b'How Building Safety Needs Are Have the requirements for building safety profession-Advancing Technology Innovationsals changed with the adoption of new tools and tech-nology?During Building Safety Month 2025, Joan ONeil, execu- While information is now more accessible thanks to tools tive vice president and chief knowledge officer at the In- such as ICC Digital Codes, compliance calculators and ternational Code Council, sat down with CE to share herAI-powered platforms, the job still requires a deep under-expert insights on how technologies like AI and buildingstanding of the technical material. Technology accelerates information modeling are streamlining code compliance,learning and improves accessibility, but it does not elimi-accelerating decision-making and equipping professionalsnate the need for proper training, credentialing and ongo-with smarter tools. While Building Safety Month is aning education. annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance of modern building codes, the International Code CouncilOur goal is to make complex information easier to under-takes moments throughout the year to spotlight the futurestand and apply, so professionals can pass exams more of building safety. Poised for transformation, the industryefficiently, stay code-compliant and keep communities is on the cutting edge of trends in artificial intelligence,safer. digitization and global collaboration. What do most people take for granted about building How has building safety (technology, AI, awareness,safety? tactics, guidelines) evolved over time? There is a vast, often invisible ecosystem that keeps peo-The building safety industry has long been driven by in- ple safe, from the initial code development process to on-novation, from early computer-aided design tools to to- the-ground enforcement. Many professionals and average days sophisticated building information modeling sys- citizens do not realize the enormous voluntary effort be-tems. BIM, in particular, revolutionized collaborationhind code development or the depth of technical expertise across disciplines by allowing architects, engineers andthat goes into ensuring buildings are safe. contractors to work from a shared digital model. Now, the rise of artificial intelligence is pushing us even further,Building safety is not just about following rules; its about and the whole ecosystem is evolving.protecting lives. Whether you are in a school, hospital or office building, youre benefiting from a complex, AI helps professionals access and interpret vast amountsthoughtfully designed system that exists largely behind of code information more quickly and accurately. For ex- the scenes. ample, the Code Councils AI Navigator tool, which is built on ChatGPT technology and trained specifically onIs there anything else youd like to add about where our code content, enables users to ask complex questionsbuilding safety is heading next? and get trusted, highly accurate responses. While AI does not replace the human expert, it certainly empowers pro- We are on the cusp of an exciting transformation. Over fessionals to work more efficiently and make informedthe next decade, we will see a rapid acceleration in new decisions faster.tools, platforms and innovations, especially as AI be-comes more integrated into daily workflows. That also What is driving this evolution in building safety, par- means building safety professionals will face more choic-ticularly in terms of modern technologies and externales and complexity when it comes to technology. stressors like climate events or material changes? For more on how emerging technologies and global Todays professionals are navigating a fast-moving, com- trends are shaping the future of building safety, explore plex world. Natural disasters, climate-related risks andresources and more insights at iccsafe.org.new construction materials all demand information at a faster pace. That means access to reliable information inBY INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCILreal time is no longer a luxury: It is essential. Technology and AI are playing a vital role here, making information more accessible and enabling predictive in-sights. AI can spot risk patterns and analyze historical data to inform better decision-making, especially in high-stakes environments where safety is critical. 19'