"We are getting wiser all the time. We understand that the data on our systems can be used more extensively for city planning and services", says Solution Specialist Ari Purhonen from the Finnish City of Espoo's Technical Administration and Development unit.
Construction permits and declarations can be handled using the electronic construction and land use -service. The same service can be used to apply for cadastral procedures and lot divisions, as well as permits for felling trees. "We have procured valuable software systems that integrate data directly into the municipality's systems and work processes, and we are constantly gathering new data. It is my job to determine how our data can be efficiently and extensively used in other areas of the city's administration", Purhonen says.
This could include customer service. The quality of service is better when customer service staff can search for answers directly from data on ongoing construction projects. Now that the construction permit process is electronic, there are also drawings of buildings in electronic format. Espoo also has electronic mapping material, soil surveys, and a ground map. The city is able to offer this information via a single user interface to builders, real estate agents, fire departments, and other parties who need it. This is a paid service that generates revenue for the city and has significantly reduced the number of service requests for archived material.
Purhonen says that the data could also be used for communication, paper-free construction committee processing, museums, forecasting and strategic planning. Geographic information enables us to analyze groups of residents in a selected area in related to health services and other functions. Residents of Espoo - the customers of the city - have not been forgotten: "We aim to provide high-quality electronic services to our customers", concludes Purhonen.
