The ConTechCrew

🏗️ Learn more at https://thecontechcrew.com


Panelized construction is on the rise, and it has become very popular for numerous reasons.

In this week’s episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with David Victor, Senior Manufacturing Engineer, and Chris Boal, Integrated Construction Director at BLUvera, to discuss the technology and process behind BLUvera’s panelized wall system.

BLUvera, a manufacturer and designer of cold-formed steel products, takes pride in its innovative manufacturing and off-site fabrication systems, aiming to enhance construction safety, speed, and predictability.

Today, we’ll dive deep into off-site fabrication and panelized construction, examining its profound impact on the industry. We’ll also geek out on the technology behind BLUvera’s innovative manufacturing and fabrication systems, along with its associated challenges and opportunities, and more.

Let’s jump right in!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
Meet David Victor and Chris Boal of BLUvera (05:23)
An overview of BLUvera and what it does (09:20)
Advantages of using cold-formed steel (13:52)
Impact of panelized wall system on the construction process (15:34)
Engineering and BIM coordination then vs. now (26:52)
On democratizing data and processes (30:37)
What is manufacturing in a factory like? (34:40)
Challenges of manufacturing panelized wall (41:10)
Construction technology news of the week (48:42)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

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Check out BLUvera for more information: https://www.bluvera.com/

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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️

➡️ The Case for Less Communication in Building Design
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/case-less-communication-building-design-kevin-lawson-pe-hkt4/

➡️ Why 2023 was a big year for ConTech Interoperability at Trimble
https://www.forconstructionpros.com/construction-technology/article/22881256/trimble-why-2023-was-a-big-year-for-contech-interoperability-at-trimble

➡️ Top Construction Events for 2024
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/conferences-2024-construction-building/696094/

➡️ Artificial Intelligence Act: Council and Parliament strike a deal on the first rules for AI in the world
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/09/artificial-intelligence-act-council-and-parliament-strike-a-deal-on-the-first-worldwide-rules-for-ai/

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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 https://thecontechcrew.com

If you missed Autodesk's AU 2023 conference in Vegas, an industry-leading event, fret not because I'm bringing in a dear colleague and one of the people behind the event's success to talk more about it.

In this week's episode, my co-host Ariel Castillo and I sit down with Allison Scott to give us a rundown of the Autodesk University conference 2023 in Las Vegas last November.

Allison is a "technology translator" and the Director of Customer Experience & Industry Advocacy at Autodesk. She has been a key contributor to Autodesk's leading-edge approach to customer engagement, including a highly-rated global executive council program, a growing online community, and industry impact programs that help bring awareness to industry issues. ​

Today, Allison and the crew dive deep into what transpired during the AU 2023 event, highlighting Autodesk's most significant latest tech releases, the Dublin Airport Authority case study, the future of construction with AI, and what to look forward to for next year.

Let's dive in!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
Get to know Allison Scott and her advocacy (06:56)
What did the Autodesk University 2023 experience feel like? (14:01)
The making of Autodesk AI (24:20)
Ariel’s biggest takeaway from the AU 2023 event (28:15)
Exploring Autodesk’s new releases (30:08)
How does the Autodesk Work Plan tool work (37:06)
The Dublin Airport Authority or DAA case study (43:27)
What to look forward to in AU 2024 (49:43)
Construction technology news of the week (54:23)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

—

Follow Allison Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisongscott/

Visit Autodesk for more information: https://www.autodesk.com/

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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️

➡️ Gen Z set to outnumber baby boomers in the workforce in 2024, Glassdoor says
https://www.hrdive.com/news/gen-z-overtake-baby-boomers-workforce-glassdoor/699828/

➡️ ENR Global Best Projects Awards
https://www.enr.com/bestprojects/global

➡️ US DOT Announces $817M in Road Safety Grants
https://www.enr.com/articles/57883-us-dot-announces-817m-in-road-safety-grants

➡️ The American Dream, bank failures, and artificial intelligence were on readers' minds
https://www.investopedia.com/2023-investopedia-terms-of-the-year-8409161

➡️ NFL’s Ravens award Gilbane $430M stadium upgrade project
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/ravens-stadium-construction-gilbane-nfl/702644/

—

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 https://thecontechcrew.com

In this week's episode, I sit down with Andy Verone, chief strategy officer at Contruent, a premier capital project management software solution.

With over 35 years of industry experience, Andy has solid experience in the construction technology field. Before joining Contruent, Andy was a global vice president at Oracle and co-founded Oracle's Vertical Industry Labs.

Today, he shares his journey from construction and engineering to the technology side and the why behind this big move.

We also delve into the role of data in the industry, defining cost controls and data standardizations, capital management, and more.

Let's jump in!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
How Andy got into construction technology (03:08)
The role of data in driving profitability (05:49)
On mapping out the process and understanding the key points (08:25)
Creating a better experience with data (12:33)
How Andy got into where he’s at today (16:39)
Oracle’s guiding strategy on acquisitions and creation (19:19)
The driving force in building an innovation lab (22:44)
Why Andy moved to Contruent (26:39)
Defining cost controls and data standardizations (28:30)
What people can gain from these project controls software (36:32)
Episode wrap-up (43:47)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

—

Follow Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-verone-4995109/

Visit Contruent for more information: https://www.contruent.com/

—

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 https://thecontechcrew.com

We all know what data can do to the construction industry–but building permit data? That's another story.

In this week's special episode, I am excited to speak with Doug Heady of BuilderBinder, Ryan Buckley of Shovels, and Kat Gordiienko of Builty.Today, we discuss how Doug, Ryan, Kat, and their teams are reinventing how we see building permit data and how these new software technologies can massively impact construction manufacturers, companies, contractors, and consumers.

We delve into the value of scraping and cleaning data and the process of turning a massive raw building permit data set into a one-stop shop directory on anything contractors and projects, and a whole lot more, in just a few clicks of a button.

Are you ready to dive into the world of data?

Let's jump in!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
Get to know this week’s guests (02:35)
A great solution born out of a personal problem (06:58)
The challenges in solving the dirty data problem (16:03)
The process of making a massive building and permit data portal (21:38)
How data can empower contractors (27:23)
What the future looks like for contractors (30:52)
How data accessibility impacts both contractors and consumers (38:24)
Episode wrap-up (44:14)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

—

Follow Doug Heady on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougheady/

Visit BuilderBinder for more information: https://builderbinder.com/

Follow Ryan Buckley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbuckley/

Visit Shovels for more information: https://www.shovels.ai/

Follow Kat Gordiienki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katgord/

Visit Builty for more information: https://www.builtydata.com/

—

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 https://thecontechcrew.com


How can real-time design iterations and collaborative efforts impact the construction industry? In this episode, my co-host Jonathan Marsh and I sit down with Britton Langdon, Chief Strategy Officer at Snaptrude, to explore the evolving landscape of design and architecture.

Snaptrude is a collaborative building design tool that offers real-time collaboration and data insights. It allows multi-user collaboration for designing buildings in 3D and generates real-time feedback on building cost, compliance, and climate studies to help drive more informed design decisions.

During our conversation, Britton walks us through Snaptrude's remarkable features, its core focus, and the industry challenges it aims to address, shedding light on the opportunities it presents in the near future.

We also discuss how Snaptrude not only improves the works of architects and designers but also positively impacts general contractors and trade partners.

Let's jump right in!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
From MSuite to Stanley Black & Decker (05:34)
Britton’s new role as a Chief Strategy Officer at Snaptrude (09:44)
Snaptrude’s core focus (13:29)
On challenges and opportunities (15:48)
The truth about construction’s pre-planning process (20:04)
What effective construction collaboration looks like (23:24)
Revolutionizing conceptual designs with Snaptrude (27:59)
How Snaptrude’s technology disrupts design and coordination (31:00)
From concept to BIM in real time (34:20)
The value of a cloud-based collaborative environment (38:43)
Construction technology news of the week (42:53)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

—

Follow Britton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britton-langdon/

Check out Snaptrude for more information: https://www.snaptrude.com/

—

See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️

➡️ Meta’s FAIR team releases 3 tools for robotics researchers
https://www.therobotreport.com/metas-fair-team-releases-3-tools-for-robotics-researchers/

➡️ 5 Key Updates in GPT-4 Turbo, OpenAI’s Newest Model
https://www.wired.com/story/5-updates-gpt-4-turbo-openai-chatgpt-sam-altman/

➡️ Google for Startups Shares a Genius Hiring Trick That Fuels Explosive Growth
https://www.inc.com/kelly-main/google-for-startups-shares-a-genius-hiring-trick-that-fuels-explosive-growth.html

➡️ Is Construction Tech Approaching An Adoption Ceiling?https://builtworlds.com/news/construction-tech-approaching-adoption-ceiling/

—

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 https://thecontechcrew.com

So, here's the deal—I couldn't make it to Trimble Dimensions this year, and I was feeling some serious FOMO vibes. So, I brought in two of my buddies who were not only there but were actually part of the action.

We've got Nathan Wood, Executive Director of the Construction Progress Coalition, and the man himself, Tom Stemm, Vice President and Category General Manager at Trimble.

We delve into the transformative shifts in the construction industry's approach to technology and highlight a monumental change in priorities, with a significant focus now placed on interoperability and the crucial role of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).

The industry now has a growing expectation for technology providers to offer seamless access and leverage of data. This shift towards openness is seen as a positive development, poised to break down longstanding silos that have hindered progress in the construction technology space for decades.

Stick around as we unpack all these exciting.

Let's dive in!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
Trimble’s growth through acquisitions and integrations (09:17)
Future of construction tech ecosystem (16:05)
F1, tech and construction in Las Vegas (19:43)
Interoperability in construction (26:14)
Improving data management to decision making (35:54)
Construction tech investment landscape (41:25)
What does the role of the GC look like in 10 years? (48:23)
What Tremble is up to (57:45)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

—

Follow Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomstemm/

Visit Trimble for more information: https://dataxchange.trimble.com/integrations

—

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 https://thecontechcrew.com

In this week's episode of The ConTech Crew, my co-host, Jonathan Marsh, and I sit down with Chris Anderson, founder and CEO at Vantem, a company that delivers cost-effective, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient homes.

Today, we discuss how Vantem's proprietary panel technology simplifies construction while building sustainable homes. We delve into Vantem's growth strategy both in the U.S. and internationally and the role of technology in their quest to solve global issues like climate change and housing challenges.

We also discuss how the modular housing system is revolutionizing how general contractors work and what the future looks like for Vantem.

Tune in now for more!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
How Chris got into sustainable construction (08:16)
How Vantem is revolutionizing home construction (12:10)
Key things that set Vantem apart from other affordable housing manufacturers (17:23)
How Vantem is approaching customizations (20:04)
What is at the core of Vantem’s technology? (22:17)
Vantem’s growth strategy in the U.S. and internationally (24:21)
Is Vantem’s system digitally accessible to designers and architects? (32:11)
What prompted Vantem to expand in the U.S. vs. other markets? (036:34)
Technologies that Vantem is eyeing as they scale (39:13)
What people can expect from Vantem(42:11)
How is the modular housing system impacting general contractors (45:29)
Chris’ hopes for Vantem’s future (49:46)
Construction technology news of the week (51:42)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

–

Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-anderson-769744a3/

Visit Vantem for more information: https://vantem.com/

–

See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️

➡️ Seven Ways Construction Technologists Can Build Toward Interoperability
https://www.geoweeknews.com/blogs/construction-technology-interoperability

➡️ Could QR Codes Be a Key to Unlocking Project Efficiencies? One Tech Leader Thinks So
https://www.enr.com/articles/56830-could-qr-codes-be-a-key-to-unlocking-project-efficiencies-one-tech-leader-thinks-so

➡️ Building a case for DFMA with Legos
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/building-case-dfma-legos-robert-ioanna-bcgge

➡️ Americans could live an extra 19 years—if they pick the right employer
https://fortune.com/well/2023/08/01/employees-live-longer-health-care-wellness-care-deloitte-report/

—

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 https://thecontechcrew.com

In this week's episode of The ConTech Crew, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Rachel Riopel, Digital Practice Leader at HDR, a large international employee-owned design firm specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental, and construction services.

As a Digital Practice Leader at HDR, Rachel collaborates with national and international project teams to optimize technology for digital delivery, emphasizing the transformative impact of Building Information Management (BIM).

Today, we discuss Rachel's role at HDR and what she looks for in any software selection. We also delve into navigating different perspectives in the industry, how to be a team player and the importance of collaboration, HDR's take on data sharing, and so much more.

Tune in now!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
What is the role and goal of a Digital Practice Leader (DPL)? (05:11)
Program management explained (10:02)
Specific tenants that a DPL is looking for in any software selection (13:33)
How to make field observation reports more impactful (19:12)
How to navigate differences in perspectives (21:02)
What is the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), and Rachel’s role in it? (26:06)
What is CUI, and why it’s important? (28:29)
Difference between CMMC vs. NIST and dealing with cybersecurity (33:37)
HDR’s take on data sharing, integration, and standardization (42:52)
Rachel’s advice on being a team player and collaboration (48:40)
Construction technology news of the week (51:59)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at https://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

–

Follow Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/r23riopel/

Visit HDR for more information: https://www.hdrinc.com/

–

See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️

➡️ IRS launching pilot program for free e-filing
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/taxes/2023/05/16/irs-free-taxes-efile-system-pilot/70225595007/

➡️ 13 worst design failures in modern history
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/worst-design-failures-modern-history-apple-pippin-google-glass

➡️ 10 Reasons Why Women Should Work in Construction
https://mikkiparadis.com/2023/09/18/10-reasons-why-women-should-work-in-construction/

➡️ 543 Carta startups have shut down so far in 2023
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7112949181815656448/

—

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.com

In this week's episode, we're coming to you live from the FARO Signals event in Chicago with Kipp Ivey, Patrick Bohle, and Rob Miller to talk about the latest in reality capture.

FARO Signals is an exclusive event dedicated to empowering construction operations and maintenance professionals with the knowledge and tools to thrive in what they do.

Today, we uncover the latest trends and innovations in 3D + 360° reality capture, some of the biggest takeaways from the keynote presentations, how people get involved in the reality capture world, and so much more!

Let’s get started!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
Get to know Pat Bohle, Kipp Ivey, and Rob Miller (02:18)
A quick overview of the FARO Signals event (07:55)
Stepping up the game in the mobile reality capture landscape (11:18)
Best strategy in company acquisitions (14:38)
How people are getting involved in the reality capture world (17:45)
Feedback from the FARO Signals event and some of the best AHA moments (27:26)
What it’s like creating an ecosystem that’s consumable (30:58)
Biggest takeaways from the keynote presentations (38:50)
Episode wrap-up (48:32)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

–

Follow Patrick Bohle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickbohle/

Follow Kipp Ivey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kippivey/

Follow Rob Miller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robmillerofconstruction/

–

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.com

How does data help in mitigating risk in construction job sites?

In this week’s episode, my co-host, Nathan Wood, and I sit down with Chris Greene, vice president of strategy, analytics, and knowledge at NFP, a leading insurance brokerage and consulting company.

Today, Chris, Nathan, and I discuss mitigating risks in construction job sites through data and how it helps GCs, project managers, or owners make better decisions.

Chris also talks about the role and impact of insurance brokers in construction technology innovation, how insurance works, how to tackle insurance costs with clients, emerging tech innovations, and, of course, our construction technology news of the week.

Tune in now!


Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
Meet Chris Greene (07:45)
Best client approach in introducing construction tech (10:16)
Areas in construction that need to be measured to mitigate risks (14:49)
What’s the role of an insurance broker in construction? (18:03)
The impact of data integration on risk, health, and safety management (20:49)
Zero-sum mindset vs. infinite mindset (24:12)
What it’s like working with different client types (25:08)
The difference between OCIP and CCIP (27:21)
How to leverage risk data for “better” decision-making (29:39)
How to tackle insurance costs with clients (32:36)
Chris’ insights on the emerging techs (42:37)
Construction technology news of the week (46:37)


Additional Resources:

Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew

–

Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgreene1/

Visit NFP for more information: https://www.nfp.com/

–

See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️

➡️ Apple and Patagonia love Gavin Newsom’s move to make big firms disclose their emissions
https://fortune.com/2023/10/10/climate-change-greenhouse-gas-emissions-california-gavin-newsom-disclosure/

➡️ Meta Quest 3 takes a step closer to mainstream AR/VR
https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/09/meta-quest-3-takes-a-step-closer-to-mainstream-ar-vr/amp/

➡️ Discover the Top 10 Construction Trends & Innovations in 2024
https://www.startus-insights.com/innovators-guide/top-10-construction-industry-trends-innovations-in-2021/

➡️ How Coca-Cola, Netflix, and Amazon Learn from Failure
https://hbr.org/2017/11/how-coca-cola-netflix-and-amazon-learn-from-failure

—

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!