Max van Riel started to shape the solution at the end of 2023. He previously worked in smart technology for buildings and thought it was strange that there was a lot of talk about ‘smart buildings’, but hardly about ‘smart building’. “You read everywhere that we have to build a million houses, but with the current speed we don’t get that at all,” he says. “That is partly due to the way we deal with rules.”
Environmental plans
Together with AI expert Nikhil Nagaraj, Van Riel developed a system that now makes more than 100,000 documents in building rules, municipal regulations and environmental plans smartly searchable.
Co -founder Max van Riel van Struck at a construction site in Amsterdam. Credit Matty van Wijnbergen
The AI platform is used by architects, developers, builders and many Dutch municipalities. One of the most popular applications is calculating what a burger -free can build in his own garden. “That normally takes hours and often causes uncertainty. We do it in seconds and even take statements from the Council of State.”
Architects
In addition, initiators can add documents themselves and immediately check whether they comply with laws and regulations. “As a result, designs have to go back to the drawing table less often. That saves a lot of time and frustration.”
According to Van Riel, governments are enthusiastic. “Municipalities see how difficult it is to find good staff. Then this is just a smart way to win time. We even received compliments from the Association of Building and Housing Supervision, after our platform passed a national exam with a 9.3.”
This is a story from the ‘Pionier’ section. Also share your innovative idea? Mail your story with name and telephone number to [email protected].
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