GIS, AI and New Tech at the Government’s Leading Plan Review Conference

The industry-leading event for plan review professionals, Inspire 2025, brought together community development and asset management professionals to share insight and learnings on the latest advancements in the critical government plan review function. Packed with an agenda of industry and technology firsts that elevate communities, excitement at Inspire was palpable.  

The Inspire agenda was as hot as the weather, featuring government technology giants Esri, and Microsoft, to support Avolve’s experts. Sessions included insights from plan review government professionals representing Mesa, AZ and Markham, ON, and expert vendors, Clairti and Woolpert. 

Efficiency Enhanced with AI and GIS 

Featured sessions showcased how embedded GIS enhances plan review by allowing users to visualize proposed developments in context—instantly comparing locations to floodplains or measuring distances to fire hydrants, along with further geospatial intelligence that can access critical data to support more informed decisions during the review process. 

A standing-room only breakout session gave attendees a first look at how AI is moving from hype to reality by way of assisted submissions: catching and informing applicants of errors before it enters the review process. This will allow plan reviewers to concentrate on value-add review, instead of administration tasks. 

Other innovations unveiled at Inspire included the advancement of mobile plan review, enabling markup in the field, whether on or offline, as well as analytical reporting, removing the roadblocks of siloed data to deliver insights and council-ready reporting. 

Inspire is the most anticipated plan review event of the year, bringing together both the city and county government experts in plan review and IT, alongside the best technology vendors, creating an exciting coming together of minds. While witnessing the strides forward in tech support for plan review is exciting, what truly sets Inspire apart is hearing how Avolve’s solutions translate into real impact for the communities we serve. 

Government Leading the Discussion on Plan Review Digitalization 

This laser focus on impact was highlighted by the feedback on our keynote speaker, former NASA Program Director of the James Webb Telescope program, Gregory Robinson. Greg shared his approach to leadership and how they overcame the many unique challenges faced as a team on such a specialist project. Attendees commented that it was hugely inspiring, with even the most ambitious goals being achievable with the right conditions - clarity, purpose, and a shared vision. 

The level of excitement around ‘what’s next?’ for innovation in electronic plan review was frequently discussed, built on a desire to obtain the new GIS, AI, Mobile, and Reporting functionalities as quickly as possible. These features are set to roll out throughout 2025 – so stay tuned! We are thrilled that Inspire 2025 fostered meaningful connections and energized participants in their mission to better serve their communities. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Inspire 2025, and we look forward to seeing you in Park City, UT for Inspire 2026, April 13th – 15th. 

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