Wilson asks about emerging technologies and scaffolding

Thank you very much, Chair.

Hello, Commissioner.

Hello.

I apologize.

It's late.

We have dueling committees today.

So I apologize if maybe this was talked about a little bit already, but you mentioned in your testimony about some of the emerging technologies that you're considering to help improve safety standards.

I'm just curious if you could elaborate a little bit more.

I see about the building tech lab, but I'm curious about what other sort of developing technologies you're considering, particularly, you know, scaffolding is the bane of my existence in my...

District and many times it's going up for a very long period of time, understandably so for safety reasons, but like what technologies are we looking at to help bring those down faster and not need to have

what really appears to be quite a dated

safety mechanism up for such long periods of time.

So I think if you think historically, DOB has a couple of different ways in which we try to engage with new technology ideas.

First and foremost, we have a innovation board, which we'll call from time to time to answer very specific questions.

We've used it to look at accessibility opportunities as part of the Where We Live plan, where DOB and HPD partnered to see how we can make our

existing building stocks more accessible.

In 2021, I believe we used the Innovation Board to look at the idea of integrating more technology into facade inspections.

And there was a program, T2D2, with Thornton Tomasetti, using drone technology, which actually became the bedrock of the later

research that we did with Thornton Tomasetti that led to the report in 2024 that now is resulting in both the enforcement laws

and policy changes with the council, but also our own efforts to try to amend and create.

New ways of moving forward with both inspections but work done on facade walls.

It recommends a greater use of drone technology.

We're working with a number of universities right now on building out what comes next.

But if you look at what you

We're already seeing we're going to integrate more photo or drone captured imagery for buildings that have to meet their FISP requirements between

for buildings that are 40 years or younger and can demonstrate a safe report.

They'll be able to use technology instead of hands-on inspections for check-ins every three years and not have to do a FIS report until year 12, which is one example that...

How we were able to do using the research that we gained.

I think the other part of it that we want to look at is drone technology overall to see if we can capture data citywide and continue to move that number of 40 years older and older.

I would say that right now is the first time, the research that we were able to collect, the first time we had database.

Both historically and being able to look forward, facade research and enforcement in the city of New York.

Prior to that, for the 40 years prior to that, we were working off an understanding and individual instances collected over four decades, but not database.

So now that we have the database, now that we're going to be experimenting with using drone or high-quality photos to examine facades and see how that takes the place of hands-on inspections, we believe we'll be able to do more, and we've signed on some

research assistants to be able to help us.

The other thing I would say is it's not all technology on facades.

Some of it had to do with trying to see if there was a smaller number of drops,

if we can extend even the cycle from five to six on older buildings, and then also creating a standardized

book or standardized set of rules and approaches that exterior wall examinations can work off.

We find that there was too much variation in approaches and how people were doing that work.

That variation translates into higher dollar amounts and different scopes that may cost buildings unnecessarily.

So we are providing that information, city-sponsored, to create cost savings through that alone.

So information, guidance, and I think you all will add.

Just specifically regarding, you know, you mentioned scaffolding or sidewalk sheds, overhead protection.

I would invite everyone to come to 280 Broadway.

We have two new sidewalk shed designs on display right in front of the building that we are putting rules together to

give the designs out to everyone.

Previously, a couple months ago, we had two other sidewalk sheds up in front of 280 Broadway that recently won an award from Time Magazine for innovation.

Invite you folks to go take a look.

They're really cool.

Can I ask one more question?

Thank you.