The Matthew Byrd Podcast

What does it take to go from working in surveying to leading some of the most innovative geospatial projects in the world?

In this episode of The Matthew Byrd Podcast, Matthew sits down with Carlos Femmer, Vice President of Geomatics & Remote Sensing at HDR, to explore a remarkable career built on innovation, ambition, mentorship, and the willingness to challenge conventional thinking.

From helping develop the world's first commercial autonomous underwater vehicle to pioneering the use of LiDAR, drones, and digital twins on massive infrastructure projects, Carlos has spent more than 25 years pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the geospatial industry.

But this conversation goes far beyond technology.

Carlos shares the leadership lessons that shaped his career, including the moment he told his boss he wanted to become president of the company—and how that bold ambition eventually became reality.

Together, Matthew and Carlos discuss the future of reality capture, the convergence of AI and geospatial technology, and why success has less to do with luck than you might think.

• From Surveyor to President: How ambition, hard work, and mentorship helped Carlos rise through the ranks of the geospatial industry.
• Pioneering Underwater Technology: The story behind developing the first commercial autonomous underwater vehicle.
• The Future of Geospatial: How AI, LiDAR, drones, and digital twins are transforming surveying, engineering, and infrastructure.
• Innovation Through Integration: Why combining technologies creates opportunities that individual tools cannot deliver alone.
• The Business Case for Technology: Why safety, measurable ROI, and proven results matter more than industry buzzwords.
• The Power of Mentorship: How great leaders create opportunities, challenge assumptions, and shape careers.
• Creating Your Own Luck: Why consistency, preparation, and taking bold chances open doors.
• Leadership That Lasts: The importance of integrity, accountability, trust, and knowing when to make difficult decisions.
• Thinking Bigger: Why setting ambitious goals and committing to lifelong learning can change your trajectory.

00:00 – Introduction: Carlos Femmer of HDR
01:03 – Welcome to The Matthew Byrd Podcast
02:07 – Leading Geomatics & Remote Sensing at HDR
03:09 – The Secret Sauce: Combining Geospatial Technologies
04:02 – From Surveying to Pioneering Underwater Robotics
06:23 – Reinventing Surveying with Airborne LiDAR
08:25 – Digital Twins and the Evolution of Reality Capture
10:38 – Safety, ROI, and the Business Case for Innovation
15:03 – How the Industry's Adoption of Technology Has Changed
19:02 – Why Geospatial Technology Is at an Inflection Point
22:05 – The Future: AI, Autonomous Drones & Digital Twins
24:39 – Leadership, Mentorship & Career Ambition
26:37 – Solving a Multimillion-Dollar Project Problem
31:35 – Asking for the Job You Want
33:45 – Why Luck Favors Those Who Put in the Work
34:53 – Breaking Down Silos and Building Stronger Teams
38:58 – What Makes a Great Leader?
44:52 – Learning from Bad Leadership
46:13 – Advice to the Next Generation
48:06 – Setting Big Goals and Following Through
50:09 – Finding Balance Between Career and Personal Life

Is AI making it harder to get hired?

As artificial intelligence transforms the job market, resumes are becoming harder to distinguish, automated applications are flooding employers, and qualified candidates are struggling to stand out.

In this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Matthew sits down with Jessica Cafferty, founder and president of RNG Group, to explore what's really happening behind the scenes in recruiting, hiring, and entrepreneurship.

With more than a decade of experience connecting companies with top talent, Jessica shares her perspective on the rise of what she calls "AI slop," why traditional hiring processes are struggling, and what candidates can do to get noticed.

But this conversation goes far beyond resumes and recruiting. Jessica also shares her journey of building a business from scratch, the realities of entrepreneurship, and why listening, adaptability, and genuine human relationships remain essential to success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Why AI-generated resumes are making it harder for candidates to stand out.
• How automated job applications are overwhelming hiring managers.
• What recruiters actually look for in a great resume.
• Why human connection is still one of the most powerful tools in business.
• How headhunters identify and recruit top talent.
• Why the best candidates aren't always actively looking for work.
• The realities of starting, sustaining, and growing a business.
• How AI is reshaping hiring decisions and the future of work.
• Why networking, initiative, and personal outreach can open doors that online applications can't.

Whether you're looking for your next career opportunity, building a business, or trying to understand how AI is changing the workforce, this conversation offers valuable insights into what it takes to stand out.

00:00 Episode Preview
01:07 Meet Jessica Cafferty, Founder of RNG Group
03:53 From Corporate Burnout to Entrepreneurship
08:09 Taking Action and Building a Business
16:00 Starting a Business vs. Sustaining One
20:27 The Risks and Realities of Entrepreneurship
24:36 Why Great Teams Need More Than Entrepreneurs
27:30 How Headhunters Find the Right People
31:15 Why Hiring Decisions Go Wrong
34:15 AI Slop: The Problem With Modern Resumes
36:08 How to Make Your Resume Stand Out
43:00 Finding Talent That Isn't Looking for a Job
59:00 Why Human Connection Still Matters
1:11:00 How AI Is Reshaping the Job Market
1:25:20 How to Stand Out and Get Hired
1:43:00 The Importance of Listening and Humility

What happens when surveying, reality capture, and AI collide?

On this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Matthew sits down with professional surveyor, educator, YouTube creator, and geospatial technologist Rami Tamimi to talk about where the surveying industry is headed—and why simply owning the latest technology isn’t enough.

Rami breaks down the growing disconnect between survey knowledge and rapidly advancing tools like drones, laser scanners, mobile mapping, and AI. They dig into why understanding accuracy and fundamentals still matters, how Rami is already using AI in real-world surveying workflows, and why professionals who refuse to adapt could eventually find themselves left behind.

They also get into Rami’s journey into surveying, building his YouTube channel and The Survey School, the importance of sharing knowledge, educating the next generation, and what separates someone who simply uses the technology from someone who truly understands it.

Because as Rami puts it:

“If you do ordinary things, you will have ordinary results.”

Rami Tamimi joins Matthew Byrd for a conversation about surveying, technology, AI, education, and what it will take to succeed in the next generation of the geospatial industry.

What actually makes something a digital twin and when is it just a 3D model with a better name?

Kelly Watt joins Matthew Byrd in the Reality Capture Network studio for a deep conversation about the evolution of reality capture, digital twins, LiDAR, AI and the technology changing how we understand and manage the physical world.

Kelly traces an unconventional career that took him from telecommunications across Asia to early forensic laser scanning, FARO, large-scale reality capture projects and eventually complex digital twin initiatives at DFW Airport.

Along the way, Kelly and Matt unpack what years of testing emerging technology taught him about being an early adopter, why impressive-looking data still needs validation, and why organizations need to start with the business problem instead of the latest piece of technology.

They also tackle one of the industry's most misunderstood terms: DIGITAL TWIN.

Kelly breaks down why a digital twin is more than a static 3D representation, why the data and relationships behind the visualization matter, how information silos can be connected, and how AI could dramatically accelerate the ability to organize, validate and use that information.

But as AI becomes more capable, another question emerges:

Are we becoming better at using technology or becoming too dependent on it to think for us?

From reality capture and digital twins to AI, robotics, critical thinking and the future of work, this conversation is about much more than technology. It's about learning how to question it, test it and understand where you fit as the industry changes.

What happens when you spend nearly 30 years mapping thousands of schools—and watch reality capture evolve from paper drawings and early CAD to LiDAR, digital twins, AI, and Gaussian splats?

In this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Matthew sits down with Jeremy Pilgrim, Managing Director of Building Spatial Intelligence Limited, to explore the evolution of spatial data and where the industry could be headed next.

Jeremy has worked on more than 5,000 schools across the UK, building an incredibly unique perspective on how buildings are documented, managed, maintained, and ultimately understood.

The conversation dives into why collecting data is only the beginning. The real opportunity is connecting that information so buildings can become living spatial databases—linking assets, maintenance records, environmental information, safety data, and institutional knowledge together.

Jeremy and Matthew also explore the rapidly changing technology behind reality capture, including SLAM, LiDAR, photogrammetry, Gaussian splats, AI, and the possibility that cameras could eventually replace LiDAR for many applications.

They also discuss one of the industry's biggest challenges: we already have much of the technology needed to transform how buildings are managed. The harder problem may simply be getting people to use it.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Why Jeremy built an entire career around mapping schools
• How reality capture evolved from paper drawings and 2D CAD into connected 3D data
• Why spatial data should be treated as a corporate asset rather than a project cost
• The importance of connecting building data instead of simply collecting it
• Why geospatial referencing can bridge information silos
• How digital models can preserve institutional knowledge when experienced employees leave
• Why AI could fundamentally change how we interact with building information
• The growing role of photogrammetry, Gaussian splats, and camera-based capture
• Whether cameras could eventually replace LiDAR for certain applications
• Why the required level of accuracy should be driven by the use case
• How capturing buildings throughout construction could create a true operational record
• Jeremy’s vision for giving people “X-ray vision” into buildings
• Why problem-solving may become more important than memorizing information in an AI-driven world
• Jeremy’s advice for younger professionals: believe in yourself, take chances, and just do it

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Coming Up
01:29 – Meet Jeremy Pilgrim
03:37 – From Pipe Fitter to Computers and CAD
13:13 – Taking the Leap and Starting a Company
16:48 – Why Jeremy Focused on Schools
26:27 – From Floor Plans to Connected Spatial Data
37:09 – Why Schools Need Better Building Data
44:05 – UK vs. US Technology Adoption
54:08 – Bridging Data Silos with Geospatial Information
1:01:04 – Bringing AI Into Building Management
1:08:55 – Why Spatial Data Is an Asset, Not a Cost
1:10:10 – The Biggest Reality Capture Technology Challenges
1:13:10 – Will Cameras Eventually Replace LiDAR?
1:20:41 – The Missing Link Between BIM and Operations
1:22:05 – The Future: Giving Buildings “X-Ray Vision”
2:10:20 – Reality Capture Network and the Value of Industry Collaboration
2:17:14 – Jeremy’s Advice to His Younger Self

Subscribe for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of reality capture, digital twins, geospatial technology, and the built environment.

Ken Smerz has built one of the larger VDC companies in North America—but the road there was anything but predictable.

After breaking away from a previous business, Ken and 11 members of his team found themselves with no money and working together from a local park. A major relationship with Intel eventually provided the financial “dry powder” they needed to launch forward.

Today, Ken is the founder and owner of ZELUS, a VDC and reality capture company operating across the United States.

In this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Ken sits down with Matthew to talk about the evolution of reality capture, what it actually takes to build and scale a business, and why he believes the opportunity ahead for scanning, BIM, VDC, digital twins and AI is enormous.

From early LiDAR adoption and choosing the right technology for the job to surviving COVID, building great teams and learning when to pivot, Ken shares lessons earned through more than 16 years of entrepreneurship.

They also explore where the industry goes next—including AI-powered feature extraction, the growing demand for operational digital twins, and a talent shortage that could become one of the industry's biggest challenges.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Why early work with Intel helped provide the runway for ZELUS
• How Ken and his team went from working in a park to building a nationwide VDC company
• Why the reality capture industry may still be in its infancy
• Why the demand for skilled scanning, BIM and VDC professionals could outpace the available talent
• How owner adoption could accelerate the next wave of digital twins
• Why choosing the right scanner for the right application matters
• How AI could dramatically change point-cloud-to-BIM workflows
• Why collaboration between reality capture companies may be more valuable than competition
• The difference between growing a company and truly scaling one
• Why successful entrepreneurs have to be willing to pivot
• Why great businesses ultimately come down to “people, people, people”
• Why young professionals should chase knowledge and experience before money

What separates businesses that thrive from those that disappear?

In this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and fractional CMO Chrissy Barron shares the mindset that helped her build and scale seven-figure brands.

From betting her life savings on a startup to leading marketing for brands like HexClad, F45, Planet Fitness, and Gym Launch, Chrissy dives into the psychology behind consumer behavior, entrepreneurship, AI, branding, leadership, and why growth only happens when you're willing to get uncomfortable.

Whether you're a founder, marketer, creator, or someone chasing a bigger vision, this episode is packed with practical lessons and mindset shifts you can apply immediately.

In this episode:

• The Viking "Burn the Boats" philosophy
• Building and selling a seven-figure business
• Why consumers buy emotionally
• Marketing psychology that actually converts
• Finding your first 1,000 true fans
• Facebook vs TikTok vs Instagram
• AI's impact on marketing
• Confidence vs arrogance
• Why you should always bet on yourself

Link with Chrissy Barron here:

🌐 Website:
https://growthmarketinghacks.com

🎥 TikTok:
@WorkTalksPodcast

Chrissy specializes in helping DTC and eCommerce brands grow through strategic marketing, consumer psychology, and fractional CMO services

#Marketing #Entrepreneurship #Business #AI #Branding #ConsumerPsychology #MatthewByrdPodcast

🔗 Explore more at: https://realitycapturenetwork.com/
📲 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/realitycapturenetwork/?viewAsMember=true
📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realitycapturenetwork/

Subscribe for more insights! Stay updated on the latest in reality capture, AEC innovations, and emerging tech. Hit that like button and subscribe for future content!

What if the greatest setback in your life is actually preparing you for your greatest success?

In this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Matthew sits down with John Kundly—TEDx speaker, leadership coach, author of The Art of the Detour, and someone whose journey from homelessness to helping leaders around the world proves that success is rarely a straight line.

John shares how embracing uncertainty, developing confidence, and learning from life's unexpected turns can unlock opportunities you never imagined. Whether you're navigating a career change, building a business, leading a team, or simply trying to find your next step, this conversation offers practical wisdom for turning obstacles into advantages.

Sometimes the path you didn't choose is exactly the one you needed.

✔️ Why the biggest detours often lead to the greatest opportunities
✔️ How John went from homelessness to the TEDx stage
✔️ The truth about confidence—and how to build it
✔️ Why likability and communication matter more than you think
✔️ How great leaders navigate uncertainty
✔️ Practical ways to embrace change instead of fearing it

• Success is rarely a straight line.
• Confidence is developed through action, not certainty.
• Your setbacks don't define you—they prepare you.
• Every detour has the potential to become your greatest advantage.
• Leadership starts with how you communicate and connect with others.
• Growth almost always requires discomfort.

00:00 – Coming up...
01:18 – Meet John Kundly
04:42 – From homelessness to rebuilding his life
11:06 – Why confidence changes everything
18:30 – The Art of the Detour explained
26:14 – Learning to embrace uncertainty
34:57 – Leadership, communication, and influence
44:15 – The power of likability in business and life
53:41 – Advice for anyone facing a major setback
1:01:27 – Final thoughts and what's next

Ken Smerz has built one of the larger VDC companies in North America—but the road there was anything but predictable.

After breaking away from a previous business, Ken and 11 members of his team found themselves with no money and working together from a local park. A major relationship with Intel eventually provided the financial “dry powder” they needed to launch forward.

Today, Ken is the founder and owner of ZELUS, a VDC and reality capture company operating across the United States.

In this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Ken sits down with Matthew to talk about the evolution of reality capture, what it actually takes to build and scale a business, and why he believes the opportunity ahead for scanning, BIM, VDC, digital twins and AI is enormous.

From early LiDAR adoption and choosing the right technology for the job to surviving COVID, building great teams and learning when to pivot, Ken shares lessons earned through more than 16 years of entrepreneurship.

They also explore where the industry goes next—including AI-powered feature extraction, the growing demand for operational digital twins, and a talent shortage that could become one of the industry's biggest challenges.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Why early work with Intel helped provide the runway for ZELUS

• How Ken and his team went from working in a park to building a nationwide VDC company

• Why the reality capture industry may still be in its infancy

• Why the demand for skilled scanning, BIM and VDC professionals could outpace the available talent

• How owner adoption could accelerate the next wave of digital twins

• Why choosing the right scanner for the right application matters

• How AI could dramatically change point-cloud-to-BIM workflows

• Why collaboration between reality capture companies may be more valuable than competition

• The difference between growing a company and truly scaling one

• Why successful entrepreneurs have to be willing to pivot

• Why great businesses ultimately come down to “people, people, people”

• Why young professionals should chase knowledge and experience before money

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Coming Up

01:13 – Meet Ken Smerz

03:42 – Ken’s Journey Into Reality Capture

05:39 – Discovering LiDAR & the Early Days of Scanning

06:32 – Starting Over With No Money

07:25 – How Intel Helped Launch the Business

09:04 – How Reality Capture Has Changed

12:06 – When Scanning Became an Industry Expectation

13:34 – The Reality Capture Talent Shortage

15:57 – Collaboration Over Competition

18:01 – The Next Wave of Digital Twins

20:26 – AI, Point Clouds & Automated BIM

23:07 – The Biggest Challenges in Field Capture

24:47 – Choosing the Right Scanner for the Job

26:00 – Where Do We Find the Next Generation of Talent?

28:44 – The Challenges of Running a Reality Capture Business

31:04 – Search & Rescue, Risk & Ken’s Entrepreneurial Mindset

33:01 – The Reality of Entrepreneurship

36:05 – What Does It Take to Succeed?

38:13 – “If You Don’t Pivot, You’re Gonna Die”

39:52 – The Challenge of Building & Keeping a Great Team

41:03 – Scaling vs. Growing

42:01 – What Helped ZELUS Succeed?

44:34 – What the Reality Capture Industry Still Needs

47:28 – Where the Industry Goes Next

50:10 – Advice for the Next Generation

52:14 – Keep Putting Logs on the Fire

What actually makes a digital twin?

Is it a 3D model? A point cloud? A connected data set? Does it need IoT? Does it need to change over time? And most importantly, does any of that matter if nobody actually uses it?

In the first Reality Capture Network Roundtable, Matt Byrd brings together Kelley Watt, Jason Sansoucy, Carlos Femmer and Jeremy Pilgrim for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most used, misunderstood and rapidly evolving terms in the reality capture industry: the digital twin.

The group gets into where the definition starts to break down, why digital twins have to create real business value, how reality capture data should live beyond individual projects, the challenges of getting field teams to actually adopt new technology, accuracy versus fit-for-purpose data, workforce and education gaps, robotics, automation and what happens when AI can begin interrogating digital twins on its own.

From airports, dams and telecom infrastructure to schools, utilities and industrial facilities, this conversation looks beyond the technology itself and asks a more important question:

What problem are we actually trying to solve?


Stay Connected with Reality Capture Network

🔗 Explore more at: https://realitycapturenetwork.com/
📲 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/realitycapturenetwork/?viewAsMember=true
📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realitycapturenetwork/

Subscribe for more insights! Stay updated on the latest in reality capture, AEC innovations, and emerging tech. Hit that like button and subscribe for future content!