Best practices book - Flipbook - Page 217
Guideline for “BEST PRACTICES” Submittals
Contact Information: Selso Mata, Chief Building Official, Building Inspections
Department/Plano, Texas, 1520 Ave K Suite 140, Plano, Texas 75074, selsom@plano.gov
972-941-7212
Program Description: Electronic Plan Review
We implemented electronic plan review and permitting a few years ago. We started in an effort
to save storage space due to the many plans that accumulate and the disorganization that can
occur in maintaining a plan room vault. Moving to the electronic format created efficiencies
immediately in retrieval of information. Through its use, we have changed the plan review
process into a hybrid system of paper and electronic review. Contractors receive our marked up
plans on paper for field review and construction while in house documents remain electronic.
Professionals were concerned with their copyright work electronically and releasing dwg cad
files. However this was solved when we moved to .pdf files which cannot be altered and offer a
secure format for protection of copyright and intellectual property. In addition, rules and
regulations for Architects and Engineers’ seals and signatures are allowed to be embedded in
plans electronically. Smaller commercial jobs frequently do not have cad drawings. When this
occurs we will accept paper plans and scan the files electronically for storage.
Costs / Benefits:
In 2001 Building Inspections began digitizing plans to conserve storage space. This developed
into a pilot program for electronic plan review in 2007. In 2009, we moved to an electronic
format for several plan review submittals. After numerous software evaluations we found
Bluebeam Software Inc. fit our needs for value, access, and efficiency. Through the years we
have leveraged the costs by distributing this incrementally and adding accessory hardware for
improving our system, including monitors, servers, computers, and software licenses. We
implemented our hybrid electronic plan review and permitting a few years ago.
Categories – Please check all categories that apply to your best practice
Plan Review
Permitting
Inspection
Management/Administration
Legal
Customer Service
Information Technology
https://www.bluebeam.com/solutions/customers/city-of-plano/
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