ABSTRACT
This chapter explores Finland's pioneering efforts in digitalising building permit processes to enhance efficiency and sustainability. The chapter first examines the maturity of Finland's digital building permit processes, highlighting the widespread adoption of cloud-based services and the submission of building design data in machine-readable format. It also outlines Finland's plans for advancing digital building permit processes, including the integration of building data into the national Built Environment Information System. Then, the chapter explores the collaborative efforts between municipalities, software companies, and government bodies that have driven this transformation, emphasising the role of research and piloting in achieving digital maturity. Following this, the chapter showcases the implementation of automatic code-compliance checks in the City of Helsinki, which streamlines application processes and increases transparency. Finally, the chapter discusses how the city is transforming surveying and building design with geospatial data and city digital twins. The chapter emphasises that digital building permits are a significant step towards an interoperable built environment, aiming to improve the functionality, safety, and energy efficiency of the living environment.
