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Digital Transformation was identified as one of the work streams being overseen by the Building Standards Futures Board. The Building Standards Division commenced this work stream in February 2020.

LABSS Digital Transformation Group (DTG) was set up to work with the Building Standards Division (BSD) to provide assistance in the delivery of the Digital Transformation programme by contributing to the development of a digital strategy to support building standards services in Scotland.

The outputs from the first year commission for the DTG was:

  • To create a Task Force to produce a Digital Transformation Strategy;
  • To define the work areas to establish the benefits to the customer and wider construction industry, to the verification service and to aid national information gathering and performance reporting and;
  • To define a work programme to facilitate the agreed work areas and to produce a Digital Transformation Strategy Paper to support the building standards system in Scotland.

Following completion of these outcomes at the end of the 2020 – 2021 engagement, the LABSS Final Report, recommendations were given in order to take digital transformation forward to the next phase, two of these being:

1.       Develop survey content for customers of verification services on digital transformation

2.       Create and publicise a national survey of user of verification services on digital transformation (BSD to deliver the survey and collate responses).

LABSS has been re-engaged to carry forward the recommendations highlighted in 2021 – 2022 and this survey is the first step of this year’s work for LABSS DTG

The closing Date for this survey is Friday 1 October 2021.
Technologies (Aimed at the Customer – Service User):

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* 1. Could you please confirm which of the following customer user groups best describes yourself:

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* 2. Please indicate which Local Authority Areas you generally work in (Please tick all that apply):

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* 3. As part of the research undertaken by the LABSS Digital Transformation Group it was noted that within other parts of the United Kingdom, some Building Standards services made an app or other electronic booking facilities available that allowed customers to book appointments with their respective authority.
As a customer, would it be beneficial if you could raise a request for an inspection through an app or other electronic booking system or service?

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* 4. Three dimensional modelling and Building Information Modelling (BIM) are seen as being emerging technologies being used in design and construction. Whilst their use is almost exclusively associated with larger projects, or where a designer may wish to express a design in 3D, their popularity of use may expand into other project types and sizes.
As a customer, would it be beneficial if you could submit a Building Warrant application with the information provided using BIM technology with the relevant details contained within a specific Building Standards model containing regulations compliance information?

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* 5. As part of the research undertaken by the LABSS Digital Transformation Group it was noted that there are electronic plan viewers available that readily allow the mark up of drawings, including annotation. This could be seen as being particularly beneficial in order to demonstrate where an identified issue may be located. 
As a customer, when you receive a technical report, would it be of benefit, if your plan was returned and highlighted with the area(s) relating to the observation(s)?

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* 6. The e-Building Standards portal is the current tool that allows electronic Building Warrant applications and other submissions to be sent to the relevant Local Authority Verifier. This system is currently under review for future redevelopment. Whilst having a central system for the submission of digital applications has been a huge benefit to customers, it is recognised that it has limitations as it stands.
As a customer, do you think that all applications should be submitted digitally over the portal and preclude the ability to submit an application in hard copy format?

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* 7. As a customer, do you see the user registration process on the portal as being easy to use?

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* 8. As a customer, do you see the proposal creation process on the portal as being easy to use?

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* 9. As a customer, do you see the submission process on the portal as being easy to use?

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* 10. As a customer, do you see the plan upload process on the portal as being easy to use?

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* 11. As a customer, do you think the lack of two way communication through the portal is an issue?

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* 12. As a customer, do you see the robustness of the current system as being an issue?

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* 13. As a customer, do you see the capacity of the current system as being an issue?

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* 14. Part 1 of the Building Standards Register is electronic, publicly available and contains certain specified data regarding Building Warrant applications. Part 2 of the register contains the approved plans and other relevant documentation in relation to an application. Whilst Part 2 of the Register is available to view at the relevant Local Authority office during normal officer hours and copies of plans and documents can be obtained in certain circumstances, it is not publicly available in electronic format. The Procedural Handbook contains information on maintenance and inspection of records as well as details on what the Building Standards Register is.
As a customer, do you think it would be beneficial if Part 2 of the building standards register was electronic and publicly available at all times, such as Part 1 is?

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* 15. This questionnaire only covers some key aspects of technologies within the Building Standards system. There may be however other areas of technology that could be relevant in order to benefit the customer using it that have not been considered.
As a customer, what other digital technologies would you find beneficial when interacting with Building Standards services?

Remote Verification Inspection (RVI) (Aimed at the Customer – Service User):

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* 16. The coronavirus pandemic quickly brought about a culture change in the way verification of work on site is carried out. In many instances, inspection of work is now being carried out by Verifiers in a variety of alternative means, including the use of live video streaming and photographic evidence. Whilst the use of RVI is not suitable for all inspections, it is perceived to have advantages in a number of cases, but as recipients of this service, what are your thoughts based on your experiences to date?
Have you been party to an RVI?

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* 17. As a customer, do you feel the use of RVI is beneficial?

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* 18. As a customer, do you have concerns about the use of RVI?

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* 19. As a customer, would a national approach on how an RVI is carried out and for what type of inspections be beneficial?

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* 20. As a customer, does the adoption of RVI provide you with more flexibility as to when an inspection may be carried out?

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* 21. Construction Compliance and Notification Plans (CCNP) dictate what a Verifier wishes to check in order to have confidence in the work carried out when considering a later Completion Certificate Submission. It is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the Verifier when an inspection or check has been requested in the CCNP.
As a customer, do you agree that the use of RVI can contribute to the successful delivery of the CCNP?

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* 22. As a customer, in line with the CCNP process, do you think it is important to agree with the verifier, the parameters of an RVI when considering its appropriateness to a particular verification inspection point?

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