The aim of DigiChecks is creating and demonstrating a new Digital Framework that allows interoperability and communication between platforms, based on technologies and international initiatives to facilitate the management of construction permits, including compliance checks.
DigiChecks proposes to build a digital framework that implements the following steps to overcome the challenges mentioned and pave the way to a more streamlined approach to manage and process permits:
- Step 1: Standardized Permit Ontology. The first step is to create a shared language for permitting. This language, formalized in a permit ontology, enables the framework to map data from various sources into a common structure and make it processable by a computer in a repeatable manner.
- Step 2: Digitizing Permit Processes. To deal with the many different actors and their respective processes for permitting, DigiChecks proposes to develop a tool, based on OMG standards, where these actors can model their processes into DigiChecks. These process models can be updated and or removed when the processes change.
- Step 3: Building Permit Rules. DigiChecks’ proposed solution contains the ability for permitting authorities to build you’re their own ‘rules’. These rules are used as a base for an automated compliancy checker.
- Step 4: Integration of the previous steps into a Permit Service (API). To transform the solution into a service, DigiChecks combines steps one (Permit Ontology), two (Permit Process) and three (Permit Rules) into a service offered through an (Open) API.
The ultimate objective of the solution is to provide flexibility, ease-of-use and efficiency to the permit validation and approval system in the construction project environments. A solution framework is thus required that allows - regardless of the country, region or municipality -, an easy interoperability with the tools commonly used in construction. The use of the DigiChecks framework does not imply a change in the processes, but rather effectively implements a new form of exchanging information between the different actors involved in a permit procedure.
With the development of this framework and the validation of a pre-defined business case (platform), configured on it for 3 different pilots in collaboration with the stakeholders of the Consortium, it is expected to give rise to applications capable of revolutionizing digitalization of permits and compliance in construction and speeding-up regulatory changes that will ease their implementation in large scale construction sites in the European Union
The achievement of the DigiChecks’ objectives, in combination with dissemination and exploitation activities and a clear path to market introduction impact, will lead make feasible the easy integration of digital permits and compliance checks within the construction processes, enhancing the use of digital technologies under a non-intrusive perspective. This flexibility of the DigiChecks Framework, focused on agnostic but standardized and controlled data exchange is the key to the project’ contribution for supporting the transformation of the sector and its growth, improving efficiency of construction.
