ChatAEC platform designed to help developers, engineers, and planners quickly find zoning and site requirements.
Phoenix-based startup AIAEC has launched ChatAEC, a platform designed to help developers, engineers, and planners quickly find zoning and site requirements.
With ChatAEC, users can enter a parcel address or Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) and ask straightforward questions like “Can I build multifamily here?” or “What are the setback requirements?” The tool searches zoning codes, overlays, GIS data, and planning documents to deliver ‘clear, source-linked answers in seconds’.
AIAEC was founded by Ali Fakih, PhD, a civil engineer and sustainability expert, who envisioned the platform as a way to combine engineering and planning expertise with machine learning to improve how development gets done.
“Ali saw how much time teams were losing trying to sort through outdated PDFs, confusing zoning layers, and inconsistent local guidelines,” said Joe Phillips, AIAEC co-founder and VP of Product. “ChatAEC is our first step toward solving that.”
Early users in Arizona include land developers, civil engineers, and land use attorneys who use ChatAEC to evaluate parcels, identify risks, and prepare submittals more efficiently.
AIAEC is also building QCVision, a companion tool that uses AI and computer vision to review site plans for compliance issues such as height limits, setbacks, and easements before formal submittal. Together, these tools aim to reduce delays and give professionals more confidence early in the development process.
“Our goal is to create a smart layer that sits on top of traditional development workflows. To reduce rework, save time, and give professionals more confidence in the early stages of a project,” said Fakih. “This isn’t about replacing planners or engineers, it’s about equipping them with better tools to get the job done.”
AIAEC is currently boot-strapped and plans to expand its pilot program and geographic coverage later in 2025.
