Building Innovation: The Podcast

In this episode of the Building Innovation Podcast, host Johnny Fortune is joined by John (JC) Hudgison, MPA, CBO, CFM, Construction Services Center Manager and Chief Building Official, City of Tampa. They discuss the importance of digital transformation in the building industry, as well as the role of building officials and the challenges they face. JC also highlights the benefits of emerging technologies in improving efficiency and code compliance, as well as emphasizes the need for collaboration among industry stakeholders. 

Key Topics: 

• Digital transformation in the building industry has been accelerated by the pandemic, with building officials adopting technologies to improve efficiency and code compliance. 
• Housing affordability is a major challenge, and building officials are exploring solutions such as density and urban infill to address this issue. 
• Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and building information management (BIM) have the potential to enhance the building industry by streamlining processes and improving design and construction. 
• Collaboration and communication among stakeholders, including building officials, contractors, and manufacturers, are crucial for ensuring consistency and efficiency in the industry. 
• Building officials play a vital role in ensuring building safety and code compliance, and their work is essential for protecting the public. 

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.

In the final episode of the four-part National BIM Standard-United States® (NBIMS-US™) series, host Johnny Fortune sits down with TJ Meehan, Vice President of Technology Solutions with CADD Microsystems.  

 They discuss the Construction to Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) module and how it helps building owners manage and utilize data more effectively, as well as the challenges of implementing BIM in the AEC industry and the importance of understanding owner data needs.  

 Key Topics: 

• COBie is a data standard that allows for the extraction of data from BIM models in a standardized format for asset management. 
• NBIMS-US™ V4 includes the latest version of COBie that was developed over several years using a consensus-based process.  
• Implementing standards like COBie can be a long and rigorous process that requires consensus among stakeholders and input from the public. 
• The tools developed by CADD Microsystems, such as the Model Checker and the Autodesk Interoperability Tools, help architects, engineers, and owners access and manage data throughout the building process. The COBie extension has had a significant impact and has become part of the software package delivered by Autodesk. 
• Building owners often lack comprehensive understanding of their data needs and requirements, highlighting the need for ongoing education and communication. 

For more information on NBIMS-US™, visit https://www.nibs.org/nbims.  

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.

In the third episode of the four-part series on the National BIM Standard-United States® (NBIMS-US™), host Johnny Fortune is joined by Dr. Ralph Kreider, CEO and Founder of Building Better. They delve into Dr. Kreider’s involvement in the development of the NBIMS-US™, value of BIM Use Definitions (BUD) in project implementation, and importance of tying technology to organizational goals. 

 Key Topics:

• Linking technology to organizational goals is crucial for successful BIM implementation.
• Standardization and process re-engineering are necessary to improve productivity in the building industry.
• NBIMS-US™ V4 includes a comprehensive update to BUD to enable standardization and process improvements.
• The development of BUD in NBIMS-US™ V4 involved rigorous analysis and input from industry experts.
• BIM uses define the “why” of BIM implementation, while BIM use cases provide the “how” and the outcome.
• The industry faces challenges such as time constraints and a labor shortage, but there are opportunities for improvement through technology adoption and process optimization.
• Continuous improvement is essential for making the industry better as a whole.

 For more information on NBIMS-US™, visit https://www.nibs.org/nbims. 

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.

Last week, the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Building Innovation podcast launched the first episode in a four-part series on the National BIM Standard-United States® (NBIMS-US™). Episode 1 covered the new module for Project BIM Requirements.  

 In episode 2, host Dr. Johnny Fortune is joined by Dr. John I. Messner, Ph.D., NAC, the Charles and Elinor Matts Professor of Architectural Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. They discuss BIM Execution Planning (BEP) in the NBIMS-US™ V4 and why it is essential for implementing BIM on a project.  

 Key Topics: 

• Effective communication is critical in BIM adoption. 
• BEP is essential for documenting project workflows and is scalable for projects of all sizes. 
• The BEP Guide was originally created at the Pennsylvania State University and is intended to support project teams using BIM. 
• The guide has been downloaded by over 60,000 individuals and is now part of NBIMS-US™. 
• NBIMS-US™ V4 includes a reimagined BEP that includes both standards and guidance. 

 For more information on NBIMS-US™, visit https://www.nibs.org/nbims.   

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.

The National Institute of Building Sciences’ Building Innovation podcast is back for a second season! Host Johnny Fortune is kicking off Season 2 with a four-part series on the National BIM Standard-United States® (NBIMS-US™), which will roll out through October. 

 In the first episode, Dr. Fortune is joined by Dr. Carrie Sturts Dossick, P.E., Associate Dean for Research with the College of Built Environments, University of Washington. They dive into a new module for Project BIM Requirements and how this was developed and can be utilized with current standards. 

 Key Topics:

• NBIMS-US™ includes a new module for Project BIM Requirements, which define the requirements for including BIM in the design, construction, and operations of a facility.
• The Project BIM Requirements module was developed through a rigorous analysis of existing project requirements and aims to provide a standard set of concepts that should be included in project BIM requirements.
• The standard is accompanied by example language that can be used as a guide for owners who are new to BIM or as a quality check for existing project requirements.
• The project BIM requirements standard aligns with and complements other national and international standards, such as ISO 19650.

 For more information on NBIMS-US™, visit https://www.nibs.org/nbims. 

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.

The latest episode of the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Building Innovation podcast, hosted by Johnny Fortune, highlights industry leader, author, and speaker Paul Doherty. This episode explores smart cities and the metaverse, highlighting a human-centric and data-driven approach to urban development. The discussion emphasizes the role AI, blockchain, and digital twins will play in revolutionizing the AEC industry. In addition, Doherty shares his insights on the power of trust in data, the importance of defined processes, and explosion of entrepreneurship in the age of AI and how they link the physical and digital worlds. 

 Key topics covered include: 

• Smart cities and the metaverse offer new opportunities for human-centric and data-driven urban development. 
• AI, blockchain, and digital twins have the potential to revolutionize the AEC industry.
• Trust in data is crucial for the successful implementation of technology in the built environment.
• Defined processes are essential for automating mundane tasks and allowing for more human-centered design.

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.

The latest episode of the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Building Innovation podcast, hosted by Johnny Fortune, highlights industry leader, Marc Goldman, Director of AEC Industry Solutions with Esri. Marc discusses the intersection of GIS, BIM, and digital twins in the building industry. He explains how GIS provides context and layers of information that are crucial for making informed decisions in architecture, engineering, and construction. He emphasizes the role of GIS as the underpinning of digital twins and the integration of BIM data into GIS for visualization and analysis.

 Key topics covered include: 

• GIS provides context and layers of information that are crucial for making informed decisions in the built environment.
• BIM and GIS are interrelated technologies that can be used together to create a holistic picture of a project and provide the basis for digital twins.
• The integration of BIM, GIS, and digital twins is the future of the industry, enabling visualization, analysis, and information sharing for complete lifecycle management.
• Efforts are underway to develop standards and bring GIS, BIM, and digital twins together. 

 Thank you to Esri for sponsoring this episode.  For more information about Esri, visit https://www.esri.com/ 

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.

The latest episode of the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Building Innovation podcast, hosted by Johnny Fortune, discusses the mental health crisis in the construction industry and introduces the initiative Get Construction Talking. The conversation highlights the importance of addressing mental health in the industry and the need for open conversations and support. 

 Procore Technologies and The B1M have partnered to raise awareness and provide resources for individuals and businesses through this initiative. The long-term vision is to improve mental health in construction and create a culture where mental well-being is prioritized, ultimately reducing the alarming suicide rate in the industry.  

 Key topics covered include:  

• The construction industry is facing a mental health crisis, with rates of mental health issues and suicide rising.  
• The Get Construction Talking initiative aims to raise awareness, provide resources, and create a culture of open conversation around mental health in the industry. 
• Procore and The B1M have partnered to support the initiative and encourage businesses and individuals to get involved. 
• The long-term vision is to improve mental health in construction and prioritize mental well-being alongside physical safety. 

 For more information and to get involved with this important initiative, visit https://www.getconstructiontalking.org/.  

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.

This episode of the National Institute of Building Sciences Building Innovation podcast, hosted by Johnny Fortune, features industry experts Jay Kline, Roger Grant, and Kimon Onuma. The discussion revolved around the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and building sciences, exploring the transformative impact of AI on digital twins, industry standards, building information modeling (BIM), resiliency, sustainability, and more. 

Key topics include: 

• The integration of AI in facility design, construction, and operation is revolutionizing the industry. 
• The presenters share observations from the industry about how owners and executives are starting to notice the value of their data, how AI can use it, and how AI is driving the need for standards development. 
• The episode explores the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI in the building sciences. 
• The discussion also touches on lessons learned by early adopters of AI in the building industry. 

For more resources on AI and building sciences, check out the following session from Building Innovation 2023 and this NIBS webinar. 

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.

Every year, the National Institute of Building Sciences recognizes built environment leaders for their notable contributions to this vast and growing industry. In this episode, host Johnny Fortune speaks with some of the 2023 award recipients – Future Leaders, Exceptional Woman in Building, The Mortimer M. Marshall Lifetime Achievement, and NIBS Innovator – about their work and suggestions for others on making an impact in the industry. 

 View the full list of 2023 recipients and send us your 2024 nominations at nibs.org/awards.

Tune in monthly to the official podcast of the National Institute of Building Sciences, where host Johnny Fortune and fellow subject matter experts convene to support advances in building science and technology.