The ConTechCrew

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comConstruction has always been associated with inherent risks and challenges. But in recent years, the integration of data-driven strategies has emerged as a game-changer.Joining me today is my guy Jacob D'Albora and special guest Steve Jones, Senior Director at Dodge Data & Analytics.At Dodge, Steve focuses on how emerging economic, practice, and technology trends are transforming the global design and construction industry.Today, Steve reveals how this paradigm shift revolutionizes the construction landscape, benefitting stakeholders at every project stage.He also talks about the three construction industry trends, the role of data in de-risking construction operations, and what it means for owners.Tune in now to learn more!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)Meet Steve Jones (06:19)Steve’s earliest aha moments (12:41)The impact of digital twin on owners (18:30)Is digital twin data twin? (21:19)What’s driving the owner change? (29:29)De-risking construction operations with data (38:16)What's coming up on Dodge Construction Network? (46:46)Construction technology news of the week (50:48)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Check Steve out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevejones9/Visit Dodge Construction Network for more: https://www.construction.com/–See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ Finnish manufacturer plans $750M Georgia modular building factoryhttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/Admares-manufacturer-plans-750-million-georgia-mega-factory/651825/➡️ Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg say they’re ready for a cage fighthttps://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/22/tech/musk-zuckerberg-cage-fight/index.html➡️ Five Benefits of Prefabrication IPD Project Owners Should Know Abouthttps://leanipd.com/blog/benefits-of-prefabrication-ipd-project-owners-should-know-about/➡️ A new paper from IBM and UC Berkeley shows a path toward useful quantum computinghttps://research.ibm.com/blog/utility-toward-useful-quantum--The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comLack of standardization poses significant challenges in various situations. Frequently, individuals devise numerous solutions, which tend to be costly, while what is truly required is a coherent set of standards to ensure everything functions smoothly.Enter the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), a crucial player in addressing this issue.Today, we are excited to welcome Jacob D'Albora and our special guest, Johnny Fortune.Johnny is a technology leader and a recognized building information management (BIM) expert for the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner/operator industry. He currently holds the position of Executive Director of the U.S. National BIM Program at the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), where he focuses on launching and implementing programs to enhance efficiencies in the design and construction sector.In this episode, Johnny shares invaluable insights about the similarities between CAD and BIM standards, delving deep into the impact of BIM standards on the industry. He also discusses the approach to BIM adoption, particularly for those unfamiliar with it, and more.This episode is going to be BIM-packed. So be sure to tune in!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)From designing to championing BIM (07:45)The similarities between CAD and BIM (09:43)What makes people adopt new technology (10:56)What is National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) (13:20)Diving deeper into the new BIM standards and its impact (16:11)How to drive BIM adoption for outsiders (26:12)The power of open data standards in construction (41:31)How NIBS is helping the construction industry (45:18)Construction technology news of the week (50:24)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Check Johnny out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fortunejohnny/Check the National Institute of Building Sciences for more: https://www.nibs.org/ and https://www.nibs.org/usbimprogram–See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ Construction job openings increase 68Khttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/construction-job-openings-increase-68k-demand-labor/651755/➡️ ‘What recession?’ Nearly all sectors see strong construction spendinghttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/recession-strong-nonresidential-activity-boosts-construction-spending/651832/➡️ Autonomous technology is defining a new era for the construction industryhttps://www.digitalconstructionweek.com/autonomous-technology-is-defining-a-new-era-for-the-construction-industry/➡️ Gen Zers Say You’re Recruiting Them Wrong — Here’s What They Really Wanthttps://chief.com/articles/gen-zers-say-youre-recruiting-them-wrong-heres-what-they-really-want--The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comInvesting in data is an investment in itself. But is the construction industry investing enough in data and technology?In today's episode, we are discussing the data landscape and its role in the construction world. And joining us today is Coila LaFleur, business architect for global projects at ExxonMobil - a large publicly traded international oil and gas company.Coila has over 20 years of experience in data and technology, analyzing data, developing business strategies, reviewing new software, and even project consulting. All of these while raising four children.Today, we discuss how Coila transitioned from manufacturing to construction, the role of quality data in the industry, the challenges that come with data procurement and analysis, advice to organizations exploring AI, and more.Make sure to check it out!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)From hating computers to making a living out of it (03:47)Transitioning from manufacturing to construction (07:50)The Construction Industry Institute (CII) Annual Conference (13:05)Data quality as a big challenge in the construction industry (16:55)What should companies focus on when it comes to data? (27:18)How is ExxonMobil approaching analytics and reporting in executing projects (34:24)Barriers to getting a common data standard across the industry (37:53)Advice to organizations that are starting to explore AI (39:11)How to balance protecting company interest while pursuing industry growth (42:01)Is the construction industry doing enough? (49:08)Finding balance on what data to create value upon vs. data dumping (55:46)What should contractors bring to the table? (58:31)Weekly construction news roundup (1:03:47)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Check Coila out on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coila-lafleur-41783b176/Check out ExxonMobil for more info: https://corporate.exxonmobil.com/–See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ Calgary’s ZS2 receives $2.6 million grant for low carbon construction technologyhttps://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/technology/2023/02/calgarys-zs2-receives-2-6-million-grant-for-low-carbon-construction-technology➡️ Grant funds study into human-robot collaboration in constructionhttps://www.globalconstructionreview.com/grant-funds-study-into-human-robot-collaboration-in-construction/➡️ More than half of site areas idle during constructionhttps://www.on-sitemag.com/construction/more-than-half-of-site-areas-idle-during-construction/1003978820/➡️ How metaverse digital environments can help construction projectshttps://www.newcivilengineer.com/innovative-thinking/how-metaverse-digital-environments-can-help-construction-projects-24-02-2023/➡️ If industry safety numbers are murky, how can construction companies measure improvement?https://www.constructiondive.com/news/industry-safety-osha-numbers-murky-how-can-construction-measure-improvement/643182/--The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comAre quality works enough, or is strategic marketing equally crucial for success?Given the unique nature of the construction industry, many construction business owners believe that their work should be sufficient to secure projects. However, it's essential to recognize that effective strategic marketing is also crucial in ensuring a construction business's future success.In today's episode, I'm excited to welcome John Lenker and Assaf Arrie, the founders of LENKER, a growth consulting and marketing services firm based in the Twin Cities.Today, they're here to shed light on the significance of building an effective strategic marketing plan, how to build one, and why branding is critical for construction companies.Tune in now to learn more!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)How LENKER started (05:26)Most common branding mistakes construction companies make (11:31)Signs that you need help with strategic marketing (15:57)Why branding and business planning are essential? (20:06)The truth about branding (24:45)What does LENKER do? (29:31)The architecture around branding (40:46)Mistakes and lessons that entrepreneurs will go through (44:23)The right way to design a marketing plan (47:04)The gear analogy (49:35)Episode wrap-up (57:05)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlenker/Follow Assaf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/assaf-arie-05025038/Check Lenker for more info here: https://www.lenker.com/ctc–The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comWhy every startup CEO needs a Chief of Staff?In our latest episode, Jacob and I had the pleasure of chatting with Alexine Gordon-Stewart, the brilliant Chief of Staff at TestFit, a real estate feasibility platform.Alexine has always been interested in the fascinating world of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC). She has spent over a decade helping startups in the construction field scale up.Currently, she holds the crucial role of Chief of Staff at TestFit, a rapidly growing startup revolutionizing the architecture industry by introducing incredible efficiencies for developers, architects, and contractors ready to embrace change.In this episode, Alexine takes us on her journey to becoming Chief of Staff, how her role impacts her company and the industry, and tips for startup founders.She also shares her insights on the future of architecture and design, especially with the emergence of generative AI.If you're curious to learn more about the invaluable role of a Chief of Staff and the exciting possibilities in the architecture and design space, make sure to tune in. Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)How Alexine became the Chief of Staff (08:05)What is TestFit and its impact on construction? (13:58)TestFit’s collaboration with Autodesk Forma (20:48)Where TestFit stands on tackling waste (22:52)Alexine’s impact on TestFit’s growth (25:31)On TestFit’s company culture and talents (27:10)What does a Chief of Staff do? (31:28)Big pitfalls in startups and tips for early founders (35:44)The Game of Thrones theory (38:36)How to address a problem before it becomes bigger (40:22)Where is TestFit headed? (47:04)Construction technology news of the week (52:45)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Check Alexine out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexine-gs/Get the latest updates from TestFit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testfits/An article by Martyn Day on Forma: https://aecmag.com/collaboration/autodesk-forma-a-deep-dive-into-the-data-lake/Rob Dickins’ LinkedIn article on being the CoS: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ive-logged-10000-hours-chief-staff-large-tech-company-rob-dickins/–See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ New construction technology releases: May 2023 | Construction Divehttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/6-new-contech-product-releases-canvas-terabase-avvir/650545/➡️ Toyota to invest another $2.1B in North Carolina EV battery factory | Construction Divehttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/toyota-first-us-assembled-battery-electric-suv-nc-factory/652034/➡️ Apple Vision Prohttps://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/➡️ Meta Ditches Pandemic-Era Work Policy With Plans To Implement OfficeMandatehttps://product.costar.com/home/news/shared/878675293--The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comHow is technology impacting the construction field?In today’s episode, my co-host Ariel Castillo and I have the pleasure of hosting Lance Aiken, General Superintendent at Miller-Davis Company, to discuss the profound influence of technology on the construction industry.Lance, also known as the “Hype Man”, began his construction journey as a carpenter for ten years after coming out of college with his Architectural Technology and Construction Management degrees.His extensive experience led him to join Miller-Davis Company in 2019 as a superintendent, eventually moving up to the General Superintendent rank a few years later.Today, Lance shares the advanced technological tools they use at Miller-Davis, emphasizing their transformative impact on both construction field practices and office operations.He also highlights the role of technology in shaping the company’s culture and fostering innovation, the AGC IT Forum, and more.This is an episode you don’t want to miss!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)How Lance got into the construction industry (07:09)Success stories with implementing technology on the field (12:25)How to handle technology resistance in construction (15:22)Digitizing Lean Construction practices (17:07)How technology helped shape Miller-Davis’ culture (21:27)Benefits of digitalizing construction processes (24:44)How is it working with the tech-savvy younger generation (29:17)Improving construction productivity, quality & culture with technology (36:19)How a construction job site is a reflection of company culture (44:55)Construction tech news of the week (49:58)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew--Check Lance Aiken out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-aiken-72586926/Visit Miller-Davis’ website for more information: https://www.miller-davis.com/--See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ Join Releases New Autodesk Construction Cloud Integration to Make Collaboration and Document Management Easierhttps://www.constructiondive.com/press-release/20230523-join-releases-new-autodesk-construction-cloud-integration-to-make-collabora/➡️ cmBuilder.io Enhances Frictionless Collaboration with Autodesk Construction CloudIntegrationhttps://www.cmbuilder.io/post/cmbuilder-io-enhances-frictionless-collaboration-with-autodesk-construction-cloud-integration?utm_campaign=ACC-Integration&utm_content=250714957&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-68583143➡️ Rebar-tying robot slashes time on Wisconsin bridge projecthttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/rebar-tying-robot-tybot-slashes-time-wisconsin-bridge-project/651669/➡️ UpCodes launches Copilot, an AI-based research assistant for building codeshttps://techcrunch.com/2023/05/30/upcodes-copilot-series-a/➡️ This Is the Home that gives Housing a new future- Pete DuMonthttps://www.forbes.com/sites/jennifercastenson/2023/05/25/this-is-the-home-that-gives-housing-a-new-future/?sh=2c6f14f41a18--The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comIn today’s episode of The ConTech Crew, we’re bringing to you again our insightful past interview with a huge figure in the construction industry: Fred Mills from The B1M! The B1M has over 2 million subscribers (as of this writing) and is one of the largest channels in the construction industry. Fred is an entrepreneur and founder of The B1M and TomorrowsBuild. He has become a global figure in construction video and a role model to millions of people interested in or already working in construction. His mission is to fundamentally alter the perception of construction on planet Earth and make it relatable for everyone.Today, Fred and I talk about his unique background in construction, how we can deal with our industry’s image, the latest innovations he’s excited about, and more.Make sure to check it out!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)How Fred got into construction (03:35)Why passion is so important in everything you do (07:30)Changing our industry image and making it relatable (14:53)The biggest innovations Fred has seen (30:24)Fred’s secret obsession (42:43)What’s next for The B1M? (44:40)The power of infrastructure in America (53:10)Impact of having a high-speed railway (1:01:21)Episode wrap-up (1:08:44)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrewThe B1M's video on the HS2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSD5ps9bLQ0--Follow Fred Mills on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fred_mills/Check B1M out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheB1M--The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comIs field experience necessary for those who want to be a part of the technology side of construction?In today's episode, Nathan and I have a special guest with us, Sal D'Ambrosia. He's the Director of Construction Technology at Wm. Blanchard Co., a construction management firm based in New Jersey.Sal has over twenty years of experience as a pipe fitter and installer. But something happened that changed his perspective. One day, he stumbled upon BIM (Building Information Modeling) while taking over someone else's task. He got interested in 3D drawing, and from that moment on, he knew he wanted to dive deeper into the technology side of construction if he wanted to make a bigger impact in the industry.Today, Sal shares his experiences and insights on transitioning from being the field guy to the mechanical guy and eventually as a general contractor.He also talks about the costs of resisting new technologies, how to overcome resistance, the challenges faced by those on the job site and those behind the desks, and much more!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)How Sal transitioned from the field to BIM (08:11)Sal’s transition as a general contractor and its impact (13:29)How to encourage field guys to embrace technology (15:52)The cost of technology resistance (22:44)On teaching the younger generation about constructability (30:03)How to overcome resistance (38:29)The toughest challenge being in the field (44:35)Weekly construction news roundup (1:05:38)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Check Sal out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saldambrosia/Check Wm. Blanchard Co. services for more: https://wmblanchard.com/–See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ NYC expands Construction Fraud Task Forcehttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/nyc-expands-construction-fraud-task-force/650085/➡️ How one employer tried a 4-day workweek for deskless workers — and why it didn’t stickhttps://www.hrdive.com/news/four-day-workweeks-may-not-work-for-deskless-workers/649666/➡️ Is construction losing out on efficiency gains by using too many tower cranes?https://www.international-construction.com/news/is-construction-losing-out-on-efficiency-gains-by-using-too-many-tower-cranes-/8027936.article➡️ Dusty printed serpentine soffits at the SFOhttps://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7062231953642520576/--The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comIs the construction industry getting better at leveraging data and technology?In today's episode, we are joined by Ryan Posnikoff, Product Director at Bentley Systems, to talk about software technology and its impact on assets and operations in construction.Ryan has been in construction for most of his life, with being a foreman as his first job. He pivoted to the technology side about seven years ago when he joined Bentley Systems as an SME and consultant.Bentley Systems is a Nasdaq-listed infrastructure engineering software company with a respectable worldwide presence. Currently, Ryan is responsible for the strategic product management part of Bentley's SYNCHRO Construction platform.Today, Ryan shares his insights on the increasing technology deployment in construction, the impact of software technologies, data twinning and its barriers, and more!Make sure to check it out!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)How Ryan got into construction technology (06:07)What does a Product Director at Bentley Systems do? (13:28)Bentley System's SYNCHRO tool explained (16:59)On leveraging data and technology in construction (26:03)Main drivers of technology deployment in construction (35:32)Advice to those who want to capture ROI through technology (38:29)How software technologies are helping the construction industry (42:26)Where is the construction industry at in digital data twinning? (46:39)Barriers to digital data twinning (51:50)The first step to start a digital twinning journey (56:31)Weekly construction news roundup (1:05:49)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Check Ryan out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rposnikoff/Check Bentley Systems for more information: https://www.bentley.com/–See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ New Study Reveals Building Owners Are Driving Digital Project Delivery in Design and Constructionhttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/study-reveals-building-owners-driving-120000865.html?amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAI7qty7R6pUaWkQIRbYjMapD55qJAny9uXqQ2XVgdHK38uQsN3wl5NLEfTSmF9d2dXmUObn9la73QSSNbaJWabAUBzIW6Uph6gxtqlXO1pzcslvImP5Ay2lJmdzwKZuOdqG2Wss7QHAij-qxFj4N7jO3vgxmwW1JvEOuHlHfFq7e&guccounter=2➡️ OpenAI’s CEO Says the Age of Giant AI Models Is Already Overhttps://www.wired.com/story/openai-ceo-sam-altman-the-age-of-giant-ai-models-is-already-over/➡️ ‘Future of Work’ event aims to bring youth into construction through technologyhttps://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/labour/2023/04/future-of-work-event-aims-to-bring-youth-into-construction-through-technology➡️ OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the remote work ‘experiment’ was a mistake—and ‘it’s over’https://fortune-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/fortune.com/2023/05/05/openai-ceo-sam-altman-remote-work-mistake-return-to-office/amp/--The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comIn today's episode, we sit down with Chris Walker, chief estimator at Lunacon.As a Jamaican-born first-generation construction estimator, it never crossed Chris's mind that he'd make his mark in pre-construction.Over the years, he has seen changes in the pre-construction process, making it as important as the building phase itself.And today, Chris is here to debunk a few misconceptions about pre-construction and how he was able to leverage his soft skills to achieve rapid success in this space.He also talks about the importance of collaboration in pre-construction, the role of technology, how to mitigate risks, and his advice to people of color looking to break into the construction industry.Make sure to check it out!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)How Chris got into the construction industry (06:11)Collaborative delivery models are the way (09:02)Why is the pre-construction phase important more so than ever? (12:09)What makes someone a good estimator over time? (13:58)What does collaboration look like after the pandemic? (19:00)How the construction industry embraces diversity (21:39)The role of technology in collaboration and construction workflow (27:28)How Lunacon differentiates itself from its competitors (31:32)How to mitigate risk, especially with unknown contractors (35:39)Advice for new minority business owners looking to break into the construction world (38:41)Final advice to people who want to transition to construction-related roles (50:03)Weekly news roundup (1:03:48)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Check Chris out on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoawalker/Check out Lunacon’s works : https://lunaconcorp.com/–See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️ ➡️ 2023 State of Design & Make - Autodeskhttps://www.autodesk.com/insights/research/state-of-design-and-make➡️ Oracle Industry Lab – Reality Mapping Experimenthttps://www.oracle.com/oce/dc/assets/CONT38A2DFF92B0F45508AA1F951B9ACA65F/native/reality-mapping-experiment-at-oracleindustrylab-wp.pdf?elqTrackId=8890984c691a40b6b77629d39b181803&elqaid=136059&elqat=2➡️ US DOT Awards $95M in IIJA Tech-Related Grantshttps://www.enr.com/articles/56131-us-dot-awards-95m-in-iija-tech-related-grants➡️ The IIJA sets aside $100M for contech. When will it arrive?https://www.constructiondive.com/news/iija-infrastructure-act-100m-contech-funding-construction/624007/➡️ Gilbane creates new tech-oriented rolehttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/gilbane-creates-new-tech-oriented-role/648507/--The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!