Developing Formal Representations of Building Regulations through a Parallel Drafting Process

Abstract

Interpreting and computerising building regulations is crucial for automated compliance checking of buildings, enabling a faster and more objective building permit review. Since natural language regulations are often not designed to be represented formally, integrating formal representations into the regulation drafting process could significantly enhance computability. Through in-depth qualitative expert interviews with regulators worldwide, this study delves into the drafting process of building regulations. It aims to establish a methodology for developing formal representations in parallel with natural language versions. To be able to do so, the first step is to understand the current workflow and its requirements. The interviewees noted several benefits from parallel drafting, such as improved regulation quality and reduced inconsistencies, but acknowledged the difficulties in modifying existing laws and the considerable time and costs associated with these changes. Based on these findings, different parallel drafting strategies have been explored, with ongoing research aimed at specifying a more robust foundation.