YELLOWKNIFE - An online portal recently launched by the NWT Construction Association where construction companies and contractors can view building plans from their computers will drastically speed up the flow of information for Yellowknife businesses, according to the association.

Eric Sputek, president of Hovat Construction, checks out the online portal recently created by the NWT Construction Association, where he can view building plans online as opposed to on paper. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

"It's going to make things a lot faster and a lot more convenient," said Don Worrall, executive director of the association, which represents approximately 100 companies in Yellowknife.

The portal, called the electronic plans room, is accessible to all members of the association, who are each assigned a username and password.

Previously, companies looking to view building plans had to go to the association's office to physically view the plans on paper, but with the new system, any member can access building plans on the computer from any location with an Internet connection, cutting down on travel time, said Worrall.

The portal comes shortly after the association created an online listing of small construction jobs, where local contractors can get in touch with customers requiring small renovations and other small-scale services, and that's no coincidence, he added.

"We're moving towards a more electronic environment," said Worrall. "The NWT has been slow to upgrade its system compared to other provinces."

Eric Sputek, president of Hovat Construction, said the new portal is a far more convenient means of viewing plans and will help save on paper considerably.

"It allows us to be more selective in our printing," said Sputak, holding up a set of 30 by 36 sheets.

"When I look through this, all I need are some reinforcing steel drawings that I need to get to my subcontractors."

The same goes for the subcontractors working under him.

"(They) would then review it and pick out what they need off of here, instead of printing the whole thing.

"Or they may not have anything printed, other than something off their computer printer, because you can reduce any of these documents to eight by 11 pieces of paper, or legal-sized paper."

Viewing plans on a computer screens actually helps bring out more details in a plan, he added.

"Sometimes I'll send (paper) plans to somebody on a site and they'll get back to me and say, 'I can't read this part. It's too small.' But now they can zoom in all they want and it's perfectly clear."

Pat McArdle, owner of Kopykat North, which does all of the printing for Hovat, said the portal will mean less printing for his company, but he's not worried about his business.

"We're seeing an increase in other areas, like colour printing," said McArdle.

McArdle added he has noted a decrease in overall printing in the last two years, which he partly attributed to online viewing.

"It's a matter of ease (for people)," he said.