【Koshigaya City Urban Development Department, Building and Housing Division】Digitizing building confirmation procedures with an interface that offers the usability of paper drawings

Koshigaya City in Saitama Prefecture is advancing a comprehensive shift from paper-based operations to electronic processing in response to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's drive to put building confirmation applications online. The scope of digitization extends beyond application intake to the full range of building-related operations, including drawing reviews, correction instructions and approvals.

The initiative was prompted by the time and effort required to cross-check the large volumes of documents and drawings involved in long-term quality housing certification and building confirmation reviews. To address the challenges of viewing and storing large-format drawings, the city adopted a policy of using LCD pen tablets and handwriting input software to create an experience close to working with paper drawings.

The city decided to introduce the system after visiting another municipality that had implemented it. During an on-site visit in 2024, it evaluated a domestic manufacturer's products and their track record in the public sector, and decided to proceed after focusing on the usability provided by pen input and multitouch. In March 2026, the city introduced 7 LCD pen tablets and began accepting and reviewing applications electronically using them together with PenPlus for Business.

The system is linked with DocuWorks. Applications and drawings are displayed side by side on a PC and large screen, while correction instructions can be handwritten with a pen, allowing the city to advance digitization while preserving a feel close to working with paper drawings. The use of change-comparison functionality and improved document searchability is expected to reduce the workload when applications are resubmitted.