How DFW Airport Used BIM and AI to Revolutionize a $15 Billion Construction Project with Robert Brown

Feb 4, 2025

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In this episode of The ConTech Crew, host Jeff Sample, alongside Jacob D’Albora, welcomes Robert Brown, Senior Tech Lead at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Robert shares his journey from land surveying to leading the BIM and digital transformation efforts at one of the busiest airports in the world. Packed with humor, insights, and lessons learned, this conversation gets into the challenges and triumphs of implementing innovative technology in construction and operations.

Key Takeaways:

A Humble Beginning: Robert transitioned from football dreams to a career in surveying, eventually finding his place at DFW Airport, where he began his digital transformation journey.
BIM Beginnings: Starting in 2017, Robert spearheaded DFW’s BIM program and initiated the airport’s first standards manual and digital twin project.
Overcoming Challenges: From navigating leadership changes to tackling skepticism, Robert emphasizes the importance of persistence and aligning technology with operational efficiency.
The Role of “Play” in Innovation: Robert discusses the importance of funding proof-of-concept projects and the value of experimentation in driving meaningful change.
Stakeholder Alignment: Insights into how digital twins and data alignment can support facility management teams and improve operational workflows.

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:

[00:00:43] – Introduction: Meet Robert Brown and kick off the episode.

[00:02:50] – Robert’s career journey: From football dreams to surveying.

[00:09:25] – Leadership and BIM: Navigating leadership changes and maintaining momentum.

[00:13:59] – Funding: The importance of executive buy-in and funding for innovation.

[00:23:02] – Storytelling in technology: Aligning stakeholders with a shared vision.

[00:36:10] – Lessons from COVID: Capturing and codifying institutional knowledge.

[00:40:10] – Conclusion: Parting thoughts and where to connect with Robert.

This Episode is Kindly sponsored by:

Document Crunch: https://www.documentcrunch.com/

Follow The Guest:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-brown-9936ab10/
Email: RLbrown@dfw.com

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