Starting from 1 October the Building Information System (BIS) will ensure completely digital processing of documentation of construction process, thus placing Latvia among the digital industry leaders in Europe. In order to familiarise system users with the new functionality, the State Construction Control Bureau (SCCB) will launch a major training campaign in September.
“This is a historical moment – Latvia has become a digital leader in the construction industry ensuring completely electronic processing of documentation – from an intention to the commissioning of a structure,” says Svetlana Mjakuškina, Director of the SCCB.
The SCCB has been managing the BIS since the beginning of 2017. At the time when the Bureau commenced development of the BIS, there were 22,333 construction cases available in the system in total. Currently, the BIS contains more than 92,220 construction cases.
Development of the system is carried out withing the framework of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project "Development of the construcion process and information system.1st round (No. 2.2.1.1./17/I/021)”. At the moment also documentation for implementation of the 2nd round of the project is subject to coordination with the Central Finance and Contracting Agency. The main purpose of the project is to ensure construction services that meet citizens’ needs by reducing administrative burden, improving accessibility and promoting transparency. The BIS has been developed by engaging the industry and potential users – until July this year 45 working groups have taken place in total gathering 488 participants from 43 institutions.
An important step towards development of the BIS was made in September 2017 when its users were provided with a possibility to initiate construction and coordinate documentation electronically starting from submission of an intention and up to construction works. Thus it will be more than a year from the moment when it became possible to submit an intention electronically to 1 January when it will become mandatory.
“At the moment we observe a positive trend towards use of the system which manifests itself in an increase in both the number of the users of the Building Information System and the number of the cases registered in the system. However, in order for the BIS to be fully operational, it is very crucial that all those issuing technical regulations would enter into agreements on the use of the system and start working with it. The law already prescribes it as a mandatory requirement, but starting from 1 January 2020 when it will be required to submit all the new construction intentions only electronically, it will be of utmost importance. I hope that the educational measures planned in the near future will also promote this process,” emphasises S. Mjakuškina.
It is envisaged that educational workshops and webinars will be organised with regard to the system until the end of this year. The workshops will take place in cities and towns of five different Latvian regions – Riga, Jelgava, Ventspils, Talsi, Tukums, Liepāja, Bauska, Valmiera, Limbaži, Saldus, Jēkabpils, Rēzekne and Daugavpils. On-site training will be provided to at least 1,500 system users – construction specialists and issuers of technical regulations. At the same time there will be 99 remote training sessions or webinars and 10 workshops for construction specialists delegated by certification authorities. It is also envisaged to establish closer cooperation with local governments informing residents about the possibilities provided by the BIS.
Information prepared by:
Elīna Balgalve, Pubic Relations Specialist
of the State Construction Control Bureau
E-mail: Elina.Balgalve@bvkb.gov.lv, phone: 67013320 / 28319189