A brief online survey of the building plan review permit process confirmed that local planning departments have switched to accepting digital permit applications, or more specifically they accept PDF format plans. Some still accept paper as an alternative, but they appeared to be in the minority.
Each local authority will inevitably have its own processes and choice of software and systems. For example, San Francisco clearly uses Bluebeam, https://sf.gov/information/plan-review-process-bluebeam. But a quick search on the web shows other applications for the plan review process, I have posted a list of these near the end of this blog.
There will be various AHJ’s (Authority Having Jurisdiction) that need to view, review and authorize plans. They will need to see the details relevant to them and need to be able to markup plans and move the plans through the process. One city’s planning process listed the following departments as being in the plan review process:
- City planning
- Public works
- Public utilities
- Police
- Fire
- Health department
- Parks & recreation
Here is the Phoenix, AZ workflow as an example:
Which is effectively the same as the Folsom, CA workflow:
Plan Review Software
The following is not an exhaustive list and there are presumably also a few bespoke systems.
- IDT Plans https://idtplans.com/,
- ProjectDox https://www.avolvesoftware.com/products/,
- EPlan Software https://eplansoft.com/,
- MyGov https://www.mygov.us/software/electronic-plan-review,
- Hyland https://www.hyland.com/en/government/planning-and-public-works/electronic-plan-review,
- Naviant https://naviant.com/resource/onbase-government-electronic-plan-eplan-review-software-overview/,
- Plan Analyst https://www.plananalyst.com/,
- Digeplan https://digeplan.com/,
- Bluebeam https://www.bluebeam.com/.
- Plan Review Online https://planreviewonline.com/ (due March 2021)
- Versivo https://versivo.com/electronic-permitting-and-plan-review/
Plans also pass through a workflow within the construction industry and equally, there are many applications tailored to those requirements.
Volanti
Volanti’s plan review tables are used by any of these departments and organizations. All of them provide very high resolution (4K Ultra-HD) interactive and ergonomic workspaces for the plan review process. The screen sizes are 32″, 43″, 55″ and 65″.
