Wesley Benn, architect and founder of the Digital Built Environment Institute, shares his journey in the architecture and construction industry. From a young age, Wesley had a passion for architecture and design, which led him to pursue a career in the field. He started his own architectural practice and later became an early adopter of Revit, which eventually led him to start the Revit Technology Conference (now known as BILT).

Wesley's focus shifted towards improving the industry's productivity and efficiency, as well as addressing environmental concerns. However, he faced challenges such as the global financial crisis and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wesley Benn discusses the challenges he faced in his career, including financial struggles, health issues, and personal hardships. He emphasizes the importance of resilience and adaptability in navigating difficult times. He also shares his passion for artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society.

Wesley reflects on his proudest achievement of being awarded the favorite teacher of the class he taught at the University of New South Wales and the satisfaction of inspiring and influencing the next generation. He advises individuals to learn to say no, recognize their true value, and embrace the power of data in decision-making. Wesley expresses excitement about the future of technology, particularly in the areas of drones, VR, and AI.

Takeaways

• Wesley Benn's passion for architecture started at a young age and led him to pursue a career in the field.
• He became an early adopter of Revit and started the Revit Technology Conference (now BILT) to bring together professionals in the industry.
• Wesley's focus shifted towards improving productivity and efficiency in the industry, as well as addressing environmental concerns.
• He faced challenges such as the global financial crisis and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience and adaptability are crucial in navigating career challenges.
• Financial struggles, health issues, and personal hardships can test one's capabilities and shape their character.
• Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize society and raise questions about work, value, and human identity.
• Being recognized as a favorite teacher and inspiring the next generation is a source of great pride.
• Learning to say no, recognizing one's true value, and embracing data-driven decision-making are important skills in design and construction.
• Exciting advancements in technology, such as drones, VR, and AI, offer new possibilities and opportunities for exploration.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background 00:25 Early Years 01:32 Why This Industry? 09:29 Early Adoption of Revit 14:59 Establishing the Revit User Group 24:01 Improving Productivity and Efficiency in the Built Environment 28:58 Navigating Career Challenges 38:17 Proud Moments 41:56 Excitement for the Future 50:01 The Power of Data 52:36 Quick Fire Round 55:43 Exploring New Frontiers

Ronan Collins, a pioneer in digital engineering and BIM, shares his journey in the construction industry and the challenges he has faced. He grew up in a family of builders and was exposed to CAD at a young age. He joined Arup's in 1996 and witnessed the rapid changes in technology. In 2003, he started his own company in Hong Kong, focusing on technology solutions for engineers and contractors. Ronan emphasizes the importance of understanding the value of technology and the need for proper training and education in the industry.

Video recording on Youtube at this link

Ronan shares his personal mistakes and lessons learned in the construction industry, including the importance of not getting too big too fast and the need to set up the right infrastructure before taking on international projects. He also discusses the future of the industry, highlighting the impact of cloud technology, remote working, offshore business models, reality capture, and data analytics. Ronan emphasizes the need for contractors and consultants to focus on solving specific problems and adding value to their projects, rather than chasing after shiny new technologies.

Takeaways

• Ronan Collins grew up in a family of builders and was exposed to CAD at a young age, which sparked his interest in technology in the construction industry.
• He joined Arup's in 1996 and witnessed the rapid changes in technology, from shared computers to the introduction of 3D modeling tools like Rhino and Revit.
• In 2003, Ronan started his own company in Hong Kong, focusing on technology solutions for engineers and contractors, and played a role in promoting the adoption of BIM in the industry.
• He emphasizes the importance of understanding the value of technology and the need for proper training and education in the industry, as many professionals are still unfamiliar with BIM and other digital tools. Avoid getting too big too fast and ensure you have the right infrastructure in place before taking on international projects.
• The future of the construction industry will involve cloud technology, remote working, offshore business models, reality capture, and data analytics.
• Focus on solving specific problems and adding value to projects, rather than chasing after shiny new technologies. Train the younger generation by giving them small-scale projects to work on and learn from.
• Stay curious and open-minded to new technologies and trends in the industry.

Sound Bites

"We've got to start speaking to that and again, it's getting that message back that we haven't moved all that far in 20 years." "We've got to be really clear that we still got to sell the value of these tools and these technologies." "There's still a culture where the engineers think that BIM and CAD are some secondary kind of process that they have nothing to do with." "Getting into BIM." "We got too big, too fast, too greedy." "We got ahead of ourselves here."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background 02:18 Early Exposure to Technology 04:02 Transition to Digital Engineering 05:58 Setting Up Own Business in Hong Kong 09:23 Challenges in the Construction Industry 13:03 Responsibility and Impact in the Industry 16:09 Challenges and Blockers in the Industry 24:44 The Need for BIM Capable Engineers and Architects 28:50 The Disconnect Between Traditional Design Teams and BIM Teams 32:32 Advice for Newcomers in the Industry 34:43 Mistakes and Lessons Learned 37:08 The Impact of Cloud Technology and Remote Working 38:30 The Future of the Industry: Reality Capture and Data Analytics 45:39 Finding Solutions that Add Value 51:43 Training the Younger Generation and Conducting Pilot Studies

• Passion for building and problem-solving can drive innovation in the construction industry.
• Standard operating procedures and effective communication are crucial for successful digital transformation.
• Implementing new technology requires balancing attitudes and relationships.
• Field experience and understanding the needs of the people building the project are essential for driving innovation. Learning from mistakes is crucial in the construction industry.
• Effective communication and collaboration are essential for successful implementation of BIM in the field.
• The future of construction lies in data, AI, and process optimization.
• Creativity and innovation play a significant role in driving change in the industry.

• "We could produce drawings that look like what we had with the Lego instructions."
• "Yeah, it's it saved me from trouble besides that first time again, Steve. Thank you for the lesson and being being patient."
• "Don't wear clean boots either. Like if you're coming as a tech person, don't wear clean boots."