Greater Sudbury city council has greenlit an $800,000 initiative on Tuesday to introduce artificial intelligence into the review of building permit applications. The main objective is to detect issues at an earlier stage and enhance processing efficiency, rather than replacing city staff.
The AI technology will serve as an initial screening tool when applicants submit plans through the city’s Pronto portal. It will check for missing information and potential violations of Greater Sudbury’s zoning regulations and sections of the Ontario Building Code. This proactive approach aims to provide immediate feedback to applicants, eliminating the need to wait several days for staff review.
Kris Longston, the city’s general manager of planning and growth, explained that the system will undergo training on the city’s zoning rules and permit procedures. He likened this training phase to onboarding a new employee who needs to grasp the system’s workings before handling more complex tasks. The technology is anticipated to prevent incomplete applications from being submitted, raising the standards for incoming applications and potentially expediting processing times.
Morgan Roleau, CEO of the Northern Ontario Home Builders Association, expressed cautious optimism about Sudbury’s AI plan. She acknowledged that permit delays have been a significant concern for builders in the region, with some applications taking months to clear for minor issues that could have been rectified earlier. Roleau noted that while AI could streamline requirements and compliance checks, it might not address underlying issues in the permitting process.
According to Mojgan Jadidi, an associate professor at York University, AI can be valuable for automating repetitive tasks in the permitting process, allowing professionals to focus on complex decisions. However, human expertise remains crucial for cases involving nuanced interpretation or conflicting priorities. The involvement of a human reviewer alongside AI ensures accountability and final decision-making.
John Lane, president of the Ontario Building Officials Association, emphasized that AI is effective for routine compliance checks but cannot replace the judgment of plans examiners in intricate cases or where code requirements are ambiguous. He highlighted the potential of AI in alleviating administrative bottlenecks and enhancing efficiency.
Funding for the pilot project will be sourced from the city’s Building Permit Revenue Stabilization Reserve Fund. If the pilot proves successful, annual AI licensing fees of $350,000 will be covered by building permit fees. Sudbury aims to assess the pilot’s impact on the initial stages of the permitting process before committing to full implementation, reflecting a strategic approach to evaluating the technology’s effectiveness.