3DRBI pilot says 3D home inspections cut costs in remote First Nations communities

A pilot in three remote First Nations communities in British Columbia found that 3D video inspections matched or exceeded in-person accuracy while cutting costs by about 53%. The results point to a lower-travel model that could speed housing delivery, reduce delays and expand inspection capacity in hard-to-reach areas. Why it matters: - Remote First Nations communities often struggle to access qualified home inspectors because travel distances are long and schedules are limited. - Delayed inspections can slow new housing and office construction and raise the risk of quality problems later. - The pilot suggests 3D video inspections can reduce costs, improve access and help complete required inspections more reliably. What happened: - 3D Remote Building Inspections Ltd. sent 3D cameras to Skidegate on Haida Gwaii, Heiltsuk Nation in Waglisla on Campbell Island and Nuxalk Nation in the Bella Coola Valley. - Community members were trained to use the cameras and upload footage to the 3DRBI platform. - The company compared on-site inspections with remote inspections of the same properties using 3D video. - The pilot focused on remote communities reachable only by air or ferry with limited schedules. The details: - Remote inspections using the 3DRBI platform matched or exceeded in-person inspections for code compliance and construction quality. - Inspectors could review footage multiple times and keep ongoing access to inspection records. - Across three inspections, the 3DRBI approach cost about 53% less than physical inspections. - The pilot found the process could increase the number of inspection stages completed. - The platform reduced construction delays and related costs, especially in remote communities. - The system also recorded construction progress for later review. - 3DRBI says the platform can expand service capacity, reduce travel requirements and improve efficiency and productivity. - The platform may also help municipalities and towns that lack enough inspection capacity. - 3DRBI says the system could support asset management for buildings and virtual assessments for insurance claims in remote areas. Between the lines: - The pilot points to a broader shift from travel-heavy inspection work to remote verification using video and digital records. - That could matter most where weather, distance and staffing shortages limit how often inspectors can visit sites. - The model may be especially useful outside housing, including public buildings and insurance work, if local operators can be trained to capture usable footage. - Robin Cayer-Stevens, president of the First Nations National Building Officers Association, said the pilot shows how technology can help address housing shortages, remoteness and weather-related delays. - Danny Tourville of Lá:Lém Building Inspections & Consulting said travel time and weather limit how many inspections can be completed while driving up costs. What’s next: - 3DRBI plans to continue offering visual virtual inspection services to Indigenous communities, towns and municipalities. - The company says the platform has potential for insurance verification, asset management and other applications beyond housing construction. - Further adoption will likely depend on whether communities and inspectors can scale the workflow and maintain inspection quality across more sites. The bottom line: - The pilot suggests 3D remote inspections can make building oversight cheaper and more accessible in places where distance makes traditional inspections hard to deliver. - 3DRBI was founded by John Kiedrowski in 2024 and is based on visual virtual inspection services using 3D technology. - More information is available on the company’s website and LinkedIn profile .