation of relevant digitalised acts, regulations, requirements and standards;
• Ensure that the new solutions are interoperable and integrated, where relevant, with other relevant tools, databases and processes. These can include Building Information Models (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), public registries, Life Cycle Analysis data, digital twins including those of greater scale (e.g. city, regional or national level) with support for enabling Augmented Reality/Virtual reality and additional novel features, 3D cadastre, digital building logbooks, and models of larger scale of the built environment, including those that are handled by public authorities. Proposals should ensure that spatial information, where relevant, aligns with the aims of the INSPIRE Directive[2];
• Ensure that the new solutions developed can handle a wide variety of relevant data, for example spatial and location data relating to the buildings or infrastructure and their context; urban height limits and setbacks; visual corridors or protected views; environmental information such as flood risk models and protected trees; cultural heritage rules and protections; utilities and services including energy, water and telecoms infrastructure;
• Develop solutions that harness the potential of digitalisation to accelerate processes and improve productivity, open up new methods of working and business models. For example, proposals should make use of disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, algorithm based checks, Human Aided Design and Compliance;
• Address potential barriers to the use of digital building permits and compliance checks including knowledge gaps, technology deployment, standards, and the regulatory and policy context;
• Take into account the wide range of actors involved in applying for, receiving and using permits and the related compliance (e.g. design, engineering and other construction professionals, researchers, industry especially SMEs, and public authorities), taking into consideration questions of accessibility, inclusivity including gender issues, and user acceptance;
• Take into account the international contexts and developments in construction-related data including BIM and GIS but also the capacities and opportunities presented in different parts of Europe. Proposals should therefore build on previous research, such as the outputs of the DigiPLACE project[3];
• Address the potential for upskilling and re-skilling of the construction value chain as a result of the innovation;
• Contribute to an EU-wide framework for the digitalisation and automation of machine readable permits and compliance checks for construction works, including by collaborating with similar projects including those funded under this call;
• Develop technical guidelines and semantic models applicable to different EU countries.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.

Finally, proposals should provide contributions to relevant standards and seek to ensure synergies with the Horizon Europe ‘Built4People’ co-programmed Partnership. Proposals may address any or all types of buildings and infrastructure as appropriate.

Activities are expected to start at TRL 5 and achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

Co-programmed European Partnerships

[1]https://europa.eu/new-european-bauhaus/index_en

[2]See https://inspire.ec.europa.eu/about-inspire/563

[3]See https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/856943

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