Bridging the Gap: Insights & Innovations in Construction How Data, Curiosity & Culture Transform Construction
How do construction leaders make better decisions in a world overflowing with data?
Recorded live at Autodesk University 2025, this conversation with Frank Phillips and Ashley Grassano from the University of Florida explores how curiosity, culture, and clear communication help teams turn raw information into meaningful action.
Frank and Ashley share how the AEC industry can shift from reactive to proactive by embracing data literacy, asking better questions, and building trust between the field and the office. From forecasting risks to creating visibility across teams, this episode highlights how decision-making improves when people, process, and technology finally align.
In this episode you’ll learn:- Why curiosity (not dashboards) is the real driver of innovation
- How data transparency builds trust across construction teams
- Practical steps for improving decision-making in fast-paced environments
Frank Phillips is Director of Business Affairs Technical Services at University of Florida, where he has over two decades of career experience.
Ashely Grassano is Space & GIS Manager at the University of Florida. She manages a team of BIM Coordinators, Space Planners, and GIS Administrators.
TODD TAKES
Make Old Buildings Smarter, Not “Smart”
A campus-wide push toward digital twins is turning legacy facilities into data-ready assets. The playbook: uplift Revit to a consistent minimum spec, link key MEP assets for location and maintenance, stream live data into Tandem, and anchor everything with GIS. It’s practical, phased modernization—form meets function.
Data Is an Asset—Treat It Like One
Ownership and flow matter. From ACC adoption to Cost rollout, success comes from redefining processes (not lift-and-shift), onboarding project-by-project, and measuring wins by outcomes (like contractors getting paid). The ethos: the owner funds the work, the owner owns the data—and partners help operationalize it.
Scan, Map, Connect—and Then Automate
LiDAR for utilities and interiors, geospatially aligned campus models, ACC + Tandem integration, and emerging AI/API upgrades (including easier auth) are building a true “smart campus” foundation. Pair top-down sponsorship with bottom-up field buy-in, and you get faster finds at 2 a.m., fewer “unknowns,” and clearer ROI.
MORE RESOURCES
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Graitec North America LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
Frank’s LinkedIn
Ashley’s LinkedIn
University of Florida