Digital Builder

In this special episode of Digital Builder, we are unpacking everything you need to know as you prepare for Autodesk University this September in New Orleans, LA. To do that, we have brought on three brilliant guests that know the ins and outs of this year’s conference.First, Eric sits down with Autodesk’s Director of Experiential Programs and Global Brand & Communications, Adam Sopko, to talk about how his team has been preparing to make this year’s live event unforgettable, the revitalization of networking opportunities, and the insights he has gained from hosting digital-only events over the last 2 years.
Next, Eric sits down with Autodesk’s Director of Customer Experience & Industry Advocacy, Allison Scott, and Autodesk’s Experiential Manager of Construction, Zet Norman. They share how Autodesk University has impacted their careers, look at what’s in store for attendees, unpack some of the can’t-miss construction sessions, and uncover how to make the most of your time at Autodesk University.
Autodesk University is the design and make conference for innovators everywhere happening September 27-29, 2022, in New Orleans, LA. We are hosting thousands of industry professionals like you so that you can grow your network, find inspiration, and connect with industry experts who are leading the way in architecture, engineering, construction, design, manufacturing, media, and entertainment.
Mentioned during the show:
Register for Autodesk University!
Join The Big Room – Autodesk’s Construction Community
Visit the Autodesk Construction Cloud Learning Center


Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.

For as long as we’ve been building things, the construction industry has successfully found ways to navigate tough times. 
In recent years the industry once again has adapted to rapidly changing conditions in ways that will impact how construction businesses operate moving forward. 
Two leaders from CRB , Greg Casper , Director of Estimating, and Marc Hanson , Senior Director of Construction Operation – Midwest Region, join the show to share the lessons they’ve learned while navigating these recent challenges. 
We discuss:
The biggest areas of risk
3 strategies for navigating uncertainty and risk
New approaches to prefabrication
Examples of technology improving project delivery   


Mentioned during the show:
Worried about construction cost inflation? 
EP 22 - Construction Contracts & Payments: Tips for Subcontractors & GCs w/ Karalynn Cromeens 
Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction 
After the Revolution: Understanding a Decade of Change in Project Delivery Systems and Their Impact on Project Performance  


Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk . 
Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google Play , YouTube , or wherever you listen to podcasts. 
Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.

The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act was recently signed into law in the United States and it’s poised to have a big impact on the construction industry. 
We’re delving into the nuances of the bill to uncover what’s included, how it will influence future work, and how contractors can prepare for the opportunity. 
Our panel of experts include:
Alex Etchen, Senior Director of Government Relations at Associated General Contractors of America 
Jimmy Christianson , Vice President of Government Relations at Associated General Contractors of America  
Ryan Walker , Senior Vice President of Federal Affairs at Shumaker Advisors  


We discuss:
What’s included in the bill (and what’s not!)
How contractors can prepare now for upcoming project funding
How to choose what types of federal work to bid on
How to manage changing costs and material supply during market uncertainty  


Have questions about anything discussed in the episode?
Alex: [email protected] 
Jimmy: [email protected] 
Ryan: [email protected]  


Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 
Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google Play , YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. 
Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.

Wearable technology increases worker safety, efficiency, and improves access to construction jobsites. 
Needless to say, it’s revolutionizing the construction industry as we know it. 
In this episode, we’re going to discover what wearables are, how they work, and how to implement them into your construction workflows.  
To do that, we’ve invited three guests:
- Dr. Lorenz Lachauer , Head of Solution at NavVis 
- Ken Lustig , Co-Founder, SVP of Corporate and Legal Affairs at RealWear 
- Niran Shrestha , Co-Founder of Kwant 
We discuss:
- What qualifies as a wearable in construction
- Wearable tech benefits and myths
- How to determine the right wearable tech for your project
- Which data to collect and how to analyze it 
Mentioned during the podcast:
- Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction 
- Have an idea for the show? Reach out on Twitter or on LinkedIn 
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 
Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google Play , or wherever you listen to podcasts. 
Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.

Imagine having an accurate digital version of the real environment on your construction project.

That’s exactly what reality capture and site scanning provide. But the potential impact and scope from capturing this data is much bigger than that.

Kipp Ivey , National Key Account Manager at Faro , and Adam Settino , Solutions Engineer Manager at Openspace , join the show to break down what it is, why it’s useful, and how it works.

We discuss:
- The purpose of reality capture and site scanning and the hardware involved
- Common myths around reality capture
- How to decide on the appropriate tool to use on a project
- How to navigate the implementation process

Mentioned during the podcast:
- Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction 
- Waypoint 2021 Powered by Openspace 

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk .

Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts , Spotify,Google Play , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.

As we leave 2021 behind, it’s time to look at the economic outlook for the construction industry in 2022.
For that, we turn to Richard Branch, Chief Economist at Dodge Data & Analytics and anchorman for the prestigious and widely-circulated Dodge Construction Outlook. In this episode, he highlights some of the challenges and opportunities the industry will face in the coming year.
We discuss:
Which construction sectors can expect the most growth and opportunity in the United States
Guidance on how to tackle the biggest challenges facing the construction industry
How the newly passed infrastructure bill will impact the industry outlook  


Mentioned during the podcast:
Episode 22 of Digital Builder w/ Karalynn Cromeens
Episode 23 of Digital Builder w/ Stephan Mansour  


Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.

From Eric & the Digital Builder team: We’re taking a break for the holidays, but we’ll be back with a brand new episode on January 11th!
Until then, listen to five of the must-hear episodes from 2021, covering topics such as Autodesk University, diversity in construction, construction’s industrial revolution, and how trust impacts the construction industry.
Thanks for tuning into the show, and we wish you all a safe and restful holiday break.
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.

Many industry leaders have heard of 3D printing, usually in the context of concrete or small-scale homebuilding. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! When leveraged successfully, 3D printing can play a key role in structural components (big and small), spare parts, fixtures (like faucets and door knobs), and even the furniture that inhabits a space.
Our guest, Stephan Mansour, 3D Printing & Emerging Technology Advisor at MaRiTama Ltd., is leading the international team that is developing global 3D printing standards from the ground up, and in this episode, he takes us on a journey into the world of 3D printing in construction.
We discuss:
Common misconceptions about 3D printing
How supply chain issues have increased interest in 3D printing for construction
How to implement 3D printing into your organization
How upcoming standards will enable mass adoption 


Mentioned during the podcast:
Episode 15 - “Why Global Data Standards & ISO 19650 are the Future of Collaboration w/ Frederico Ramos & Marek Suchocki”
Reach out to Stephan on LinkedIn or at [email protected] 


Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.

In a perfect world, a contract should include a clear set of instructions that conveys well-defined expectations to all parties concerned. In reality, it’s often a monster document packed full of legalese that no one really understands.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Today’s guest, Karalynn Cromeens, Owner & Managing Partner at The Cromeens Law Firm, joins the show to share the steps everyone can take to make contracts more straightforward and less contentious.
We discuss:
The current state of construction contracts
The difference between secured and unsecured debts
How to protect yourself when it comes to contracting and payment terms
Best practices for handling change orders
Construction technology and the future of contracting and payments  


Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:
Quit Getting Screwed
Subcontractor Institute
Episode 20 of Digital Builder  


Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.

Incredible opportunities exist for those who build a strong strategy for managing their data.
As the speed of decision-making in our industry continues to increase, data can help make not only faster decisions, but better decisions too.
Plus, if you build a strong data strategy, you’ll be setting yourself up to leverage more advanced technologies further down the line.
Jay Bowman, Managing Director of Research & Analytics at FMI, and Andy Leek, Vice President - Technology & Innovation at PARIC Corporation, join the show to discuss the many benefits of having a strong data strategy in construction.
We discuss:
The state of construction data today
How to make sure you’re capturing useful data
How a baseline of data strategy leads to more advanced technologies
Improving data literacy in construction
The future of data in construction


Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:
Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction
Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction (Audiobook Version)


Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
Hear more episodes like this one by subscribing to Digital Builder on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links? Just search for Digital Builder in your favorite podcast player.