Digital Building Logbooks and Permit Processes

Digital building logbooks and permit processes have the potential to make the building permit application process in municipalities more efficient, faster, and transparent. Also, they allow more precise planning and efficient use of resources, reducing waste and improving energy management in buildings. They streamline data entry, storage, and retrieval processes, saving time and resources. By minimizing the risk of human error, they ensure the accuracy of information available for decision-making and compliance purposes. Additionally, their remote accessibility enables information accessibility anywhere, anytime. Digital building permits and logbooks contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive built environment in line with the Green Deal and New European Bauhaus goals. Despite the clear benefits, some challenges are still to be overcome during the digitalisation process.

There are several challenges in the implementation of digital building permits and logbooks. Initial setup costs, including software development, hardware installation, and staff training, can be significant. Concerns regarding data security and privacy may arise due to the storage of sensitive building data in digital format. Resistance to change and lack of familiarity with digital tools among building control, permit applicants, and management staff can also hinder user adoption. Furthermore, ensuring compatibility and seamless data exchange between different software platforms and building systems presents interoperability challenges.

This workshop is organised to create a common understanding of how digital building permits and logbook processes can contribute to economic, ecological, and societal sustainability. The workshop will bring together stakeholders to share knowledge and co-create a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities of digital building permits and logbook processes for sustainability.

Moving forward, advancing digital building logbooks and building permit processes requires several key steps. Industry standardization efforts should focus on developing common formats, data structures, and interoperability protocols. Comprehensive training programs and educational resources should be provided to promote user understanding and proficiency. Continuous improvement of user-centered software for digital logbooks, building permit processes, compliance checking, and technological advancements are essential for enhancing functionality and usability. Collaboration with technology vendors, industry associations, and regulatory agencies can accelerate innovation and address common implementation challenges. Therefore, future directions on the development and implementation of digital building logbooks and digital building permits will be discussed during the workshop.

Contributing projects:

• ACCORD
• CHEK
• DigiChecks
• EUnet4DBP
• DemoBlog

Session Chair:

Larissa De Rosso, Architects’ Council of Europe – Ruben Verstraeten, Ghent University – Rita Lavikka, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland – Mayte Toscano, Open Geospatial Consortium – Henk Visscher, TU Delft