Testing Remote Inspections in First Nations Communities: From Research to Implementation
By Mark Anderson
Director of Business Development
AECO Innovation Lab
Many factors contribute to substandard housing conditions in First Nations communities across Canada: limited funding, construction challenges, material costs, harsh climates and the lack of a unified building code all play a role.
One key challenge is the difficulty of conducting building inspections. With few inspectors available and high travel costs, many communities experience significant delays or forego inspections altogether, leading to long-term safety and durability issues in housing. Research from the First Nations National Building Officers Association (FNNBOA) suggests that the average lifespan of a home built in a First Nation is under seven years.
In 2022, AECO Innovation Lab and FNNBOA set out to test whether remote inspections could help address this issue. With funding from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC’s) Housing Supply Challenge, they launched a research project to evaluate whether 3D capture technology could support remote compliance reviews in First Nations, rural and remote communities. The goal was not just to test the feasibility of virtual inspections, but to determine whether a scalable model could be built around them. For context, FNNBOA is a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing building safety, construction oversight and code compliance in First Nations communities across Canada. The organization works closely with Indigenous communities to improve building standards, provide training and promote sustainable housing solutions tailored to their unique needs. AECO Innovation Lab is a research-driven organization focused on developing and incubating technology-based solutions to improve the built environment. Through its venture incubation model, AECO has launched organizations including trax.co, LandLogic.ai and OneOntario.ca, bringing research-backed solutions to market.
Over nearly two years of research, the remote inspection project has undergone extensive testing and refinement, and the results have exceeded expectations. The findings confirmed that remote inspections are not only viable but can be significantly faster and more cost-effective than traditional on-site inspections. With this success, 3D Remote Building Inspections Ltd. (3DRBi) was officially launched in January 2025, positioning itself to deliver virtual inspection services at scale.
The research project: testing a new approach
Remote construction inspections have been discussed in the industry for years, but there had never been a structured research project to determine whether they could be a reliable alternative to in-person reviews in remote communities.
The project was built to determine feasibility and to answer these questions:
Could virtual inspections be conducted effectively using 3D capture technology?
Would this reduce costs and delays for communities struggling to access inspectors?
Could the results be scaled into a viable business model that supports more frequent and accessible inspections, helping to address a key challenge for remote First Nations communities?
To test this, AECO and FNNBOA worked with six First Nations communities, providing 3D cameras and training local members to capture images of construction sites. These images were then uploaded to a secure platform, where experienced inspectors from FNNBOA reviewed the sites remotely to identify deficiencies, confirm code compliance, and provide feedback and guidance to builders. Throughout the pilot, over 30 inspections were conducted, refining the process based on community and inspector feedback.
Challenges and lessons learned
Like any new approach, remote inspections came with a number of technical and logistical challenges.
Challenge 1: adoption and training
One of the first hurdles was ensuring community members could easily capture usable 3D images. Almost everyone was unfamiliar with the technology, and poor lighting, incorrect camera angles and inconsistent scans initially impacted the quality of inspections.
Solution: AECO worked closely with the most active participants, developing better training materials and refining documentation on best practices. This included guidelines on camera positioning, lighting adjustments and step-by-step scanning instructions.
Challenge 2: privacy and data security
One community raised concerns about who would have access to inspection data and how it would be stored. Ensuring the data remained under the control of each community was critical. Solution: AECO implemented a structured data-sharing process, ensuring that communities had access to their own inspection records. It was also determined that in some cases, a Band Council Resolution (BCR) would be required to approve remote inspections, further clarifying governance. Beyond these measures, 3DRBi is now working to align its data practices with the First Nations principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP®). These principles affirm that First Nations communities have the right to govern the collection, use and management of their data.
Challenge 3: inspection accuracy
Some inspectors were skeptical about whether virtual inspections could capture the same level of detail as an in person visit.
Solution: The team worked with FNNBOA inspectors to develop checklists and standardized procedures that ensured all key areas were properly reviewed. Over time, inspectors became more comfortable with the technology and noted that certain aspects of remote inspections were actually more efficient, as they could zoom in on specific issues, pause and compare past captures to track progress over time.
Challenge 4: scaling the business model
CMHC’s funding required the research to not only prove the concept but also establish a viable path forward. AECO and FNNBOA recognized that for remote inspections to continue beyond the pilot, they needed to be structured as a sustainable, scalable business.
Solution: In January 2025, 3D Remote Building Inspections Inc (3DRBi) was officially launched as an independent company, dedicated to providing remote inspection services across Canada, with a primary focus on First Nations communities. AECO continues to support 3DRBi as the technology partner, ensuring the platform remains up to date, secure and aligned with industry needs. FNNBOA remains actively engaged in supporting First Nations communities, ensuring they have access to the training, resources and expertise needed to enhance construction oversight and housing quality.
Beyond First Nations, 3DRBi’s infrastructure is also positioned to support small towns and villages that do not have dedicated building officials, expanding access to professional inspections in historically underserved areas.
Results: what we learned
The pilot research demonstrated several clear advantages of remote inspections for First Nations and other underserved communities:
Increased access to inspectors: Communities that previously had to wait weeks or months for an inspector could now have reviews completed within hours.
Lower costs: Inspections were up to 90% cheaper, removing the financial barrier that often prevented communities from conducting compliance reviews.
More frequent inspections: Because remote reviews were faster and more affordable, communities could conduct inspections at multiple stages of a project rather than just at completion.
Faster issue resolution: Builders received detailed reports highlighting deficiencies much sooner, allowing them to correct problems before they became costly.
Reduced construction delays: Contractors were able to receive inspection services much faster, minimizing delays and reducing.
By making inspections more accessible, affordable and frequent, remote inspections help improve housing quality while reducing long-term maintenance and repair costs. This approach ensures that homes are built to code and remain safe and durable for years to come.
The next steps: 3DRBi’s future
Now that 3DRBi is fully operational, the focus is on scaling the service across more communities. The company will continue to support and grow its offerings to include:
Pre-construction reviews to ensure compliance before construction begins;
Mid-construction inspections to identify and address issues early;
Final inspections to verify code compliance before occupancy; and
Specialized inspections for energy efficiency, renovations and retrofit projects.
3DRBi is also exploring ways to further refine the process, including improving automation, developing enhanced reporting tools and integrating additional compliance checks. With this model in place, First Nations, rural and remote communities now have a cost-effective, scalable way to ensure their housing projects meet proper standards — without the long delays and excessive costs of traditional inspections.
A research project that led to real-world impact
What began as a research project to test a theory has now grown into a fully operational service. Remote inspections have proven to be an effective, efficient and scalable alternative to traditional site visits, giving communities better access to construction oversight. AECO Innovation Lab and FNNBOA set out to explore whether virtual inspections could work, and the results have been beyond expectations. Now, with 3DRBi officially launched, that research is being translated into action, providing an ongoing solution to a long-standing challenge. If you are interested in exploring how 3DRBi can support your community’s inspection needs, email info@3drbi.com or visit the website to learn more.
For more information:
Mark Anderson
Director of Business Development
Mark.anderson@aecoinnovationlab.com