How BIM Mandates and Cloud Tools are Revolutionizing Construction Efficiency with Dave and Tore

Jul 1, 2025

Join Dave McCool, the Director of Product at Procore Technologies, and Tore Hovland, co-founder of Novarender, as they dive into the transformative world of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Discover how Norway's BIM-first mandate is changing the industry landscape and making 3D modeling more accessible. They discuss the innovative technology behind Novarender's streaming capabilities for massive data sets and how real-time feedback is minimizing rework and enhancing safety on construction sites. This dynamic duo is reshaping the future of construction efficiency!

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ANECDOTE

Novarender's Origins and Vision

Tore Hovland shared how Novarender started from oil and gas tech, building "Google Street View" for wells.
They evolved to streaming huge digital assets like the universe on mobile, aiming to democratize BIM access.

INSIGHT

Norway's BIM Mandate Impact

Norway pioneered BIM adoption with government mandates making BIM central, not an add-on.
This BIM-first approach contrasts with the U.S., where BIM remains supplemental, highlighting global philosophical differences.

INSIGHT

BIM Mandate Replaces Drawings

Norway's BIM mandate required bids to be based directly on BIM models, cutting out drawings.
This streamlined process keeps data unified and updated, increasing accuracy and efficiency in construction.

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In this episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample is joined by Dave McCool, Director of Product of Procore Technologies and Tore Hovland, co-founder of Novarender, for a detailed discussion into the global evolution of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Together, they explore the innovative tech that’s redefining how the construction industry interacts with massive models in real-time from civil tunneling projects in Norway to vertical builds in the US.

The conversation unpacks how Novarender’s origin in oil and gas tech evolved into a game-changing BIM viewer capable of rendering “the universe,” and why the merger with Procore is a pivotal moment for democratizing BIM. The trio tackles philosophical differences in BIM adoption across countries, the potential to reduce rework and safety incidents, and the crucial move from reactive to proactive construction.

Key Takeaways:

Norway's BIM-first mandate is leading global adoption and shifting the construction paradigm.
Novarender was built to stream massive data sets originally from oil rigs via mobile, just like a YouTube video.
Procore and Novarender’s partnership aims to "democratize BIM" and make 3D access available to all.
Real-time feedback via laser scans is reducing rework and material waste in mega civil projects.
Federated BIM models simplify complex decisions by showing multi-discipline impacts clearly.
30% of construction time is spent on rework; this tech could drastically reduce that.

Timestamps:

[00:00] - Introduction

[00:55] - Intro to Dave McCool and Tore Hovland

[02:48] - Tore’s background in oil and gas and the origin of Novarender

[04:01] - How Novarender approached rendering massive digital assets

[07:16] - The challenge of democratizing BIM on mobile devices

[09:04] - Norway’s BIM mandates and philosophical differences in global BIM use

[17:55] - Procore’s vision: unlocking, enriching, and connecting BIM

[22:05] - Real-time tunnel deviation reporting using point clouds and theoretical models

[32:05] - Connecting BIM to schedule, RFIs, and more across the platform

[37:53] - The future of BIM: right info, right time, right person, right platform

How BIM Mandates and Cloud Tools are Revolutionizing Construction Efficiency with Dave and Tore

Novarender's Origins and Vision

Norway's BIM Mandate Impact

BIM Mandate Replaces Drawings

Key Takeaways:

Timestamps:

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