Looking for feedback on building codes search tool

[karimjp]

Hi all,
I have been helping build a code search tool where you can search by using open questions. It would be of great help to get feedback from professionals that would need to use it on a daily basis. The free trial beta and video of how it works are here:

https://constructment.com/

The construction codes available are: ACI 318-14, AISC 360-16, ASCE 7-16, IBC 2018, IFC 2015, NFPA 101-2015

You can ask questions like:
What is the height limit for buildings in seismic category D?
What is the deflection amplification factor cqc for an ordinary braced frame?
How much is the cover for concrete columns?
What is the development length of rebar in walls?

The tool will find the closest answer and let you open the building code page where it thinks the answer is.

 

[r13]

I don't think the out look of your project is very promising. As electronic/online code getting popular, the engineers can simply perform a key word/phase search without worrying missing a provision.

 

[1503-44]

How will the licensing and copyright issues work?

 

[karimjp]

@r13 thanks for the feedback. You make a good observation about new technology for search becoming available for search. There are term/phrase based code search tools like this one

https://codes.iccsafe.org/

from the ICC which use technologies like Elasticsearch on the backend to perform queries in this fashion. One thing I noticed when I used the ICC code search tool is that a given query over a single building code would produce over 80 pages of results! It wasn't surprising because building code documents have a highly similar language all across the document body. The tool that I'm working uses AI to allow you to make specific search queries in the form of questions. The assumption is that an expert in the field knows how to make a specific question, and with current AI technology you can get contextually precise answers by saving a lot of time searching. How much time do you usually spend looking through building codes?

@thirtyfive there are a couple of very interesting legal battles over this topic. The two with most publicity are International Code Council vs UpCodes, and the American Society for Testing and Materials against Public.Resource.org. Regardless of the outcome, if the tool becomes successful the plan is to approach code standards organizations.

 

[r13]

... with current AI technology you can get contextually precise answers by saving a lot of time searching.

I would think the result is based on how the question was constructed. This is a very gray area, it depends on the sophistication of the user, and his/her ability in forming precise language in conducting query. For those unsophisticated users, the search can ends in more frustration, or even mistakes. I really want to make the note that your thought is noble, the effort is huge, but the return can be nil. There are a lot of engineering practices can be carried out through the help of, and benefit from, AI, you may want to change your focus/direction, and put your intelligence and energy in better use. Good luck.

 

[tribby3d]

Nice work! Reminds me of UpCodes, but for engineering codes.