|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transformation Pathways toward Digital Permiting Processes
|
|
|
|
|
Dear ACCORD Subscribers and Readers,
|
Welcome to the ACCORD's 4th newsletter.
|
This is a bi-annual newsletter designed to inform you of the latest developments of the EU and innovative UK-funded project ACCORD. In this fourth edition, we provide information on software solutions for building permitting and compliance on the ACCORD partners' research and survey on the current state and trends. We also share the outcomes of ACCORD research on the user information requirement for building permits. You will find information about ACCORD's next steps, future events, and outcomes from past events.
|
|
Stay tuned and subscribe to ACCORD social media for the latest ACCORD news.
|
|
  
|
|
|
1. Introducing ACCORD
|
|
|
ACCORD is a Horizon Europe project (2022-2025) that automates building permit and compliance processes using BIM and other data sources. ACCORD develops a Semantic Framework that will be demonstrated in five real-life construction projects around Europe: Finland, Estonia, Germany, the UK, and Spain. The framework includes semantic interoperability, a rule formalisation tool, and integrated micro-services for building permit and compliance checking.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. ACCORD e-learning hub
|
ACCORD project e-learning hub provides a series of training videos on digital building permits. The training materials cover topics such as semantics and rule formalisation tools, as well as digital building permits, processes, methodologies, and tools developed in the framework of the ACCORD project.
|
|
The training videos are the starting point for the ACCORD series of training webinars. After watching the videos, trainees will have the opportunity to participate in the interactive webinars with ACCORD partners as points of contact for feedback, discussion and clarification on the ACCORD tools, methodologies, process and training material.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. Transformation Pathways toward Digital Permitting Processes in Demonstration Countries
|
In the digital age, automation and digitisation are changing many industries and construction is no exception. One of the most exciting developments in this area is the digitisation of the building permit process. This change promises to make processes more efficient, reduce costs, and increase transparency in the construction sector.
|
|
The ACCORD project, supported by Horizon Europe and UKRI, is leading this change in several pilot countries, including Finland, Germany, Estonia, the United Kingdom, and Spain. These countries are testing advanced digital processes for issuing building permits.
|
|
Traditionally, getting a building permit has been a slow and complicated process. But now, this system is experiencing a digital revolution. The goal is to create a more efficient, transparent, and accessible system that benefits not only the authorities but also the people applying for permits and the construction industry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.Use case and demonstrations projects per country
|
The ACCORD project focuses on creating innovative technical solutions that can be demonstrated in real construction projects across Europe, including Finland, Estonia, Germany, the UK, and Spain.
|
The ACCORD project covers several key aspects ensuring regulatory compliance in digitised construction, each addressing specific challenges in the construction process.
|
- Notification of construction projects: This involves the obligation to notify and document the start of a project, which is crucial for transparency and monitoring by the competent authorities.
- Accessibility: Focuses on ensuring that buildings meet standards for people with disabilities, ensuring that buildings and spaces are inclusive and accessible to all. This includes the implementation of ramps, lifts, appropriate signage and other elements that facilitate access.
- CO2 calculation: This aspect focuses on the assessment of the environmental impact of building projects, specifically on carbon dioxide emissions measurement and reduction. The digital tools integration allows for a more accurate project life cycle assessment, identifying opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint.
- Fire and operational safety: This involves implementing safety measures at all stages of construction, including fire prevention and worker protection. This may include fire extinguishing systems, fire alarm installation and staff emergency procedures training.
- Land use permits and environmental compliance: Addresses the legal requirements needed for land use, including obtaining permits and ensuring that the project complies with environmental regulations. This is crucial for long-term sustainability and to avoid damage to the environment.
- Planning regulations: This refers to specific regulations governing construction and building design in urban areas, including zoning, building density and integration with existing urban infrastructure. These aspects ensure that projects are compatible with the urban environment and contribute to the sustainable development of cities.
|
Each of these aspects is essential to ensure that building projects comply with legal regulations and promote sustainability, safety, and accessibility throughout the construction process. The ACCORD project aims to optimise these processes through digitisation, thereby improving efficiency and transparency in the construction sector across Europe.
|
|
The aspects of each use case per country are as follows:
|
|
|
In Finland, work will focus on the notification of construction projects, ensuring that reporting obligations on the start of construction projects are fulfilled. In addition, issues such as accessibility will be addressed, ensuring that standards for people with disabilities are met, as well as the calculation of CO2 to assess the environmental impact of projects, and the implementation of operational safety measures.
|
In Estonia, the focus will be on fire safety, in addition to accessibility and CO2 calculation, adding specific requirements for schools and kindergarteners. These use cases are essential to ensure the safety and sustainability of educational environments.
|
Germany will focus on land use permits, environmental compliance, and requirements for the construction of industrialised wooden houses. These aspects are crucial to ensure that constructions are safe, sustainable, and comply with strict environmental regulations.
|
In the UK, the main use case will be the structural integrity of steel components, a vital aspect in the construction of durable and safe structures.
|
Finally, in Spain, the project will address urban regulations, ensuring that construction projects are aligned with local and national regulations for sustainable urban development.
|
|
This project not only aims to comply with existing regulations but also to drive innovation in the construction industry through digitalisation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. ACCORD General Results and Outcomes.
One of ACCORD’s main results is the semantic building permitting framework based on micro-services that integrate many manual steps in the building permit process into a semi-automated workflow.
|
ACCORD will also develop:
|
- A rule formalisation tool, based on semantic web technologies, allows the formalisation of regulations into a standardized rule representation format.
- A Ruleset Database allows for the storage and retrieval of rules in a semantic format for applications of various stakeholders when using building permitting and compliance checking services.
- Building Compliance Checking Micro-services supporting various use cases.
- Open Standardized Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for building compliance and other information services to allow integrated dataflows between building permitting, building compliance, and other information services.
Key exploitable results (KERs) are preliminarily identified in three areas:
|
- Technical standards and harmonised guidelines for software and platform development for the use-case of automated digital building permit process.
- Guidelines and information requirements for the usage process (for disciplines)
- Body of knowledge, e.g., awareness-raising information package and E-learning courses.
|
|
|
6. ACCORD Now and Next
Current work in the ACCORD project focuses on defining the technical architecture requirements of the cloud-based construction permit framework and defining the open semantic platform-neutral format for the representation of standards.
|
|
Work has also started on the definition of the future European building permit process and the necessary building information has been added to the IFC to test the automatic reading of this information from the IFC on behalf of the cloud-based building permit service.
|
|
|
|
7. Next Events
|
6th November 2024 Online. Hour 11:00- 12:00 CET
|
The ACCORD webinar series is designed to be an interactive platform for discussion, feedback, and suggestions between participants and ACCORD partners on the training materials provided. The first webinar is about:
|
ACCORD Digital Building Permits: Semantics and Rule Formalization Processes
|
- 11:00 Welcome and Overview of the ACCORD 1st Training Pack
- 11:15 Interactive session
- 11:50 Reflection and wrap-up
- 12:00 Closure
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Munich on 26 – 27 November 2024
|
|
Meet ACCORD partners at the BIM World Munich on 26 – 27 November 2024, the International Congress Center Messe München! ACCORD is participating in the Finnish BIM pavilion stand No. 17.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8. Past Events
|
24th September 2024- European Convention Centre Luxembourg (LU) – 4 Place de l’Europe 1499 Luxembourg Luxembourg.
|
The event will focus on sustainable construction, urban transition, renewable energy, and more, gathering EU research projects to explore innovations in these fields. The event features workshops, technical sessions, and networking opportunities. It serves as a platform for discussing sustainability challenges and solutions in the built environment, particularly in line with EU and global sustainability goals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st-3rd October 2024 in Marrakesh, Morocco
|
|
The CIB W78 Conference is an international event focused on the digitalization of the construction industry. It brings together experts, researchers, and professionals to discuss technological advancements like Building Information Modeling (BIM), artificial intelligence, and automation. The conference includes presentations, workshops, and panel discussions, providing a platform for sharing knowledge and collaborating on innovative solutions to current challenges in the construction sector.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9. EU News
|
The AI Act is designed to ensure that AI developed and used in the EU is trustworthy, with safeguards to protect people's fundamental rights. The regulation aims to establish a harmonised internal market for AI in the EU, encouraging the uptake of this technology and creating a supportive environment for innovation and investment.
|
|
The European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) launched a Digital Maturity Assessment tool that will help SMEs identify their strengths and weaknesses in the digital transformation of their business.
|
|
|
|
10. Next Newsletter
|
|
|
- ACCORD training material and webinar series.
- ACCORD latest results
- ACCORD events
|
|
|
|
|
|
