The future is here as artificial intelligence is set to help streamline some planning, development and permitting processes with the City of Kelowna.
Over the last few months, the city has been working with Microsoft to develop a chatbot that will answer questions, provide information and, eventually, process certain planning and development permits.
91裸聊视频淪o you ask it what can I do on my property91裸聊视频t will go through and help you figure out what types of things you can do,91裸聊视频� explains Ryan Smith, divisional director, of planning and development.
It could be questions about putting in a pool or the parameters around building a carriage house. The bot will have planning, development and bylaw information at its electronic fingertips.
91裸聊视频淣obody is going to open up our zoning bylaw or go through our Official Community Plan (OCP) and go through the trouble of trying to find the policies that apply to them,91裸聊视频� adds Smith. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e trying to make it more accessible to residents and the business community.
How the bot works will evolve over time Smith explains and, in theory, it will eventually be able to issue permits electronically.
The project is supported by a grant through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs aimed at improving housing development processes in B.C. municipalities. Smith says Microsoft has also donated in-kind services to the development of the bot.
While the AI won91裸聊视频檛 be able to do everything it will initially be able to carry out simple tasks and repetitive requests often asked by city hall customers.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been here for 20 years starting at our front counter and would answer the same question asked in different ways over and over,91裸聊视频� says Smith. 91裸聊视频淪o if we can save 30 or 40 per cent of two or three or four people91裸聊视频檚 jobs that91裸聊视频檚 a pretty big deal.91裸聊视频�
Smith adds the time savings will allow those individuals to work on more complex files and give more oversight to other parts of the development process.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e dreamed up the first few steps of what this can do, and once we see it can do that, we91裸聊视频檒l see what it can do next.91裸聊视频�
He says Kelowna appears to be one of the first communities in Canada, and perhaps North America, to use AI in such a manner.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e definitely one of them. I don91裸聊视频檛 know of anybody else that is going to use it this way in particular. There are a few other places dabbling with the idea of having artificial intelligence review permit applications.91裸聊视频�
The bot is ready for beta testing and Smith says a trial run has proved promising.
91裸聊视频淚t learned our sign bylaw for example, which can be a little bit challenging, and can answer questions with good accuracy.91裸聊视频�
Further testing, through the spring and summer, will include front-line staff at city hall running customer questions through the bot to see what answers it produces and to make sure it91裸聊视频檚 giving correct and complete information.
91裸聊视频淲hen it91裸聊视频檚 doing that consistently then we91裸聊视频檒l release it to the public,91裸聊视频� explains Smith.
That will likely happen in the fall. The city will also share its experience with other municipalities that might be interested in using the technology.
Smith says he definitely sees a future for the bot in one of the busiest planning departments in the country.
91裸聊视频淧robably my staff will be telling me, we think it can do this or we think it can do that. We make room to direct more staff at housing reviews and approvals and more complex files. There91裸聊视频檚 a direct impact on timing and the permitting process.91裸聊视频�
READ MORE:Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Sikh community encouraged by council support for new temple
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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