As builders and homeowners in Los Angeles worry about President Trump’s tariffs raising the costs of rebuilding after the wildfires, they can take some comfort in California’s new high-tech approach to planning approvals.
The state plans to use AI to speed up approvals to help the city and county build back faster.
Software company Archistar is giving the app free to officials and those submitting planning applications.
The initiative is a partnership between the state and philanthropic partners including LA Rises and Steadfast LA, with contributions from Autodesk and Amazon.
The app uses computer vision, machine learning and automated rules to check designs against local zoning and building codes.
It lets owners see if their building plans are compliant before they submit them.
California governor Gavin Newsom announced the initiative on Wednesday.
“The current pace of issuing permits locally is not meeting the magnitude of the challenge we face,” he said.
The Eaton fire hit southern California in January, driven by the Santa Ana winds. It killed at least 18 people and destroyed more than 9,000 buildings
Rick Caruso, the chair of the Steadfast LA charity, said the use of AI would “turn a process that can take weeks and months into one that can happen in hours or days”.
“Working with our coalition partner Mike Hopkins and Amazon, I’m proud Steadfast LA identified Archistar as the right company to develop and apply this game-changing technology. Now we can work with great philanthropic organizations, including LA Rises, to provide this critical tool at no cost to taxpayers.”
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