AI Automates Application Reviews
The new system enables applicants or agency staff to upload permit materials for an automated completeness review before a human reviewer begins evaluating the submission.
Rolband said the application compares submitted documents against standardized checklists for each permit type, identifies missing information and cites the relevant regulatory requirements. The system also provides color-coded results so reviewers and applicants can quickly determine whether an application is ready to move forward.
“Clear communication is critical,” Rolband said. “The AI can take that and check it. It will tell you if it’s good or bad, and if it’s bad, it cites the code section that you’re not complying with.”
The department oversees 124 major permit types across 12 permitting programs, making consistency and accuracy essential throughout the review process.
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Building on an Initial AI Success
Rolband said DEQ selected permitting as its first AI initiative because it offered an opportunity to reduce repetitive administrative work while improving service for applicants.
The agency has completed a proof of concept and is preparing to move the application into production following final technology approvals. During testing, the platform has successfully analyzed permit packages containing multiple documents, helping staff quickly identify incomplete submissions before detailed reviews begin.
The permitting application is intended to serve as a foundation for additional AI projects across the agency.
“We’re going to do one program and another program and keep going faster and faster as we learn our lessons,” Rolband said.
He added that early testing has exceeded expectations.
“The testing has gone phenomenally,” Rolband said. “The product is amazing, and the user interface is amazing.”
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Preparing for Greater Demand
For Virginia, the AI initiative is as much about preparing for future demand as improving today's operations.
Rolband said the agency anticipates a substantial increase in permit applications as more wetlands oversight shifts to the state, making productivity gains increasingly important. By automating initial reviews and standardizing completeness checks, DEQ hopes to process applications more efficiently without expanding its workforce.
The project illustrates how state agencies are beginning to apply AI to practical business processes, using the technology to eliminate repetitive work, improve consistency and help employees focus on complex regulatory decisions that still require human expertise.
