"Universities Are 15 Years Behind, We Don't Need More Degrees"
In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Gary Cowan, the head of digital construction at Kane Group and we got to learn about how MEP contractors are becoming technology companies, why the traditional education system is failing construction workers, and the real challenges behind construction automation that nobody talks about.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why breaking down buildings into modular components and prefabricating in factories is changing project delivery across the UK and Ireland
✅ The massive shift from siloed Excel files to cloud-based real-time data systems and what it takes to make that transformation work
✅ Why universities teaching 15-year-old methods are creating a skills gap and why we need more tradespeople who understand technology
✅ The hidden problems with construction robots that sound great in theory but struggle with real-world challenges like consistent finishes and quality control
Watch now to hear Gary break down how traditional contractors are evolving into digital-first service providers.
Our Sponsor:
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Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Sponsors
04:26 Introduction to Digital Construction
07:21 Understanding the Role of Head of Digital Construction
10:12 Challenges in Existing Structures and Digital Verification
13:19 The Importance of Collaboration in Construction
16:13 The Evolution of Technology in Construction
19:25 Prefabrication and Its Integration in Design
22:20 The Digital Tool Tech Stack
25:05 Virtual Reality in Construction
28:19 Augmented Reality and Reality Capture Solutions
33:55 The Rise of XR Technology
34:11 AI: Hype vs. Reality
35:54 Navigating AI Adoption
38:15 The Challenge of Authenticity in Tech
39:44 The Importance of Expertise
43:08 Evaluating Tech Solutions
45:17 Frustrations with Vendor Solutions
47:19 Rolling Out New Technologies
50:07 Aligning Data Across the Business
52:26 Pain Points in Real-Time Data
56:12 Robotics in MEP
1:00:07 Expanding Digital Construction Services
1:02:05 The Future of Digital Construction
