Building Blocks Software Makes Departments Smarter and More Responsive

The April 11th meeting of the Industrial Development Agency Board provided the backdrop for a demonstration of “Building Blocks.” Building Blocks is software that the city is rolling out that puts vital data at the fingertips of employees.

The roll out is taking place across the Fire, Buildings and Planning Departments, as well as the Assessor’s Office. Building Blocks captures data as it is inputted for every building and land parcel in the city, which can then be used by departments to improve service and respond to emergencies.

Fire Commissioner Teddy Beale, who gave the presentation, showed how the software could be used to respond to fires, accidents, and weather-related problems like flooding and power outages. For example, easy-to-read display maps can show first responders the areas hardest hit after a storm. “This will help us prioritize our response based on the number of outages in a particular neighborhood,” he said.

There was also discussion about how the software can help automate, speed and update the way the city collects and tracks information for applications, permits, fines and other manual processes, which are currently time consuming and labor intensive.

“This is a tool that can make departments more cost effective and responsive,” said Mayor Richard Thomas, the chairman of the IDA. “I see a great fit with the Buildings Department in modernizing the way it does permits and inspections. As we move the Buildings Department away from reliance on the IDA, this will speed the transition.”

The software is free for the first two years. Plans call for expanding Building Blocks to other departments, like the Police Department, in the future.