Stay ConnectedThe Future is Built! Learn more at: https://thecontechcrew.com/
Welcome to The ConTechCrew, hosted by Jeff Sample!
Here, we discuss innovation and all things construction tech, including hardware, software, devices, apps, and the strategies for applying them to construction projects.
Tune in each week to get your latest construction tech news update.
Follow us on social media and join the conversation: @TheConTechCrew
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🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.com
In today's episode, we sit down with Chris Walker, chief estimator at Lunacon.
As a Jamaican-born first-generation construction estimator, it never crossed Chris's mind that he'd make his mark in pre-construction.
Over the years, he has seen changes in the pre-construction process, making it as important as the building phase itself.
And today, Chris is here to debunk a few misconceptions about pre-construction and how he was able to leverage his soft skills to achieve rapid success in this space.
He also talks about the importance of collaboration in pre-construction, the role of technology, how to mitigate risks, and his advice to people of color looking to break into the construction industry.
Make sure to check it out!
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
How Chris got into the construction industry (06:11)
Collaborative delivery models are the way (09:02)
Why is the pre-construction phase important more so than ever? (12:09)
What makes someone a good estimator over time? (13:58)
What does collaboration look like after the pandemic? (19:00)
How the construction industry embraces diversity (21:39)
The role of technology in collaboration and construction workflow (27:28)
How Lunacon differentiates itself from its competitors (31:32)
How to mitigate risk, especially with unknown contractors (35:39)
Advice for new minority business owners looking to break into the construction world (38:41)
Final advice to people who want to transition to construction-related roles (50:03)
Weekly news roundup (1:03:48)
Additional Resources:
Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew
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Check Chris out on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoawalker/
Check out Lunacon’s works : https://lunaconcorp.com/
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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️
➡️ 2023 State of Design & Make - Autodesk
https://www.autodesk.com/insights/research/state-of-design-and-make
➡️ Oracle Industry Lab – Reality Mapping Experiment
https://www.oracle.com/oce/dc/assets/CONT38A2DFF92B0F45508AA1F951B9ACA65F/native/reality-mapping-experiment-at-oracleindustrylab-wp.pdf?elqTrackId=8890984c691a40b6b77629d39b181803&elqaid=136059&elqat=2
➡️ US DOT Awards $95M in IIJA Tech-Related Grants
https://www.enr.com/articles/56131-us-dot-awards-95m-in-iija-tech-related-grants
➡️ The IIJA sets aside $100M for contech. When will it arrive?https://www.constructiondive.com/news/iija-infrastructure-act-100m-contech-funding-construction/624007/
➡️ Gilbane creates new tech-oriented role
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/gilbane-creates-new-tech-oriented-role/648507/
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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 http://thecontechcrew.com
In today's episode, we sit down with Nic Yaros of Appian to talk about how low-code development can massively impact the business and IT world.
Nic grew up to be a handyman, just like his grandpa and dad, and he does a lot of woodwork and electrical plumbing.
But the nerd in him made him start his technical journey early by working for software companies back in high school and college.
After finishing his Computer Science degree, he spent some time at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory developing applications that assisted the FAA in safely navigating through severe weather conditions.
Currently, Nic works as an account executive at Appian, an industry-leading modern low-code platform and software company that helps automate business processes.
He uses his extensive technical background to educate people on how low-code can speed up enterprise applications without writing thousands of lines of code.
Today, Nic shares how to work smarter with low-code, integrating low-code into the construction industry, and its impact on today's businesses.
Make sure to check it out!
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
Nic as a nerd and a builder (05:15)
What is low-code application development? (08:22)
Finding the balance between no-code/low-code and custom coding (13:30)
What is Appian? (15:42)
How is low-code different from traditional development (20:42)
Integrating low-code into the construction industry (23:27)
Low-code's impact on a business perspective (30:13)
Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) explained (35:13)
On getting business and IT working together with Appian (40:15)
How AI is impacting the low-code space in the coming years (48:27)
Weekly construction news roundup (53:48)
Additional Resources:
Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew
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Check Nic out on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyaros/
Check Appian to learn more: https://appian.com/
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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️
➡️ AI-enabled construction investment surpasses investment in AI-enabled fintech
https://www.verdict.co.uk/ai-enabled-construction-investment-surpasses-investment-in-ai-enabled-fintech/
➡️ A 3D-printing company is preparing to build on the lunar surface. But first, a moonshot at home
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/icon-3d-printing-architecture-initiative-99-project-olympus-spc-intl-scn/index.html
➡️ Eye Spy: Building Inspectors May Soon Be Shooting Laser Beams, Saving the Construction Industry Millions of Dollars
https://www.azobuild.com/news.aspx?newsID=23351
➡️ Samsung employees leaked corporate data in ChatGPT: report
https://www.cfodive.com/news/Samsung-Electronics-ChatGPT-leak-data-privacy/647309/
➡️ $750K grant will help develop AI training games for construction pros
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/fiu-awarded-750k-grant-to-develop-ai-training-games-for-construction-robot/647391/
➡️ BIM in Construction Market: The global market is growing at a CAGR of 14.5% during the forecasted period.
https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/news/bim-in-construction-market-the-global-market-is-growing-at-a-cagr-of-14-5-during-the-forecasted-period-
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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 http://thecontechcrew.com
In today's episode, we discuss how to make construction cool again, and we're fortunate enough to be joined by Tyler Williams, field innovation leader at DPR Construction.
Tyler has been in the construction industry since he was a boy, through which his dad owned a construction company. He was a union carpenter, superintendent, safety guy; you name it.
About four years ago, he identified that there was a gap in DPR. He discovered that their field workers need to leverage new technologies that could positively impact their work.
This breakthrough got Tyler into the world of technology and innovation as he spearheads their company's innovation core group.
Today, Tyler shares what helped him get through that gap, how to communicate innovative ideas internally and externally, the impact of partnering with your competitors, and more.
Make sure to check it out!
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
How Tyler got started (01:41)
On communicating innovative ideas (13:33)
What helped Tyler get through the gap? (22:29)
The power of “coopetition” (28:29)
Asking questions and taking ownership (35:59)
Making construction cool with the younger generations (40:34)
What should we start focusing on? (54:25)
Weekly news roundup (58:51)
Additional Resources:
Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew
Learn more about Open Space: https://www.openspace.ai/
Check out Open Space's upcoming events for more: https://www.openspace.ai/events/
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Check out the work DPR do: https://www.dpr.com/
Check Tyler out on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-williams-74203788/
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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️
➡️ Top 20 Most Read Construction Technology Stories of 2022 | For Construction Pros
https://www.forconstructionpros.com/construction-technology/article/22670853/top-20-most-read-construction-technology-stories-of-2022
➡️ Quebec firm to deploy crane-free construction system for Monaco build
https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/projects/2020/06/quebec-firm-to-deploy-crane-free-construction-system-for-monaco-build
➡️ Announcing a next-generation AI Copilot in Microsoft Powe r Apps that will transform low-code development
https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-a-next-generation-ai-copilot-in-microsoft-power-apps-that-will-transform-low-code-development/
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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 http://thecontechcrew.com
In today's episode, we are fortunate to be joined by Henry Nut III, a Preconstruction Executive for Southland Industries.
Before joining Southland Industries, Henry served as the Sheet Metal General Superintendent for over 12 years.
Currently, Henry serves as the chair for Lean Construction Institute's (LCI) board of directors and has been a Lean Champion for Southland for over 15 years.
He is also the author of a recently published book, Seven Principles: Creating Your Success in the Construction Industry.
Today, Henry shares how he came through the sheet metal trade to be an inspiring industry leader he is now with advocacies on mental health, DEI, and more!
Make sure to check it out!
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
Henry's background (04:54)
From fieldwork to an advisory role (07:29)
On respecting people and mental health (14:18)
Henry's secrets to writing a book (21:15)
Advocating on DEI initiatives (31:35)
How to inspire other leaders to do the uncomfortable (38:28)
Advice to future leaders (47:52)
Weekly news round-up (57:17)
Additional Resources:
Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew
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See more about Southland Industries: https://southlandind.com/
Check Henry out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-nutt-iii-7832347/
Grab your copy of Henry’s book Seven Principles: Creating Your Success in the Construction Industry
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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️
➡️ AutoGPT Agents Want to Automate ChatGPT, Overrun the Internet
https://thenewstack.io/autogpt-agents-want-to-automate-chatgpt-overrun-the-internet/
➡️ Driving successful AI projects in manufacturinghttps://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/driving-successful-ai-projects-in-manufacturing/
➡️ MIT ROBOTS CAN HELP PEOPLE WITH CONSTRUCTIONhttps://www.designboom.com/technology/mit-robots-construct-big-things-11-23-2022/
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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 http://thecontechcrew.com
In today’s episode, we are incredibly lucky to be joined by Will McManus from DSI!
Will began his career as an IT director in 1992, where he was working with FGI Services, overseeing all aspects of information technology, eventually obtaining his Master's Degree in 2006.
He joined DSI as a CIO in 2011 before becoming Vice President of Construction Technology just a year later. Will now focus on streamlining business processes and implementing services that help the company grow.
In today’s episode, we discuss managing teams, developments in the industry and the latest construction news!
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
Having solid foundations (08:49)
What is holding people back (18:20)
Managing speed (22:22)
Change management (27:48)
Embracing innovations (44:42)
News round-up (53:13)
Additional Resources:
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Check out the work DSI do here: https://dsi.us/
Check Will out on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-mcmanus-0755844/
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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️
➡️ AI-Enabled construction investment surpasses investment in AI-Enabled Fintech: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-mcmanus-0755844/
➡️ JP Morgan calls managing directors back to offices full-time: https://www.bisnow.com/new-york/news/office/jp-morgan-ends-hybrid-work-for-managing-directors-sets-full-time-office-schedule-118489?utm_source=outbound_pub_13&utm_campaign=outbound_issue_66518&utm_content=outbound_link_5&utm_medium=email
➡️ Could this inflatable factory re-invent construction?: https://www.fastcompany.com/90835778/could-this-inflatable-factory-reinvent-construction
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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!
In today’s episode, we are joined by Michael Filippakis, CEO and co-founder of Loris!
Michael’s passion for construction began when he was a child, helping his own father to renovate their house, before later deciding to study Construction Management at Ohio State University.
After graduating, Michael worked for Turner for over a decade in a number of roles. Michael also worked on Ohio State Campus Hospital, a $600 million project, which was the largest in Ohio State History at the time.
But in 2018, Michael started Loris to help build a leaner, safer, and greener job site for everyone.
Today we discuss his background, what Loris does, as well as the latest construction news of the week.
Check it out!
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
Michael’s background (06:35)
What problems does Loris solve? (09:12)
What’s coming in the future (24:15)
Automating data capture (32:17)
What’s coming up in the next 19 months (40:10)
Weekly news round-up (51:54)
Additional Resources:
Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew
–
Check out the work Loris do here: https://www.getloris.com/
Check Michael out on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-filippakis-86a79858/
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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️
➡️ Construction jobs are plentiful, but workers are scarce: https://www.npr.org/2023/04/06/1158576556/where-did-the-workers-go-construction-jobs-are-plentiful-but-workers-are-scarce
➡️ Birmingham-based conduit raises seed round as EV charging needs growth: https://hypepotamus.com/startup-news/electric-growth-birmingham-based-condoit-raises-seed-round-as-ev-charging-needs-grow/
➡️ Toga.ai raises $5million: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/togalai-raises-5m/646254/
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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 http://thecontechcrew.com
In today’s episode, we are extremely lucky to be joined by Daniel Hood from HICAPS!
Daniel is the Vice-President of HICAPS, who boast 35 years of experience in multi-faceted project management solutions for companies in the construction industry.
Daniel worked for the US Army for eight years working in the combat engineering branch. In 2008, he joined HICAPS as a project manager before becoming vice president a decade later. In this role, Daniel manages multiple projects in a range of industries and assists with the development of project prioritization, the scope of work, and more!
In this episode, we discuss why innovation isn’t just for large companies, how they have kept up with changes in technology, and a round-up of the latest headlines from the last week.
Make sure to check it out!
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
What is HICAPS? (08:17)
What to focus on (16:22)
Working with Procore (28:08)
Growth in a recession (35:14)
A ‘Sick Building’ (41:48)
News wrap-up (56:52)
Additional Resources ⬇️
Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew
–
Check out the work HICAPS do here: https://www.hicaps.com/
Check Daniel out on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-k-hood/
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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️
➡️ Transportation agencies shift towards digital delivery: https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/issues/magazine-issue/article/2023/03/transportation-agencies-shift-toward-digital-delivery
➡️ The National BIM program launches: https://offsitebuilder.com/the-national-bim-program-launches/
➡️ Procore launches construction insurance brokerage to empower builders: https://www.procore.com/press/procore-launches-construction-insurance-brokerage-to-empower-builders
➡️ How a total project life cycle mindset can benefit your next project: https://www.mccarthy.com/insights/how-total-project-life-cycle-mindset-can-benefit-your-next-project
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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 http://thecontechcrew.com
In today’s episode, we are very lucky to be joined by Robert Ioanna from Syska! Robert is the Executive Principal of the company and is responsible for the overall technical and financial performance of the firm.
Syska is a global engineering firm specializing in full-service MEP, information, and communication technology. They boast over 500 team members across 20 different office locations.
Robert began his journey with Syska as an HVAC engineer and held numerous roles, which has led him to his current role, working out of their New York City office.
In today’s episode, Robert sits down to discuss all things innovation. Make sure to check it out!
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
How Robert got started (08:13)
How Syska has changed the construction process (16:53)
Syska's corporate innovation program (27:41)
The biggest win for the company (32:11)
The impact of pre-construction (42:11)
The industrialization of design (47:22)
On AI (53:09)
Additional Resources ⬇️
Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew
–
Check out the work Syska do here: https://syska.com/
Check Robert out on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-ioanna-b9635a11/
--
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 today’s episode, we discuss the reality of adoption with Nichole Carter from ICWSAT!
Nichole started ICWSAT in 2021 and works with contractors and businesses to maximize their usage, using role-based training and providing ongoing support to reduce risk.
Nichole landed her dream job straight out of college, working on engineering and construction for a regional theatre in Denver. But after feeling the impact of the financial crisis at the time, she had to look for another job.
She began working in a carpentry or steelwork role in Arizona. After complaining about how inefficient the company’s processes were, she began to help them fix their own processes as a general contractor for 7 years.
In 2021, Nichole decided to take a leap of faith and start her own business, putting over a decade’s worth of experience into helping business owners and contractors.
In today’s episode, we discuss Nichole’s career, the reality of adoption, and more!
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
What Nichole is working on now (06:31)
How Nichole got into construction (10:19)
Flow on the job site (26:53)
How do we stop people from leaving tech? (39:12)
Weekly news round-up (57:04)
Additional Resources:
Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew
–
Check out the work ICSWAT does: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icwsat/
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See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️
➡️ The Labor Market is so tight that a construction firm says it is flying workers by private plane: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/the-labor-market-is-so-tight-that-a-construction-firm-says-it-s-flying-workers-by-private-plane-1.1892855.amp.html
➡️ The Case for AI in construction: https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelicakrystledonati/2023/03/07/who-says-you-cant-teach-an-old-dog-new-tricks-the-case-for-ai-in-construction/?sh=90434103654e
➡️ Harvard research shows the best way to beat burnout, it’s even better than vacations: https://www.inc.com/kelly-main/harvard-researchers-show-best-way-to-beat-burnout-its-even-better-than-vacation.html
➡️ The cities built to be re-usable: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230207-can-we-design-cities-for-disassembly
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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 http://thecontechcrew.com
In today’s episode, we are very lucky to be joined by Tyler Campbell from Storybuilder Creative!
Tyler has a background in the construction industry and has been surrounded by it his whole life. His family owned a business which he went into.
Eventually, he decided that he wanted to do his own thing and so set about solving the gaps in the labor market in the construction industry.
Now, Storybuilder Creative helps contractors to attract the right people and sell more work, and are on a mission to make trade skills look as appealing as possible.
Key Takeaways:
Intro (00:00)
What makes Tyler so passionate (11:58)
On stories (15:05)
Attracting new talent (22:03)
Building a marketing team (27:15)
On the next generation (40:11)
Fixing cultural problems (52:36)
Additional Resources ⬇️
Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.com
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew
–
Check out the work Story Builder Creative do: https://www.storybuildercreative.com/
Check out Tyler on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerscottcampbell/
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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!
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