This episode is a special treat! Not only was it recorded live at Autodesk University in Las Vegas, we also brought back our first-ever Digital Builder guest, Cliff Cole, the Director of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) at The PENTA Building Group. Throughout 2023, Cliff and his team were a part of the planning and construction for the raceway infrastructure of the 2023 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix race that took place November 16-18 in 2023.   In addition to breaking down the coordination for the F1 project, Eric and Cliff also talk about the increasing importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and explore how things have evolved since Cliff was first on the show.   We discuss: The complexities of preparing and hosting an F1 race on the Las Vegas Strip How innovative tech, like drone mapping, was used to enable safer, more efficient preparation How the DEI conversation has evolved over the last three years The role of mentoring and support in promoting diversity and inclusion The impact of inclusive practices on attracting and retaining talent in the industry 
 Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

Formula 1 in Las Vegas: How it was Built

The Digital Builder podcast is for construction professionals working on the forefront of construction. If you are looking for conversations centered on where the industry is headed, this podcast is for you!​ 
Each episode features an interview with top construction professionals discussing themes related to connected construction and the future of the construction industry.

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Construction is a balancing act from start to finish, that includes careful supervision of the finer details of each project like safety, budget, quality, while also managing multiple stakeholders, on and offsite teams, and staying on schedule.   That’s why improving predictability at all phases of a project is a top priority at companies like DPR Construction. At Autodesk University, we had the chance to sit down with DPR’s CTO Atul Khanzode and Tim Gaylord, DPR’s Corporate Director of Innovation to learn more about how DPR is approaching technology deployment across all levels of the organization, how IPD is transforming collaboration throughout the entire construction process, and how other organizations can benefit from their learnings.  In this episode, we cover Why consistent predictability is a challenge in construction How to maintain employee confidence when implementing new processes or technology How to win support for IPD DPR’s approach to technology deployment The advantages of specialization and how subject matter experts can bridge the gaps between various business units 
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

DPR’s Approach to Innovation, Technology, and Predictability

Intuitive Machines aimed to be the first private, US commercial company to send a spacecraft to the moon. On February 22, 2024 they accomplished that goal. Helping Intuitive Machines realize their dreams was today’s guest, Stephen Brooke, a Digital Delivery Manager at Burns & McDonnell.  With the recent completion of the SuperBAB operations and testing facility in Houston, TX, Stephen joined us at Autodesk University to share how the project was brought to life, how Burns & McDonnell approaches value delivery and client success, and how data and AI will continue to impact the future of the AEC industry.  We also talk about: Stephen’s career journey through the industry Intuitive Machines’ testing facility How to encourage an innovative mindset in the next generation Collaborating with vendors to bring value to clients 
 Assets Mentioned: The Mural 
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

Intuitive Machines and the Future of Commercial Space Exploration

One of the most exciting ways the AEC industry is continuing to find new ways to increase sustainability and safety is through mass timber construction. That’s why we’ve invited Ariana Cohn, a Digital Construction Engineer at Timberlab, an organization dedicated to advancing the mass timber’s mainstream adoption.   Whether it’s mass timber’s impact on the environment, or its ease of use in prefab and modular construction, there is so much potential for it to be a game changer for the industry.    Here are some of the topics you can look forward to in this episode:  The top misconceptions about mass timber Timberlab’s approach to its mission A day in the life of a Digital Construction Engineer at Timberlab The biggest obstacles for mass timber’s mainstream adoption 
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

How Mass Timber is Changing Construction

This week, Autodesk’s Chief Marketing Officer Dara Treseder, joins Eric at Autodesk University to break down the 2023 State of Design & Make report, including the key focuses of the study, narrative shifts across the AEC industry, and the competitive difference between Digital Transformation and Digital Maturity.  In this episode, you will learn: How companies across the AEC industry are experiencing the benefits of converging technologies Why companies focusing on Digital Maturity are maintaining a statistically significant competitive advantage How to engage the next generation of talent Why the future of AEC innovation is going to focus on augmentation in our workforce 
Assets Mentioned: The 2023 State of Design & Make Report 
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk. 

The Talent Gap, Sustainability, and Business Resilience in the AEC Industry

The rise of Gen AI has put organizations in a race to remain competitive. Those who are successfully integrating AI into their processes are seeing improvements in efficiency and output quality, but that rush to adopt AI carries some significant risks, ones that can spell disaster for companies if they are not careful about their approach to using AI.    We've invited May Winfield, Global Director of Commercial, Legal and Digital Risks, at Buro Happold, to reveal what some of the biggest risks are when using Gen AI, what questions organizations should be asking as they adopt AI, and why sometimes the best way to move quickly is to slow down.  We discuss: Identifying AI’s five biggest risk categories in AEC: reliance, confidentiality, copyright, personal data, and ethics Why copyright and content attribution are such tricky issues with AI The limitations of using in-house AI models trained on proprietary data Why client requests are becoming more informed and specific (and why this is good!) 
Assets Mentioned: Joint Study from the Harvard Business School & Boston Consulting Group  
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.

Formula 1 in Las Vegas: How it was Built

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