Remote Virtual Inspections (RVI): Challenges and Opportunities

Across the country, many state and municipal offices are facing challenges in their building construction divisions. Inadequate resources to support code enforcement and shortages of building code inspectors create a challenge to keep up with the demand for building construction inspections. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges, but also presented an unexpected opportunity to research the potential for remote virtual inspections (RVI) as a possible solution to these challenges. This brief explores the current use of remote virtual inspections (RVI) and its barriers and opportunities. The report is informed by independent research, interviews with industry professionals, and a collaborative survey effort.