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In this episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample and Nathan Wood sit down with Jacob D’Albora, Director of Digital Building Operations at VIATechnik, to talk about their newest innovation: Voyager, a digital twin solution built with owners in mind. Jacob shares insights into bridging the construction-operations gap, the shift from BIM as a 3D model to BIM as a data source, and why the facilities side of the AEC industry needs tools designed specifically for their workflow. The conversation also covers cultural change, standards, AI integration, and Jacob's recent appointment to the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Digital Twin Integration Committee.
[00:00] - Introduction
[01:05] - Introduction to Jacob D’Albora & the “Voyage to Value”
[03:30] - The origin of VIATechnik and their journey into owner services
[10:43] - VIATechnik’s product evolution: from services to Voyager
[25:09] - Value prompt of BIM
[29:45] - How this helps upstream teams like trades and designers
[33:36] - The need for transparency and culture change
[38:47] - Jacob’s appointment as Chair of the NIBS Digital Twin Committee
In this episode, Jeff Sample and Nathan Wood sit down with Benjamin Urban, the CEO of DIRTT, to explore how their innovative approach to off-site construction is pushing the boundaries of prefab with a focus on Design for Disassembly (DfD). Benjamin shares how DIRTT’s proprietary software and modular systems are revolutionizing how we build, adapt, and reuse spaces especially in healthcare, education, and commercial offices.
DIRTT’s process enables cost certainty, labor efficiency, sustainability, and real-time reconfigurability. You’ll also hear fascinating insights into how DIRTT was quietly solving the same problems that caused others like Katerra to fail.
[00:00] - Introduction
[03:26] - Benjamin’s construction & tech background
[04:38] - The origin of DIRTT and Java connection
[13:51] - Overcoming prefab industry skepticism
[15:51] - Million-square-foot case study: reconfiguring mid-construction
[24:32] - COVID’s impact on space adaptability
[33:13] - Relevance over time: escaping the “sawtooth” model
[39:35] - Involving the trades: GCs, framers, and drywallers
[46:14] - Final thoughts + where to learn more
In this high-energy episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample and Nathan Wood welcome Tyler Campbell, Founder of FieldProof and host of the Construction Brothers podcast. From steel detailing to shaking up construction technology, Tyler opens up about the realities of field-level frustrations and how tech solutions often miss the mark. This episode dives deep into how Field Proof connects the boots on the ground with the people building the tools, creating feedback loops that actually work.
Tyler shares his evolution from a salty steel detailer to a bridge-builder between the field and the tech world. The conversation covers arrogant tech rollouts, bloated platforms, broken processes, and why empathy might be the industry's greatest innovation tool. It’s part reflection, part industry rant, and all heart.
Key Learnings[00:00] - Introduction
[07:02] - Bridging the gap between tech companies and the field
[10:12] - Growing up in BIM.
[14:36] - Podcasting humbled Tyler’s initial arrogance
[27:56] - “Nobody asks us” - field pros just want to be heard
[39:38] - Challenging contracts and corporate resistance to change
[43:26] - Calibration madness and the human vs. machine gap
[53:40] - Rants, laughs, and closing thoughts: industry change starts now
In this special episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample is joined by Scott Reynolds, CEO and Co-Founder of UpCodes, and co-host Nathan Wood to unpack the evolving debate around building code accessibility and the controversial Pro Codes Act. The episode sheds light on the decades-long legal battle between public access advocates and standards development organizations (SDOs) over who really owns the building codes once they become law. Scott gives us an insider’s perspective on UpCodes’ mission, the origins of the copyright conflict, and why transparent access to legal codes is critical for innovation, fairness, and public safety.
The trio also gets into another critical disruption, what some are calling the “death of SEO” and how it’s forcing companies, especially in construction, to rethink content distribution. From HubSpot’s 80% traffic loss to the rising importance of targeted, high-value content across multiple platforms, this episode is a deep dive into how legal, marketing, and technological shifts are reshaping the built environment.
[00:00] - Introduction
[03:43] - What is UpCodes? Why building code access matters.
[06:03] - Volunteer-written codes, revenue from surrounding services, & the ICC’s business model.
[11:39] - Public access vs. copyright: Can you own the law?
[23:16] - SEO shifts: HubSpot’s 80% traffic loss and the rise of AI-powered search.
[30:40] - The importance of content specificity and platform relevance.
[34:55] - Building integrations that meet users in their workflow (e.g., Revit, Procore).
[45:50] - Time-to-decision (TTD): The #1 KPI in construction and how tech can improve it.
[45:03] - Wrap-up: where to find Scott.
In this episode, Jeff Sample sits down with Jon Chesser, Chief Growth Officer at Cumulus, to explore how connected tools are transforming construction QA/QC particularly in the booming data center space. With nearly 20 years of experience in construction technology and a successful exit from Jovix, Jon brings a deep understanding of solving field-level problems with practical tech.
As AI accelerates the demand for faster, more efficient data center builds, Jon unpacks how Cumulus is eliminating legacy paperwork for electrical and mechanical contractors through Bluetooth-enabled tools. From torque verification to real-time digital records, this conversation gets into the real-world innovations helping contractors stay in flow, reduce rework, and scale with speed.
Key Learnings[00:00] - Introduction
[01:44] - Jon’s background and Jovix
[05:23] - Using RFID to solve structural steel tracking in EPC projects
[08:53] - The real problem: disconnected paper processes, not just lost materials
[11:39] - Cumulus: digitizing QA/QC for data center electrical and mechanical work
[14:25] - Empowering electricians and saving foremen from paperwork overload
[22:09] - Scope and opportunity of Connected tools.
[27:13] - Mechanical torque verification and modular QA in hyperscale builds
[29:59] - Wrapping up: standardization, scalability, and future opportunities
In this episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample is joined by Dave McCool, Director of Product of Procore Technologies and Tore Hovland, co-founder of Novarender, for a detailed discussion into the global evolution of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Together, they explore the innovative tech that’s redefining how the construction industry interacts with massive models in real-time from civil tunneling projects in Norway to vertical builds in the US.
The conversation unpacks how Novarender’s origin in oil and gas tech evolved into a game-changing BIM viewer capable of rendering “the universe,” and why the merger with Procore is a pivotal moment for democratizing BIM. The trio tackles philosophical differences in BIM adoption across countries, the potential to reduce rework and safety incidents, and the crucial move from reactive to proactive construction.
[00:00] - Introduction
[00:55] - Intro to Dave McCool and Tore Hovland
[02:48] - Tore’s background in oil and gas and the origin of Novarender
[04:01] - How Novarender approached rendering massive digital assets
[07:16] - The challenge of democratizing BIM on mobile devices
[09:04] - Norway’s BIM mandates and philosophical differences in global BIM use
[17:55] - Procore’s vision: unlocking, enriching, and connecting BIM
[22:05] - Real-time tunnel deviation reporting using point clouds and theoretical models
[32:05] - Connecting BIM to schedule, RFIs, and more across the platform
[37:53] - The future of BIM: right info, right time, right person, right platform
From X-Con to Unbound, a new era for Bluebeam is taking shape ushering in innovation, AI transformation, and a deeper connection with the AEC community. In this episode, Jeff Sample is joined by Usman Shuja, CEO of Bluebeam, to unpack the evolution of the company and its commitment to putting users at the center of everything. They explore how Unbound isn’t just a revived conference, it's a strategic milestone that reflects Bluebeam’s next chapter of growth, collaboration, and community-driven innovation.
Usman discusses how Bluebeam is embracing generative AI to automate tedious workflows, empower field teams, and enhance productivity. He also offers a glimpse into Unbound’s exciting speaker lineup, including innovation leaders from Disney, CBRE, and even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Whether you're a long-time Bluebeam user, a construction tech enthusiast, or new to the scene, this conversation sets the stage for where the industry and Bluebeam is headed.
[00:00] - Introduction- Unbound announced: Bluebeam relaunches its user conference
[01:00] - Introduction of Usman Shuja
[03:22] - The road from X-Con to Unbound: COVID impact and vision ahead
[06:40] - Why generative AI is Bluebeam’s next wave
[11:25] - Unbound speaker highlights from: Disney, CBRE, Silicon valley, Nemetschek
[19:56] - Startups and future tech: what attendees will experience
[22:56] - Why anyone in AEC should attend Unbound
[27:49] - Usman’s personal excitement: Celebrating the users and launching Chapter 3
[29:46] - Closing thoughts and where to learn more
In this episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample sits down with Peter Lasensky, founder of Command Post and the original creator of NoteVault, to talk about revolutionizing documentation in construction. With decades of firsthand experience as a contractor and tech innovator, Peter shares how a tough legal lesson inspired him to create a voice-to-text solution that’s changing how field teams protect their projects and their bottom line.
Peter gets into the power of real-time documentation, why adjectives don’t belong in daily reports, and how AI and multilingual support are shaping the future of construction communication. From solving disputes before they start to connecting teams with smart collaboration tools, this episode is packed with insights for anyone building in today’s high-risk, high-stakes environment.
Key Learnings[00:00] - Introduction
[01:12] - Official intro and guest welcome
[02:36] - Peter’s background
[06:58] - Turner Construction drywall dispute: documentation wins cases
[11:47] - Launching Command Post: a modern take on field documentation
[22:44] - Rapid voice and photo capture for busy job sites
[21:10] - Best practices: remove opinions, focus on facts in report
[26:34] - Training the field: why daily reports matter and how to make them easier
[31:06] - Smart collaboration and subcontractor transparency
[34:07] - Project newsfeeds bring field progress to the office
[36:07] - Final remarks
In this episode, the ConTech Crew Host Jeff Sample Alongside Co-Host Rob McKinney gets into the evolving world of construction technology with returning guest Josh Kanner, Sr. Director, Product & Strategy, Construction & Engineering Intelligence at Oracle. Together with the crew, they discuss how innovation, AI, and real-time data are transforming the industry from top to bottom. The conversation explores lessons learned from years in the field, how startups scale in construction, and the tech adoption hurdles that continue to challenge the sector.
From predictions on AI’s impact to the critical importance of understanding what happens on the jobsite, this episode is packed with insightful, future-facing perspectives. Whether you’re a contractor, a tech provider, or somewhere in between, the episode offers value on navigating construction’s digital transformation while staying grounded in real-world execution.
Key Takeaways[00:00] - Intro and guest introductions
[03:30] - Background of Josh.
[08:40] - Vinny the AI and early wins in safety data
[12:16] - Scaling a construction tech startup the hard way
[22:06] - How AI is integrated across project scheduling and safety
[23:25] - Real-world ROI: Bolt, Suffolk, and Severn Trent case studies
[32:54] - Getting actionable data from photos, payroll & more
[37:20] - Challenges through which contractors can learn.
[44:33] - Final thoughts on collaboration and the future of construction data
In this episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample and co-host Nathan Wood sit down with Tracy Young, co-founder of TigerEye and formerly co-founder and CEO of PlanGrid, to explore the journey from building groundbreaking field technology to pioneering modern business intelligence. Tracy reflects on the early struggles of carrying massive blueprint rolls through job sites and how that frustration evolved into one of the most successful ConTech startups of its time.
Now with TigerEye, Tracy is tackling an entirely different challenge giving go-to-market teams access to immediate, trustworthy, and actionable data. This conversation unpacks the lessons learned at PlanGrid, the importance of knowing your customer, and the shift from tech-for-tech's-sake to solving real, felt problems. With plenty of laughs and hard-earned wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for founders, builders, and innovators alike.
Key Learnings:[00:00] - Intro of the episode.
[02:20] - Tracy's early days and Background
[04:11] - The physical burden of blueprints and early tech solutions
[08:10] - What venture capital taught Tracy and why she left it
[10:58] - Starting TigerEye and solving for data paralysis
[13:48] - Core features of TigerEye and who it's built for
[19:39] - Real stories of data guiding better business decisions
[27:07] - Why you can only make 1-3 big bets a year
[29:48] - Making tech easy to buy and use
[37:55] - The DNA of PlanGrid lives on in TigerEye
[48:38] - Snapshotting behavior and building predictive models
[54:16] - Closing thoughts and thank yous
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