The BIM-Based Building Permit Process: Factors Affecting Adoption

Public organizations responsible for building permits are increasingly considering the potential applications of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in their workflows, but BIM adoption still remains a complex challenge. This research aims to investigate the factors affecting BIM adoption for building permits through a case study of a public organization currently developing and piloting a BIM-based building permit process. A thematic analysis of semi-structured interview data revealed ten factors that influence BIM adoption for building permits: complexity (in both development and use) of a BIM-based building permit system; relative advantages/disadvantages of BIM for building permits; the existing building permit system; management support for a BIM-based building permit process; organizational culture; BIM awareness; training and learning; available expertise for a BIM-based building permit process; external pressure; and legal context. The findings are important for public authorities’ understanding of both the enablers and challenges of the BIM-based building permit process, and have practical implications for professionals in public authorities in particular, and also the Architecture Engineering Construction/Facilities Management (AEC/FM) industry in general, to guide their steps towards adopting BIM. This research also highlights the potential benefits of BIM adoption for the building permit process.

China pollutant discharge permits as a link between total emission control and water quality: a pilot study of the pesticide industry

The deficiency of China's current pollution discharge permit system lies in the failure to improve the water quality effectively. This paper discusses the premise that the water quality of a water environmental functional zone (WEFZ) is mostly affected by industrial pollution sources. By reviewing the related policy, we noted the link between total emission control, effluent limitations and pollutant discharge permits to configure a practical framework for pollutant discharge permits based on water quality. China's pollutant discharge permit system provides an administrative foundation for reducing polluters' total emissions at the scale of the WEFZ, and it is best implemented through the imposition of limitations on polluters to identify the related treatment technology levels. Owing to the importance of limitations, the methodology of limitation classification and the related treatment technology classification are presented for the pesticide industry. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis of the pollutant reduction potential for the pesticide industry is conducted to determine the current level of sewage treatment. More importantly, this study offers an innovative way to investigate pollutant reduction potential and provides an example that may be useful to other key industries.

Do development permit systems inherently facilitate intensification objectives

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether Development Permit Systems passively achieve policy-related intensification objectives in addition to explicit provisions. The methodology includes a brief history and review of applicable laws to explain how Development Permit Systems were created in Ontario. An overview of the Town of Gananoque policy documents is discussed and compared to Growth Plan intensification objectives. Development Permit System benefits and disadvantages are compared to Growth Plan intensification policies and Gananoque Official Plan residential policies to determine whether Development Permit Systems inherently achieve Growth Plan objectives. The key finding is that Development Permit Systems somewhat inherently achieve residential intensification policies, depending on whether the intensification provisions are included within the DPS to begin with and whether there are intensification policies included in the associated Official Plan policies.

Do development permit systems inherently facilitate intensification objectives?

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether Development Permit Systems passively achieve policy-related intensification objectives in addition to explicit provisions. The methodology includes a brief history and review of applicable laws to explain how Development Permit Systems were created in Ontario. An overview of the Town of Gananoque policy documents is discussed and compared to Growth Plan intensification objectives. Development Permit System benefits and disadvantages are compared to Growth Plan intensification policies and Gananoque Official Plan residential policies to determine whether Development Permit Systems inherently achieve Growth Plan objectives. The key finding is that Development Permit Systems somewhat inherently achieve residential intensification policies, depending on whether the intensification provisions are included within the DPS to begin with and whether there are intensification policies included in the associated Official Plan policies.

Do development permit systems inherently facilitate intensification objectives?

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether Development Permit Systems passively achieve policy-related intensification objectives in addition to explicit provisions. The methodology includes a brief history and review of applicable laws to explain how Development Permit Systems were created in Ontario. An overview of the Town of Gananoque policy documents is discussed and compared to Growth Plan intensification objectives. Development Permit System benefits and disadvantages are compared to Growth Plan intensification policies and Gananoque Official Plan residential policies to determine whether Development Permit Systems inherently achieve Growth Plan objectives. The key finding is that Development Permit Systems somewhat inherently achieve residential intensification policies, depending on whether the intensification provisions are included within the DPS to begin with and whether there are intensification policies included in the associated Official Plan policies.

How can the development permit system be used to achieve residential intensification outcomes in the suburbs?

The Province of Ontario made the Development Permit System (DPS) available to all municipalities in 2006, with the hope that municipalities could use this new tool to achieve various policy objectives, including intensification. Under the Growth Plan, municipalities have been instructed by the Provincial government to identify areas for redevelopment in order to meet the 40 per cent intensification target. Many suburban municipalities have been challenged to meet this target, and have requested Provincial assistance, and/or new regulatory tools. The DPS is one tool that has seen little use. This Major Research Paper explores the viability of the DPS for achieving intensification objectives in Port Whitby. The four existing DPS by-laws are compared, and other alternatives to zoning from different jurisdictions are reviewed. Lessons learned are incorporated into a set of recommendations to inform the Town of Whitby’s approach to their upcoming Port Whitby zoning review. Key words: Land use planning, intensification, policy implementation, planning tools

Do development permit systems inherently facilitate intensification objectives

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether Development Permit Systems passively achieve policy-related intensification objectives in addition to explicit provisions. The methodology includes a brief history and review of applicable laws to explain how Development Permit Systems were created in Ontario. An overview of the Town of Gananoque policy documents is discussed and compared to Growth Plan intensification objectives. Development Permit System benefits and disadvantages are compared to Growth Plan intensification policies and Gananoque Official Plan residential policies to determine whether Development Permit Systems inherently achieve Growth Plan objectives. The key finding is that Development Permit Systems somewhat inherently achieve residential intensification policies, depending on whether the intensification provisions are included within the DPS to begin with and whether there are intensification policies included in the associated Official Plan policies.

How can the development permit system be used to achieve residential intensification outcomes in the suburbs?

The Province of Ontario made the Development Permit System (DPS) available to all municipalities in 2006, with the hope that municipalities could use this new tool to achieve various policy objectives, including intensification. Under the Growth Plan, municipalities have been instructed by the Provincial government to identify areas for redevelopment in order to meet the 40 per cent intensification target. Many suburban municipalities have been challenged to meet this target, and have requested Provincial assistance, and/or new regulatory tools. The DPS is one tool that has seen little use. This Major Research Paper explores the viability of the DPS for achieving intensification objectives in Port Whitby. The four existing DPS by-laws are compared, and other alternatives to zoning from different jurisdictions are reviewed. Lessons learned are incorporated into a set of recommendations to inform the Town of Whitby’s approach to their upcoming Port Whitby zoning review. Key words: Land use planning, intensification, policy implementation, planning tools