In this episode of the AI AEC Show, I interview Stjepan Mikulić, founder of AI in AEC and keynote speaker for the upcoming AI in AEC conference in Helsinki. Is AI a hype, or should the construction sector embrace it as the next significant technological innovation? Find out on the AI AEC Show. The topics Our discussion topics include * Stjepan’s professional journey and what sparked his interest in AI within this industry. * AI in AEC’s mission and focus *...

In this inaugural episode of the AI AEC Show, I sat down with Alexander De Ridder, a technology visionary and founder of SmythOS. We discuss AI agents and how they will change our everyday. SmythOS is a platform that aims to revolutionize human-AI interaction by enabling seamless collaboration through AI agents. SmythOS was one of the first 40 companies to launch in the ChatGPT plugin store. The platform allows users, from startup founders to rural teachers, to build...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, I welcome Robert Salaj, Customer Advisory Team Director at Quickbase, to discuss the transformative impact of digital construction. We discuss these topics: * Robert’s extensive 20+ year career in lean Six Sigma process improvement, his decade-long experience in the construction industry, and his current role at Quickbase * The most pressing challenges for construction companies today, and the new challenges are likely to...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Soohoo, Senior Director of Global AEC Practice at Egnyte. We delved into the critical topic of data security in the AEC industry, particularly in the context of AI. Kevin provided an overview of Egnyte, a data management and governance platform that uniquely handles various file types, including large files like point clouds and drone footage. He emphasized the importance of cybersecurity, especially...

How would you feel if an AI app turned your blog post into a natural-sounding conversation between two bots? I’ve tried many speech-related apps, but NotebookLM left me amazed. NotebookLM is your personalized AI research assistant powered by Google’s most capable model, Gemini 1.5 Pro. Now, it can do audio. I gave it this URL, and it turned the article into a conversation about it. The bots sound like they are interacting with each other. Take a listen! I wonder how this...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, host Aarni Heiskanen is joined by Mateo Zimmermann, VC Investment Manager at Cemex Ventures, to discuss the critical issue of bridging the technology quotient gap in the construction industry. Mateo shares insights about his role in leading Cemex’s venture capital arm, which focuses on driving innovation through collaboration with startups and entrepreneurs. The conversation highlights the potential of technology to transform...

In this episode of WDBE Talks, I had the pleasure of speaking with William Stewart, Health and Well-Being Advisor at EKKIST. William delved into the burgeoning field of health and well-being in the built environment, a relatively new focus within real estate. He shared his journey from project management and asset management to his current role, driven by a keen interest in how our living and working environments impact our health. William is a keynote speaker at the World of Digital...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Vesa Järvinen of AINS Group about the AI in AEC conference. We also delved into the present and future of AI in the construction sector, exploring how this transformative technology is being integrated and its potential impacts. The world’s first AI conference series for the built environment Vesa shared his journey into AI, highlighting his engineering background and his company’s early adoption of...

Welcome to another insightful episode of WDBE Talks, the podcast dedicated to the world of digital built environments. This episode delves into the construction industry’s “Mission Impossible” – how to grow fast enough to meet the increasing demand – with two esteemed guests: Amy Marks, the Queen of Prefab, and Kevin Cardona, Director of Entrepreneurial Innovation at Leonard. In the podcast episode, Amy and Kevin discuss the challenges the construction industry faces and the necessity...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, Aarni Heiskanen hosts Drew Carter, CEO of Whistle Rewards, and Dr. Laurel Newman, a behavioral scientist, to discuss instant rewards for driving behavioral change in construction. Laurel shares her psychology background and academic career, studying how the environment influences behavior. Drew introduces himself as a data scientist, focusing on predictive modeling. Tune in to learn how they collaborate to create motivating environments in the...

On this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, host Aarni Heiskanen interviews Kristijan Vilibić, founder of Mastery of Digital. Kristijan is an AEC tech expert from Croatia. He discusses his professional journey from working as a BIM specialist to incorporating the latest technology in the industry. Mastery of Digital is a project that aims to educate engineers and construction experts about the latest tech advancements in the construction sector. The masteryofdigital.com site offers...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Senthil Kumar, the CTO and Head of AI at Slate Technologies. We delved into the transformative role of AI in the construction industry, focusing on how it can significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. Innovative AI solutions for decision-making Senthil shared his extensive background in decision science and artificial intelligence, highlighting his journey from working on decision...

In this episode of WDBE Talks, Aarni Heiskanen had the pleasure of hosting two distinguished guests from the USA: Amy Peck, Founder and CEO of EndeavorXR, and Mark Bryan, Senior Foresight Manager at Future Today Institute. Amy and Mark will deliver keynotes at the upcoming WDBE 2024 conference, focusing on reshaping built environment business models for the future. Digital and physical realities The interviewees delved into the intersection of physical and digital realities,...

In this special episode of the AEC Business Podcast, experts from the modular construction industry gather to discuss strategies for business success in modular construction, particularly for housing projects. The panel includes Andrew Staniforth, CEO of Assembly; Guido Maciocci, Founder of AEC Foundry; Henry Salo, CEO of Flow Modules; and Renee Puusepp, Founder of Creatomus Solutions. I facilitate the workshop. The experts share insights on building, operating, and growing a...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, host Aarni Heiskanen interviews Alexander Sidorov, the COO at Gamma Technologies, a company specializing in visualizing BIM models on construction sites. With a background in corporate finance, Alexander shares insights into his transition to construction technology. He discusses his experience working on various projects, from cryptocurrency exchanges to hotel restructurings, highlighting the industry’s diverse challenges. Tune in for valuable...

Eric Olson, CMO at Quickbase, is Aarni Heiskanen’s guest in this episode of the AEC Business podcast discussing “Gray Work.” It is the work done in ad-hoc solutions to make do and get by when your technology doesn’t work for you. It is in systems that aren’t connected, built on the fly, and not conducive to strong collaboration. It impacts revenue, productivity, and employee frustration at scale. Quickbase, as a software company, aims to eliminate gray work in the construction...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, Hanna Backman, the Chief Commercial Officer at Flow Modules, discussed the innovative Sitefactory concept with Aarni Heiskanen. By offering a comprehensive solution for residential construction projects, Flow Modules is paving the way for a more streamlined and effective home-building approach. Prefabrication Flow Modules is a Finnish industrialized construction company dedicated to enhancing productivity in residential construction...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, Aarni Heiskanen is joined by a team from Aiforsite: Founder and CEO Kari Hirvjärvi, COO Pyry Virrantaus, and CTO Sami Kalliokoski. They discuss Wendy AI, a newly launched cutting-edge AI assistant for construction professionals. Established in 2016, Aiforsite aims to develop IoT solutions that improve industry productivity. It is now in the final phase of technology development with conversational AI technology. The capabilities of...

In this WDBE Talks episode hosted by Aarni Heiskanen, two WDBE 2024 keynote speakers, Olivier Lepinoy and Jaan Saar, discuss the significance of reimagining traditional business models within the construction sector. Olivier is the visionary founder of HYPER Construction, and Jaan is the Chief Evangelist at Future Insight. Both thought leaders have experience innovating business models and share their insights in this podcast. The discussion topics Here are the main...

In this episode of the AEC Business podcast, Aarni Heiskanen interviews Will Synnott, Chief Customer Officer at Disperse, a construction management software company. Will discusses Disperse’s turnkey site capture and tracking solution for large-scale construction projects and their operations worldwide. With 14 years of construction experience, Will shares insights into working with general contractors and developers on significant projects. Disperse’s capture and tracking...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, host Aarni Heiskanen interviews Maret Thatcher, CEO of Argyle, a construction AR software company. Maret shares her journey from being a lawyer to diving back into the construction industry with innovative technology. She discusses the excitement of working with various AEC professionals, including architects, engineers, general contractors, and tradespeople who find value in using Argyle’s AR software. Interest in Augmented Reality...

This episode of the AEC Business Podcast features Marty Cornish, CEO of Workpack, an AI-powered quantity take-off software company. Marty shares valuable insights into the innovative technology transforming the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Here are three key takeaways from our conversation: 1. AI-Powered Efficiency Marty explains how Workpack’s AI pre-construction software can automatically detect various elements in construction drawings, making...

In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, I welcomed Teemu Lehtinen, the CEO of KIRAHub, to discuss the latest innovation and technology within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. It was Teemu’s first time on the podcast since 2016, and we delved into the exciting developments at KIRAHub and the upcoming World of Digital Built Environment (WDBE) Summit. KIRAHub accelerates sustainable digital transformation KIRAHub, celebrating its fifth anniversary,...

In this episode of the AEC Business podcast, Aarni Heiskanen spoke with Shreesha Ramdas, CEO and co-founder of Lumber. The company is innovating in the construction technology space, focusing on workforce management. Shreesha shared his journey from tech startups to the construction industry, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact in a sector ripe for innovation. Future-proofing with technology Shreesha discussed the construction industry’s challenges, particularly the...