Permitting - Distilled for Efficiency, Simplicity, interoperability, speed and security.
Proposing an efficient method for municipal entities to host and interact with businesses/individuals.
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Why this matters:
The basics:
Interoperable Data Layer.
Maintain state-of-the-art - maximal reliability, maximal security, standards-based-interoperability.
Include MCP, blockchain, traditional standards, functional organization.
Culminate projects, comments, feedback, Sponsors, collaborators: Virginia Municipalities.
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The White House (2025). Fact Sheet: President Trump Brings Permitting Technology into the 21st Century for Government Efficiency
Announces a federal permitting modernization mandate focusing on streamlining processes through digital technology, data transparency, and performance improvements. -
U.S. Office of Management and Budget (2016). M‑16–21: Federal Source Code Policy – Achieving Efficiency, Transparency, and Innovation through Reusable and Open Source Software
Official policy encouraging federal agencies to release custom-developed code as open source and prioritize reuse, transparency, and cost efficiency. -
General Services Administration (2023). GSA Open Source Policy
Details GSA’s open technology policy emphasizing the reuse, sharing, and release of open source software across federal projects. -
Wikipedia Contributors (2023). Adoption of Free and Open‑Source Software by Public Institutions
Overview of how governments and public agencies worldwide have adopted free and open‑source software (FOSS) policies for improved transparency and innovation. -
New America Foundation (2022). Building and Reusing Open Source Tools in Government
Report outlining the importance and challenges of implementing open source software in U.S. government technology projects. -
Federal Geographic Data Committee (2018). Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (GDA)
Establishes a framework for coordinated development, sharing, and management of geospatial data across federal, state, and local agencies. -
U.S. Department of the Interior (n.d.). Federal Permitting Process
Overview of the federal permitting process, detailing coordination and regulatory requirements for major projects. -
Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (n.d.). Our Mission
Describes the mission to improve efficiency and transparency in federal environmental reviews and permitting processes. -
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.). What is the National Environmental Policy Act?
Explains the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which governs environmental impact assessments for federal permitting. -
Center for Strategic and International Studies (n.d.). Government Open Source Software Policies
Analyzes global government policies on open source software adoption, highlighting benefits and challenges. -
Federation of American Scientists (n.d.). How to Build Effective Digital Permitting Products in Government
Provides guidance on developing digital permitting systems, focusing on user-centered design and technology integration.
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OData Organization (n.d.). OData (Open Data Protocol) & GitHub – OData
Official site and GitHub repository for the OData RESTful API protocol specification, libraries, and tools. -
Open Design Alliance (2023). ODA Platform Technologies Overview
SDKs for DWG, DXF, PDF, SVG, IFC, Revit, and more, supporting interoperability across AEC file formats. -
Adobe Systems Incorporated (2020). PDF Reference, Sixth Edition, Version 1.7
Describes PDF’s vector capabilities, layers, metadata, and embedded files for document management. -
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (2012). ISO 19005-3:2012 – PDF/A‑3 for Long‑Term Archival with Embedded Files
Defines how PDFs can include embedded JSON, XML, CAD files, etc., for document and data delivery. -
PDF Association (2023). PDF/E – PDF for Engineering
ISO standard for engineering drawings, including support for 3D content and metadata. -
Microsoft (2020). Open Packaging Conventions (ISO/IEC 29500)
A ZIP-based container format used in Office Open XML, useful for bundling graphics and data. -
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (2020). NIST SP 800‑53, Rev. 5: Security and Privacy Controls
Provides security and privacy controls for federal information systems. -
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) (2023). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Guidelines ensuring web accessibility for government systems, meeting Section 508 requirements. -
Object Management Group (n.d.). Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)
Graphical standard for modeling business processes, useful for permitting workflows. -
NIEMOpen (n.d.). National Information Exchange Model (NIEM)
Framework for standardized information exchange across government agencies using XML. -
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (2018). ISO 37120:2018 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
Indicators for city services and quality of life (less relevant for permitting). -
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.). Data Standards
Overview of EPA’s data standards for environmental data, including permitting information. -
Open Data Standards (n.d.). Building & Land Development Specification (BLDS)
Standard for sharing open data on building and construction permits. -
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2006). Permitting Information Data Standard (EX000021.2)
Data elements for identifying and tracking environmental permitting information. -
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.). ICIS‑NPDES Data Element Dictionary
Data standards for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits.
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buildingSMART International (2021). IFC Schema Specification
Defines the open data model for BIM, supporting geometry and metadata. -
buildingSMART International (2022). IFC JSON Proposal
JSON serialization of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) for web and software integration. -
CityJSON (2023). CityJSON Specification
JSON‑based format for urban 3D models, including geometry and semantics. -
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) (2021). OGC InfraGML Encoding Standard
XML/JSON schema for representing civil infrastructure with geospatial references. -
buildingSMART International (n.d.). About openBIM
Overview of openBIM principles for interoperable BIM workflows.
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BlenderBIM Project (2023). Free Open Source BIM for Blender
Outputs SVG with embedded semantic metadata for each IFC object class. -
Autodesk Forge (2023). Forge Viewer and APIs
Converts CAD/BIM models into streamable web formats with metadata layers. -
Bentley Systems (2023). iTwin Platform
Provides a unified model and metadata environment for infrastructure projects. -
Inkscape Developers (2023). Inkscape: Open Source Vector Editor
Converts between DXF, SVG, and PDF with layer and shape structure preservation. -
ezdxf Project (2023). ezdxf Python Library
Programmatic access to read, write, and convert DXF files. -
GDAL/OGR Contributors (2023). GDAL/OGR Library
Tool for converting geospatial formats like DXF to GeoJSON. -
Aspose Pty Ltd (2023). Aspose.CAD for .NET
Commercial SDK for converting DWG/DXF to SVG, PDF, and more. -
USDA Forest Service (n.d.). fs-open-forest-platform
Open‑source platform for U.S. Forest Service permitting, including Christmas tree and special use permits. -
SJSU272LabF17 (n.d.). Permit-ML
Machine learning project for permit data analysis. -
GitHub (n.d.). github-mcp-server
Server infrastructure for managing permitting data. -
Accord Project (n.d.). aec3po
Ontology for digital building permit compliance checking and automation. -
eGovernments Foundation (n.d.). DIGIT-OSS
Open‑source platform for urban governance, including permitting modules. -
opensourceBIM (n.d.). BIMserver
Open‑source BIM server for managing IFC‑based projects. -
Protege Project (n.d.). protege
Open‑source ontology editor, useful for developing permitting ontologies. -
deve-sh (n.d.). Permit-System
Open‑source permitting system prototype.
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Singh, R., & Kadam, K. (2021). Conversion of CAD-Based Utility Drawings into 3D GeoJSON. International Journal of Computer Applications, 183(20).
Methods for transforming 2D CAD to data-rich GeoJSON for urban planning. -
Singapore Building and Construction Authority (2020). CORENET X: Regulatory Transformation
National BIM permitting initiative demonstrating automation and efficiency. -
Noardo, F., et al. (2025). Digital Building Permits in Practice: An International Survey and Future Perspectives. Journal of Building Engineering, 85, 109374.
Surveys global digital building permit practices, highlighting automation trends. -
Chognard, S., et al. (2023). Digital Building Permits – Towards a Digital Built Environment. Digital Twin Cities, 1, 100013.
Discusses digital building permit systems and their role in digital twins. -
Andresen, E. T., et al. (2024). Digital Building Permits: A Review of Processes, Challenges, and Opportunities. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 62, 102627.
Reviews digital permitting processes, identifying challenges and technological opportunities. -
KnowledgeSpeak (2024). Digital Building Permit Ontology Released
Announces the release of a digital building permit ontology for compliance checking. -
Accord Project (2024). Building Compliance Ontology Released
Details the release of the AEC3PO ontology for digital building permits. -
Accord Project (n.d.). Urban Planning & Digital Building Permits Platforms
Explores platforms for digital building permits in urban planning contexts. -
Public Digital (n.d.). Open Source in Government
Repository documenting open source adoption strategies in government settings.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (n.d.). Standard Number 1926.1205 – Permitting Process
Defines permitting processes for construction-related safety regulations.
Research: FAST‑41 Permit Standards & Guidance
Statutory Authority: Title 41 of the FAST Act (42 U.S.C. § 4370m et seq.) establishes the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC), requires project‑specific Coordinated Project Plans with enforceable schedules, and mandates public tracking via the Permitting Dashboard Performance.gov .
Official Guidance (M‑17‑14): FPISC’s January 13, 2017 guidance (M‑17‑14) outlines procedural requirements—e.g. facilitating agency roles, performance schedules, transparency rules, and extension protocols—for covered projects Performance.gov .
Permitting Dashboard Data Standards: The Federal Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard provides a machine‑readable data portal (CSV/JSON) with standardized fields like “project_status,” “milestones,” and “agency_actions” to ensure consistent reporting across agencies Performance.gov .
One Federal Decision (EO 13807): Executive Order 13807 aligns with FAST‑41 by requiring a single, coordinated environmental review and authorization record for major federal projects, with deadlines harmonized under the FAST‑41 CPP process Performance.gov .
Other Permit Strategies & Standards
NEPA / CEQ Regulations (40 C.F.R. §§ 1500–1508): The Council on Environmental Quality’s implementing regulations set “action‑forcing” procedural requirements (scoping, EAs/EISs, public involvement) for all federal environmental reviews FHWA Environmental Programs .
General Permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA § 402 / 40 C.F.R. Part 122): EPA’s NPDES general permit framework allows a single permit to cover multiple dischargers with similar operations—streamlining approval via predefined conditions rather than individual reviews US EPA .
State‑Level Integrated Reviews: Many states operate “one‑stop shop” e‑permitting portals (e.g. California’s CEQA/permit integration, New York’s SEQR) to consolidate environmental and land‑use approvals in a single application.
Permit‑by‑Rule & General Authorization Models: Regulatory schemes (e.g. stormwater, small wind turbines, agricultural water use) use “permit‐by‐rule” approaches where compliance with standard practices automatically authorizes the activity.
Digital Engagement & Public Comment APIs: Modern platforms embed public‑comment modules and webhook‑based notifications to integrate stakeholder feedback directly into permit records.
BIM/GIS‑Enabled Permit Submissions: ISO 19650 (BIM data exchange) and OGC CityGML/InfraGML standards are increasingly adopted to submit 3D models and geospatial data as part of permit applications.
Risk‑ and Performance‑Based Permitting: Frameworks like RCRA tiered permits or EPA’s sector‑based air permits focus resources on higher‑risk sources while granting blanket coverage to low‑risk activities.
