I’ve run into that too—trying to show the city inspector a photo of a custom molding, and you can just tell they’re squinting at their screen, not really sure what they’re looking at. There’s something about being able to hand someone the actual piece, let them feel the weight or see the detail up close. Digital’s supposed to speed things up, but honestly, sometimes it feels like we’re just trading one set of headaches for another. I do appreciate not having to drive across town with a stack of papers, though... guess it’s a trade-off.
Digital’s supposed to speed things up, but honestly, sometimes it feels like we’re just trading one set of headaches for another.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually think digital has the edge—at least for most of my projects. Sure, you lose that tactile element with samples, but high-res photos and 3D scans can show a lot more than people give them credit for. Isn’t it more about how we present the info? If inspectors had better screens or even VR viewers, would that solve half these issues? I’d rather deal with the occasional tech hiccup than chase down signatures in triplicate again...
Isn’t it more about how we present the info? If inspectors had better screens or even VR viewers, would that solve half these issues?
That’s a good point—presentation really does matter. I do wonder, though, if we’re assuming all inspectors (or city staff) are actually comfortable with the tech. Like, how many times have you shown up for an inspection and the guy’s squinting at a tablet, clearly wishing it was just paper? I’ve had a few permits stall out just because someone couldn’t open a file or didn’t trust a digital signature.
But then again, chasing down physical paperwork is its own special kind of pain. Ever had to reprint a giant set of plans because the city lost the originals? That’s hours you never get back. Maybe it’s less about digital vs. paper and more about how willing everyone is to adapt. Would things actually move faster if cities invested in training and better equipment, or are we always going to run into some new kind of snag?
Honestly, I’ve seen both sides of this mess. Digital is great when it works, but if the inspector’s not up to speed, you’re just trading one headache for another. I had a guy once who couldn’t zoom in on a PDF—he just gave up and told me to bring paper next time. But paper isn’t magic either... lost plans, coffee stains, you name it. I think cities need to actually invest in training, not just buy fancy tablets and call it a day. Otherwise, we’ll keep running into these same roadblocks, just with different tech.
I had a guy once who couldn’t zoom in on a PDF—he just gave up and told me to bring paper next time.
That’s wild, but honestly, I’ve run into similar stuff. Last year, I watched an inspector try to scroll through plans on his phone—took him ten minutes just to find the right page. Training’s gotta be part of the package, or we’re just spinning our wheels.
