Dr Judith Fauth

Strategic Themes

Interconnection of road digital twins (RDT) and planning and building permits (PBP)

Knowledge management, querying, and data reuse in the use case of the intersection between RDT and PBP improving transparency and effectiveness of PBP processes

Uncertainty analyses from management, regulations, and information perspectives for advanced decision-making in the AEC industry 

Business case developments using RDT and PBP 

Research Project

Title: Conceptual framework for advanced digital planning permissions and building permits through road digital twins 

Theme: Digital Twins

Abstract:

In times of resource scarcity, maximising the utilisation of existing resources becomes crucial, particularly in sectors facing shortages of skilled workers or materials. This necessity extends beyond traditional perspectives, prompting a focus on leveraging road digital twins (RDTs) to enhance efficiency in planning and building permit (PBP) processes. PBP processes are vital for ensuring compliance and safety in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry but are often manual and time-consuming, leading to project delays. While there's increasing interest in automating code compliance, there's a recognised need for more holistic research. Digitalisation holds promise for improving PBP processes, yet its implementation faces challenges, including stakeholder involvement and sector complexity. Despite the potential of digital twins to streamline processes, research on their application in PBPs remains limited, with little exploration of efficiency gains through adjacent data sources like real-time data. The project is particularly aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11 and 9, as it contributes to creating sustainable, resilient infrastructure for urban environments and advancing innovation in transport and construction processes. 

The research concept proposed aims to explore the integration of RDTs into PBP processes through a structured approach. This concept consists of four main steps. Step 1 involves identifying and developing information packages (IPs) by gathering relevant data that links RDTs and PBPs. Examples of IPs include site development assurance, accessibility of land, and regulatory compliance. Step 2 focuses on knowledge management, organising the gathered information into a structured system such as an ontology. Step 3 conducts an uncertainty analysis, examining uncertainties in PBP processes and building a robust decision model. Step 4 evaluates the business case, aiming to generate value for stakeholders by offering services like automated querying of required information for building permits. The starting and expected end TRL levels for the project starts with TRL 2 and will increase to TRL 5 in Step 4. 

For investigating Step 1, qualitative empirical data was gathered through expert interviews and focus group workshop. As an interim result, four main categories could be identified. The first category is construction-based, which addresses impacts on construction sites for roads and various permit processes which are caused by building permits (e.g., road closure, heavy vehicle passing) that could be integrated. This category also highlights the challenge of managing two distinct information silos (infrastructure and buildings) within construction projects. The second category is regulation-based, which emphasizes regulatory considerations, for example related to parking spaces and the provision of charging stations, reflecting the adaptation to new infrastructure needs. The third category, transport planning/modeling-based, centers on transportation interventions required for developments (e.g., submission of transport peak models due to a new building), implying work carried out by specialists (in urban planning or transport engineering) within the planning department. The fourth category is design-based, which focuses on how road design can be influenced, particularly by aspects such as visibility in curves and junctions. This category could include considerations for autonomous vehicles, ensuring they navigate effectively. These themes collectively highlight the initiative’s comprehensive approach to advancing road and transport infrastructure in the context of digital innovation and future needs. 

The research anticipates uncovering insights that could revolutionise PBP processes by integrating RDTs effectively. By addressing questions regarding use cases, management elements, and risk mitigation, the study seeks to enhance decision-making, efficiency, and transparency throughout the building lifecycle. The research expects to provide valuable solutions, such as reducing time delays, increasing certainty in construction management, and facilitating accurate decision-making for stakeholders involved in PBP processes. These findings are poised to have significant implications for both research and practice, potentially transforming how PBP procedures are conducted and benefiting various stakeholders in the AEC sector. 

In conclusion, the research concept offers a promising avenue to bridge the gap between PBP processes and RDTs, aiming to improving the efficiency and transparency of PBP processes and to enhance decision-making processes. By systematically exploring the integration of RDTs into PBPs, the study seeks to break down information silos between different domains, while acknowledging potential limitations such as data restrictions and international perspectives, this research endeavour holds the potential to offer innovative solutions that could reshape how PBP processes are conducted, benefiting both stakeholders and society as a whole. 

The industry secondment for this project is planned with Ordnance Survey in the project’s second year.  

Acknowledgements 

We thank the participants of the focus group and the interviewees for their valuable insights.  

Judith’s research interest lies on the digitalization of planning and building permits (PBP) starting in 2016. Taking the PBP always as the core of her research, she explores multiple facets and disciplines related to PBP such as informatics, project and process management, public administration and law. Judith values fundamental research leading to core problem awareness and appreciates in-depth investigations to understand the complex phenomenon of PBP.