Photo courtesy VRCA

Vancouver construction projects are increasingly relying on software and information digitalization to curtail paper waste.

The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) has signed a distribution partnership with a software company to reduce paper used in local projects. Working with Vancouver-based Infinite Source Systems Corp. (ISSC), the association has made PlanSource technology available to its members. The program purportedly reduced the need for paper by up to 70 per cent.

The software suite enables online document control and distribution for every phase of a project—from traditional planning and shop drawing management to online bidding, pre-qualification processes, and reproduction services.

"This represents a major advance in the ability of the construction industry to use information technology to eliminate costly and time-wasting paper-based processes," said Keith Sashaw, VRCA president. "Not only does the industry benefit, but there are significant environmental benefits to be realized as well."

From design to commissioning, a typical construction project uses several tonnes of paper—the equivalent of more than 50 trees and the same amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions generated by one vehicle on the road for an entire year. The association estimates its use of the technology thus far has saved the production and distribution of more than 500 tonnes of paper—almost 4000 trees.