LTA announces AI chatbot, streamlined road approval processes for developers

By Nicholas Lam

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

September 19, 2024 4:45 PM SGT

Minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat speaking at the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) mid-autumn lunch on Sept 17. (Photo: REDAS)

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is developing an AI chatbot to help developers and appointed contractors keep in line with regulatory requirements.

This was announced by Minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat at the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) mid-autumn lunch on Sept 17, where Chee was the guest of honour.

The move comes as part of the government’s ongoing review of existing rules and streamlining procedures for road and building works approvals.

The AI chatbot is targeted to help developers and appointed contractors verify LTA regulatory requirements that would apply to their development proposals, bypassing the need to manually trawl through publications online. “The intent is for the chatbot to be able to provide tailored advice to industry professionals as they develop their proposals,” said Chee.

Still in development, LTA will engage with the industry through the Transport Infrastructure Collaboration Panel (TICP) to better train the chatbot.

The TICP was formed in 2021 to streamline processes, build industry capability and create more pro-enterprise solutions. Members include the Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore; The Institution of Engineers, Singapore; REDAS; the Singapore Institute of Architects; and LTA.

Another industry pain point being tackled by the LTA is the road layout submission process. LTA currently receives several road layout submissions that do not comply with guidelines, says Chee. As a result, most applicants take three rounds of submissions to get the relevant approvals.

To expedite this process, LTA will be releasing a set of road design templates in November to provide clear regulatory guidance upfront while still leaving room for developers to be creative in the design process, says Chee.

The AI chatbot and road design templates further build on TICP-led efforts to streamline road approvals. One such initiative is the restructuring of the process for private developers to hand over completed road infrastructure to LTA. According to Chee, the streamlined process has resulted in a handover timeframe of one month after the defect liability period, down from eight months previously.

Separately, companies seeking to install solar panels in areas close to airports will no longer be required to obtain approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), effective Oct 1.

Currently, CAAS is required to approve any solar panel installation works around the airport out of concern for the glare produced by the panels, possibly affecting the visibility of pilots or air traffic controllers. This process could take up to two months to complete and entails a consultant assessment that costs around $3,500.

According to Chee, approval from CAAS will no longer be required as improvements in solar photovoltaic technology have reduced glare in modern solar panels, which are now deemed to pose minimal risk to airport operations.

Also speaking at the event, Tan Swee Yiow, president of REDAS, called for more support for green financing.

“Developers are dedicated to supporting Singapore’s green landscape, but the financial strain can be challenging — particularly for existing buildings,” said Tan. “This is further compounded by rising construction and labour costs, along with the substantial upfront expenses required for green development.”

The support could be tax reliefs, grants, incentives and consumer buy-in. Tan also suggests regulators and financial institutions expand sustainability frameworks to reward projects that “go the extra mile in sustainability”, thus further incentivising green projects.