How Smart Cities Leverage Remote Video Inspections (RVI) in 2025

Inside the customer-powered movement that’s transforming inspections, saving millions, and building greener communities—with Blitzz.

From city hall to construction zones, smart cities across the U.S. are adopting Remote Video Inspections (RVI) to streamline operations, reduce costs, and keep inspectors out of traffic—and out of harm’s way. Powered by secure platforms like Blitzz, this revolution is being driven by the people who know inspections best: the inspectors themselves.

At the heart of this shift is a simple idea: if you can see it, you can inspect it. And if you can inspect it without sending someone across town in a truck, why wouldn’t you?

The Evolution of RVI: From Pandemic Pivot to Permanent Practice

Remote inspections gained national attention during COVID-19, when the need for continuity met the urgency for safety. But what began as a crisis workaround is now a cornerstone of smart city planning.

With Blitzz, cities were able to:

• Deploy inspections in hours, not weeks
• Train teams in under 30 minutes
• Deliver consistent, high-quality inspection outcomes
• Eliminate thousands of costly and carbon-heavy truck rolls

One shining example? The County of San Mateo.

Customer Spotlight

Mike, San Mateo County Building Inspector

“I found out on Friday, March 13th, 2020, at 3 p.m. that we weren’t coming back to the office on Monday. By Tuesday morning, my team was fully operational doing remote video inspections—thanks to Blitzz.”
— Mike, Building Inspector, San Mateo County, CA

With just a weekend’s notice, Mike and his team of five inspectors transitioned to a completely remote workflow. He reached out to Blitzz—and within 30 minutes per inspector, they were running full inspections across their jurisdiction.

“As long as there’s a cell signal or internet connection, Blitzz works fantastic,” Mike says. “It kept our staff safe, inspections on track, and taxpayers protected.”

Why Smart Cities Are Choosing Blitzz for RVI

Whether it’s Clark County, WA leading the way in virtual inspections, or cities adopting U.S. Department of Energy guidelines, the story is consistent: RVI works.

Blitzz helps smart cities:

• 📅 Speed up inspections with flexible scheduling
• 🔐 Ensure code compliance with high-quality video and inspector control
• 🌍 Support sustainability by slashing emissions and paperwork
• 💰 Reduce costs with fewer truck rolls and quicker turnaround

Cut the Truck Rolls, Cut the Costs

Every truck that doesn’t hit the road is money saved—and emissions avoided. On average, an inspector might travel 100–150 miles per day. Factor in fuel, maintenance, insurance, and time lost in traffic, and it's clear why cities are making the switch.

Thanks to Blitzz, many jurisdictions are cutting:

• Fleet mileage by over 60%
• Fuel costs by thousands annually
• Inspection times by up to 50%

More Voices from the Field

✅ Travis, Municipal Building Official – Midwest

“We were skeptical at first. But once we tried Blitzz, we never looked back. My team performs more inspections per day, and we’ve received zero complaints from contractors.”

✅ Rosa, Public Works Administrator – East Coast

“We’ve reduced our inspection backlog dramatically. What used to take 3–4 days is now often done within the same morning.”

✅ Ben, Senior Inspector – Texas

“It’s not just faster. It’s better. I can zoom in, record, annotate. And the residents feel more involved when they’re part of the inspection process.”

Backed by Best Practices

Organizations like the International Code Council (ICC) provide toolkits to help jurisdictions implement remote inspections effectively.

Blitzz aligns with those standards by offering:

• Encrypted video sessions with inspector control
• Live screen captures and annotations
• Cloud-based recording and documentation
• GPS-tagged session logs for compliance

Smart Cities Are Green Cities

Remote inspections support greener municipal operations. Every skipped truck roll contributes to:

• Lower CO₂ emissions
• Paperless workflows
• Less congestion and fewer delays

A NEEP & MEEA study confirms RVIs help accelerate timelines and improve enforcement of energy codes.

Blitzz Is Built for Public Sector Simplicity

Blitzz is designed specifically for government workflows:

• No app downloads required
• Works on any smartphone or tablet
• Fast onboarding and no IT complexity
• Fully compliant and secure

Your inspectors don’t need to be tech experts. They just need a tool that works—and Blitzz delivers.

The Future Is Remote (and It’s Already Here)

Remote inspections are no longer “innovative”—they’re expected. Whether for building safety, energy efficiency, or permitting, RVI is the new normal.

And Blitzz is the trusted partner for that transformation.

Final Word: Let the Inspectors Lead

The best innovations are driven by people in the field. Blitzz works hand-in-hand with inspection professionals to build tools that are intuitive, efficient, and trusted.

“If you’re wondering how to protect your staff while keeping inspections on track, call Rama and the team at Blitzz. They’ve got your back.”
— Mike, San Mateo County

Ready to Modernize Your Inspections?

Let’s talk. Book a demo and see how easy it is to move your inspections to remote.

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