Website: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com

Episodes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episodes

Episode notes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episode/from-automation-leader-to-solution-architect-at-autodesk-with-adam-sheather

Host: Andrea Ciaffi

Guest: Adam Sheather

We recently sat down with Adam Sheather, who shared incredible insights derived from his journey, from pioneering BIM consulting to a Solution Architect at Autodesk,. Adam’s philosophy on automation is straightforward: it’s about reducing low-value tasks through a computerised process, not necessarily magic or complex code.

A common mistake is focusing on automating "cool" systems rather than tackling the repetitive, boring, but high-impact tasks that truly save time. When building computational workflows, the key is understanding the existing software capabilities to avoid unnecessarily rewriting functions, as complexities usually stem from people and inconsistent business processes, not just the technology.

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Website: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com

Episodes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episodes

Episode notes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episode/who-are-the-real-industry-disruptors-with-steven-coyle

Host: Andrea Ciaffi

Guest: Steven Coyle

Steven Coyle shares his refreshingly practical take on digital transformation at Arcadis. He's adamant that IP dies quickly and believes the industry needs to be more open about sharing tools and knowledge rather than hoarding them. Steven prioritizes client-facing work to stay relevant and connected to real problems, emphasizing that accountability is key to managing digital initiatives across a global organization. He's skeptical of "digital advisory" as a term, preferring to focus on genuinely solving client problems through collaboration. Steven stresses that innovation only happens through working together, whether with clients, vendors, or even competitors. He reveals how his team measures success through metrics that track time saved and value created, not just tool development. Steven champions bringing computer scientists into engineering teams as enablers and believes the biggest barrier to data connectivity is education and investing time upfront. His advice for future digital leaders is simple: be inquisitive, challenging, and take advantage of everything your organization offers.

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Website: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com

Episodes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episodes

Episode notes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episode/the-reality-for-young-BIM-technicians-with-dane-carroll

Host: Andrea Ciaffi

Guest: Dane Carroll

We had a fantastic chat with Dane Carroll, Senior Drafter at BG&E, who shared his secrets on mastering the art of drafting and career advancement. Dane stressed that career success starts with the mindset: strive to be a leader, not a follower, constantly questioning the status quo, and refusing the phrase 'this is how we’ve always done it'.

We discussed how modern technicians sometimes rely too much on software automation for speed, leading to a neglect of foundational drafting and visualization skills, especially since quality documentation remains paramount for many projects.

Dane highlighted the crucial role of mentors in shaping his career, noting that good mentorship involves providing patience, setting high standards, and giving younger professionals genuine responsibility, allowing them to make fixable mistakes.

His ultimate advice for progression? Always say yes to opportunities to diversify your skills, as this adds value to yourself and your company. Also, build genuine professional relationships, as most career opportunities come from the people who know and trust you. Remember, careers are built slowly over time, not overnight.

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Website: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com

Episodes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episodes

Episode notes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episode/the-bim-pirate-how-to-sell-bim-services-with-simon-dilhas

Host: Andrea Ciaffi

Guest: Simon Dilhas

What an insightful and challenging discussion with Simon Dilhas, the one and only BIM Pirate!

Simon definitely brings a rebellious spirit, fighting against the direction BIM has taken, often becoming an industry decoupled from real value creation in projects. He argues that applying BIM as an "extra thing" just creates busy work, increasing overhead and waste.

For Simon, the biggest barrier for digital adoption is the business model itself. He pointed out that since many construction companies earn money by selling time, deploying BIM to save time is essentially "nonsense".

The key is fixing that underlying business case first. He hopes in five to ten years, we won't even need to talk about BIM anymore.

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Website: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com

Episodes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episodes

Episode notes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episode/bim-and-small-contractors-with-alex-harris

Host: Andrea Ciaffi

Guest: Alex Harris

We were thrilled to have Alex Harris, Digital Engineering Leader at Bilby, join us to discuss navigating digital delivery from a small contractor's perspective. Alex shared invaluable, real-world lessons in doing more with less. He stressed that Tier 2 contractors must adopt the 'Jack of all trades' mentality and be leaner.

His key takeaway? Prioritize quality outputs and avoid the rush to submit things too quickly.

Since BIM isn't a consistent requirement yet, the strategy focuses on "less is more", detailing the model only to the level that adds actual value, because perfection is the enemy of good.

For low-cost, high-impact digital wins, Alex hailed AI as a game-changer. It has made scripting accessible and has allowed them to solve problems without buying expensive commercial platforms. He noted that collaboration and compromise, learned through his multidiscipline experience, are critical to avoiding project silos. Regarding the Queensland infrastructure landscape, he sees the digital bar rising sharply, driven mostly by state government mandates. Alex is excited about new, innovative software players challenging the status quo and young engineers coming straight from university equipped with digital engineering concepts.

Listen now for these practical insights!

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Website: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com

Episodes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episodes

Episode notes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episode/drones-in-construction-with-scott-major

Host: Andrea Ciaffi

Guest: Scott Major

G'day, folks! Today we speak with Scott Major, digital engineering practice lead and chief remote pilot at Seymour Whyte.

The discussion focuses on the growing role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones in revolutionizing construction projects, including their use in digital surveys and reality capture. Scott shares his career path, transitioning from drafting and working at companies like AECOM, WSP and Arup to his current role managing all aspects of UAV operations, including regulatory compliance under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). He emphasizes that drones have moved from being a novelty to an integral part of construction workflows, primarily for applications such as aerial surveying, progress monitoring, volumetric analysis, and enhancing site safety by keeping personnel out of hazardous areas.

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Website: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com

Episodes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episodes

Episode notes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episode/how-to-build-a-business-in-construction-using-digital-tools-with-greg-wilkes

Host: Andrea Ciaffi

Guest: Greg Wilkes

Get ready to be inspired by Greg Wilkes, an award-winning construction business coach, property developer, and author, as he opens up about his journey!

Greg shares how he learned the hard way after his first construction company went bust, ultimately rebuilding it the right way and developing his powerful five-pillar framework to success: Plan, Attract, Convert, Deliver, and Scale.

You'll discover crucial insights into attracting ideal clients, crafting a compelling digital brand and his strategies for winning bigger projects.

Tune in to learn practical, actionable advice that can transform your construction business!

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Website: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com

Episodes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episodes

Episode notes: https://www.digitalconstructionpodcast.com/episode/the-BIM-handbook-in-2025-with-marzia-bolpagni

Host: Andrea Ciaffi

Guest: Marzia Bolpagni

Get ready for an insightful chat on the Digital Construction Podcast with Marzia Bolpagni, Head of BIM International, Associate Director at Maze and co-author of the BIM Handbook.

Marzia, who led the development of ISO 7817 Part 1, shares her journey in standardizing the Level of Information Need. Discover the crucial difference between LOD and this framework, which emphasizes defining the purpose, timing, and recipient of information to ensure projects receive the right information at the right time, avoiding waste and fostering lean practices.

Learn about the upcoming Part 2 (guidance for application) and Part 3 (a data schema for machine-interpretable requirements) of ISO 7817, aiming to bridge the gap between specified requirements and delivered information.

As a NIMA ambassador, Marzia highlights its role in promoting digital transformation and how the updated BIM Handbook (4th edition) offers global case studies and new concepts like digital twins.

She also discusses bridging the gap between academia and industry through better communication and collaboration.

Finally, Marzia shares her view on future trends like AI and ethics, automation, hybrid communication, digital minimalism, and the increasing importance of human leadership.

Don't miss this engaging conversation!

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