OntoBPR: An ontology-based framework for performing building permit reviews using standardized information containers

Building permitting is essential for ensuring the safety, sustainability, and societal alignment of construction projects. Despite interest from both practitioners and researchers, the process remains largely manual and fragmented. Ontologies offer a promising solution by managing complexity and enabling automation through semantic information, though current ontologies in the building permit domain are limited to specific aspects like building code checking. On the process level, the OntoBPR framework integrates multiple domain-specific ontologies for a seamless digital permitting process and provides a workflow to automate the lifecycle of the permit review. Therefore, it suggests integrating the submitted building application using standardized information containers. The paper explores how digital applications can be submitted, reviewed, verified for completeness, and forwarded to authorities, and how permit review results can be gathered to support decision-making and automate notification issuance, and it provides a demonstration in a case study. In conclusion, OntoBPR formalizes a multi-layered ontology that advances and aligns the partitioned building permit process and provides an adaptable framework to harmonize diverse legal, informatics, and procedural aspects. • OntoBPR formalizes a multi-layered ontology for building permit reviews. • ICDD containers standardize submissions and improve formal application reviews. • SHACL rules automate assignments and compliance checks in permit reviews. • Framework enables support in decision-making and notification generation. • Upper ontology model adapts to varying legal and administrative requirements.