Wrenches Gadgets & Hacks

Welcome to the second episode of Series 3 of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks! The theme of this series is "Guests' Choice: AECO Mavericks Unscripted," where we have amazing guests driving the topics of each episode.

In this episode, Carl and John dive into the art of communication within the AECO industry. Our guest, Susan Young, a seasoned storyteller and CEO of Get in Front Communications, shares her journey from being a radio news reporter to helping professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction improve their presentation skills. The discussion highlights the importance of storytelling, curiosity, and the human connection in effectively conveying ideas. With insights into overcoming the fear of public speaking and the value of authentic communication, this episode offers valuable takeaways for anyone looking to enhance their professional interactions.

We also learn about Susan's new online 3-day training, "Top Tier Communicator," perfect for AEC speakers, communicators, and networkers. It covers networking, listening, small talk, presentations, storytelling, and more - link below 👇

Top Tier Communicator

Enjoy the show, and remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

In this episode of Wrenches Gadgets & Hacks, we kick off Series 3: "Guests' Choice: AECO Mavericks Unscripted" and welcome back John Pierson as our Co-Host!

For this episode's Maverick, we have Clifton Harness, co-founder and CEO of TestFit, as we explore the world of generative design and its impact on real estate, architecture and construction. From optimizing and building AECO configurators to the future of automated design processes, Clifton shares insights on how technology is transforming the industry. Tune in to discover how TestFit is redefining architectural feasibility and what this means for the future of design and construction.

Enjoy the show, and remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome back for the sixth and final episode of our second series, “AI in the AECO and Beyond.” Our host, Carl, speaks with Tannis Liviniuk, Digital Advancement Executive at Zachry Group, about the current state and future of AI in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) industry. What they discover during the discussion is that AI is a valuable assistant that can help with mundane tasks, such as sifting through millions of documents, and also serve as a tool for learning and exploration. The use of AI can lead to curiosity and deeper engagement with projects, ultimately providing real value and convenience.

Key Topics Discussed:

• AI in Construction: The evolution of AI and its current applications in the AECO industry.
• Data Management: The importance of data quality and the challenges of managing vast amounts of project documentation.
• Future of AI: Predictions on how AI will continue to shape project planning, risk management, and overall workflow efficiency.
• Practical AI Tools: How AI can assist in daily tasks and improve productivity without replacing human jobs.
• Corporate AI Policies: The necessity of secure and ethical AI usage within organizations.
• Educational Insights: Encouraging exploration and learning of AI tools to stay ahead in the industry.

* The above was created with a helping hand from an LLM from the Podcast episode transcript, which was transcribed by AI 😁

And remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

In this episode of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks, we continue our series on AI in the AECO industry. Host Carl welcomes Craig, the Director of Digital Technology at Ewing Cole, to discuss the transformative role of AI in rendering and design. Craig shares his journey from studying architecture and landscape architecture to leading digital media and design technology at a major firm. The conversation moves into the parallels between the rise of BIM and AI, the practical applications of AI in rendering, and the importance of crafting effective prompts for AI tools.

Key Topics Discussed:

• AI in Design: The impact of AI on the design process, including the use of tools like MidJourney, Veras, and Magnific.
• Rendering with AI: How AI is used to generate architectural renderings, the challenges of creating realistic images, and the importance of maintaining design authenticity.
• Prompts and Workflows: The significance of crafting good prompts for AI tools and the innovative workflows developed by designers at Ewing Cole.
• Security and Custom AI: The exploration of different methods for creating custom AI tools while ensuring data security.
• Future of AI in AECO: The potential and limitations of AI in the industry, and the importance of continuous experimentation and learning.

* The above was created with a helping hand from an LLM from the Podcast episode transcript, which was transcribed by AI 😁

And remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome back  "Wrench's Gadgets & Hacks" where we explore the latest in technology and innovation. In this episode host Carl Storms dives into the world of AI in software development and the AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations) industry with special guest Valentin Noves. They explore the practical applications of AI, the challenges faced by developers, and the future of AI in coding and beyond.

Key Discussion Points:

1. AI in Software Development:
   • Valentin and Carl discussed how AI tools like Copilot and Codeium are used in software development. They noted that junior developers tend to use these tools more frequently than senior developers, especially when dealing with complex coding problems.
2. Training and Learning with AI:
   • Valentin emphasized the usefulness of AI as a training tool, highlighting how it can help developers quickly learn and solve specific problems without sifting through extensive tutorials.
3. Custom AI Models:
   • Creating custom AI models was discussed, with Valentine explaining the challenges related to data quality and quantity. He shared an example of an experimental project where they tried to use AI for construction schedules and found limitations due to insufficient data.
4. Future of AI in AECO:
   • Valentine shared his views on the potential of AI to automate and enhance various aspects of the AECO industry. He stressed the importance of finding a balance between using AI tools and traditional methods.
5. Fun with AI:
   • Valentin recounted experimental projects like translating city images into music and creating ontologies for building IoT device placement. These projects, while experimental, showcased the creative and fun side of working with AI.

Join us for this insightful conversation as we jump into the world of AI from the software developers side and its potential in the AECO industry and beyond.

* The above was created with a helping hand from an LLM from the Podcast Episode transcript, which was transcribed by AI 😁

And remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

 For the third episode of Series 2, we flip the script and give the listener the old switcheroo, with the guest becoming the host and the host becoming the guest. We welcome back our first guest and past co-host, John Pierson, as host so he can put Carl Storms in the hot seat. This episode dives into Carl's experiences, challenges, and learnings from dedicating 100 days to exploring various AI tools and technologies. From humorous dad jokes to AI-aided website programming, Carl shares his insights and practical applications of AI in the AECO industry. 

Key Discussion Points:

• Discussion on Carl’s 100 Days AI journey, exploring various AI tools and technologies.
• Conversation about the use of AI in everyday life and its potential in the AECO industry.
• Discussion on the importance of AI in enhancing efficiency and creativity in the AECO industry.
• Exploration of various AI tools and platforms, including Chat GPT, Pi AI, and Goblin Tools.
• Discussion on the importance of curating and reviewing AI-generated content.

 Join us for this insightful conversation about the journey of learning AI and its potential in the AECO industry and beyond.

* The above was created with a helping hand from an LLM from the Podcast Episode transcript, which was transcribed by AI 😁

And remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome to another episode  "Wrench's Gadgets & Hacks" where we explore the latest in technology and innovation. In this episode, we're joined by Daniel Peterson, also known as the Revit Wizard, a senior design technology coordinator at the Beck group.

Be sure to stick around to the end, after the outro music, for the bonus content, that covers point 5 below 👇

Key Discussion Points:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the AECO Industry: Daniel shares his experiences with AI in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) industry. He highlights how AI can streamline processes, eliminate busy work, and allow professionals to focus on more critical tasks.
2. Data Security in AI Applications: The conversation goes into the importance of data security in AI applications. The speakers note that higher-tier AI services often provide more robust data protection.
3. AI in Coding and Prompt Engineering: The discussion explores the use of AI in coding and the concept of 'prompt engineering'. This involves crafting specific prompts to get the desired responses from an AI system.
4. Introduction of the Revit Wizard: Daniel introduces the Revit Wizard, an AI tool he developed to assist with all things related to Revit, a software used in building information modeling (BIM). The tool can answer specific questions about Revit and provide step-by-step instructions for various tasks.
5. Preserving Industry Knowledge: The speakers conclude by emphasizing the importance of capturing and preserving industry knowledge, especially as experienced professionals retire. They suggest that AI could play a crucial role in this, serving as a repository for valuable expertise.

Join us for this insightful conversation as we jump into the world of AI and its potential in the AECO industry and beyond.

* The above was created with a helping hand from an LLM from the Podcast Episode transcript, which was transcribed by AI 😁

And remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome to the first episode of Series 2 of Wrenches Gadgets & Hacks! The theme of this series is "AI in the AECO and Beyond," where we'll explore all things AI, including General AI, Custom GPTs, Prompt Engineering, and much more.

We kick off this series with a bang as we have not one, but two great guests this episode:

• Dennis Dixon - Partner at OQULI  
• Paige Reiche - Partner at OQULi

We had a great chat with them about OQULi, the first "choose your own adventure" software suite that allows the Design, Construction, and Manufacturing communities to navigate the creation of their tools. We also went down the rabbit hole of General AI in the AECO industry and beyond, which may or may not include a "rap" about the podcast host.

Enjoy the show and be sure to stick around until the end for two great AI hacks!

And remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome to the 6th and final episode of Series 1 of the Wrenches Gadgets & Hacks Podcast.

 In this episode of the “Technology, Innovation, and Curiosity On and Off the Clock" series, Carl and guest host John engage in a stimulating discussion with Zach Kron. They learn about all the great things he as done in his career, and how he uses those technologies and skills off the clock. They also learn that making gifts for people with those same skills, while fun is also something that's done because we care, and we want these gifts to be meaningful. 

As we chatted with Zach we got into the weeds with so many great technologies,  past and present. 

• Project Vasari
• Dynamo
• Forma
• Tinkercad
• All this and more can be found in the full episode and  Show Notes

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome to episode 5 of Series 1 of the Wrenches Gadgets & Hacks Podcast.

In this episode, of the “Technology, Innovation, and Curiosity On and Off the Clock" series, Carl and guest host John have a Thought-provoking discussion with Ehsan as they learned about the refreshed Script Editor for Rhino 8, and the 4 years of effort that have gone into it.

As we chatted with Ehsan we covered lots of topics beyond the editor, and here are just a few, be sure to listen to the full episode to get to all the good stuff.

• Rhino.Inside (icons 😁)
• pyRevit
• Coding
• Analogue Pocket
• All this and more can be found in the full episode and  Show Notes

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay