Automated Building Code Checking for Faster Permit Review

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual building permit review process is time-consuming, error-prone, and costly, lacking consistency in regulatory interpretation and requiring extensive manual verification, especially with the increasing complexity of building codes and regulations.

Innovation Solution

An automated system that translates building codes into computable representations using formal languages and neural NLP techniques, enabling automated comparison of building permit applications against local, state, and international regulations, facilitating efficient compliance checking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If manual review process is used, then regulatory interpretation flexibility is maintained, but review time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermit review timeVSAvoidautomation level

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical review process with an automated computer-based system that uses natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to review building permit applications against code requirements, eliminating the need for manual text analysis while maintaining regulatory compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the building permit application to be automatically evaluated by the AI system without requiring manual intervention from reviewers, with the system independently analyzing documents, extracting relevant information, and determining compliance status

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual review process is used, then complex regulatory interpretation is possible, but consistency and accuracy decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance check accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces human reviewers with an automated AI system that provides consistent and accurate compliance checks by eliminating human error and variability, using machine learning models trained on regulatory documents to interpret and apply complex codes uniformly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the AI model continuously learns from review outcomes and regulatory updates, improving its accuracy over time through retraining on new data while maintaining consistent application of established code requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If extensive manual verification is performed, then thorough compliance checking is achieved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereview throughputVSAvoidcompliance verification precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual verification with automated document analysis using natural language processing and computer vision technologies that can thoroughly examine building permit applications for compliance with high precision while processing many applications simultaneously to maintain high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system achieves multi-functionality by integrating multiple verification capabilities into a single automated platform that can simultaneously check structural, electrical, plumbing, and other building code requirements across multiple documents and disciplines

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of time

If human intervention is maintained, then regulatory judgment is preserved, but time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereview cycle timeVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system operates autonomously by automatically ingesting building permit applications, analyzing them against code requirements, generating compliance reports, and making determination recommendations without requiring manual operational intervention, thereby reducing review cycle time while maintaining operational simplicity through automated workflows

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12572992B2Systems and methods for automated building code conformance

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 UNIV OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

AI summary

The present disclosure describes system and methods for determination of building code performance. One such method comprises transforming a building code regulation into a computable record that defines a building design and/or engineering rule for the building code regulation; performing design model validation, wherein design model validation comprises entering building permit application file information and checking the building permit application file information against relevant codes and regulations, using a taxonomy or neural natural language processing techniques or artificial Intelligence; performing exchange model code checking; performing code conformance checking, wherein the code conformance checking comprises receiving a request from the exchange models and passing the building permit application file information to code checking modules; performing verification reporting based on input provided from the code checking modules; and performing results reporting based on findings of the verification reporting.