WDBE Talks: Recent Episodes
WDBE
William Stewart delves into the burgeoning field of health and well-being in the built environment, a relatively new focus within real estate.
The post The Well-Being Revolution in Real Estate: Trends, Tech, and Transformation appeared first on AEC Business.
WDBE 2024 keynote speakers Amy Marks and Kevin Cardona discuss construction's 'Mission Impossible' and how to embark on it.
The post Industrializing Construction: Myths, Realities, and Future Prospects appeared first on AEC Business.
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 […]
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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 […]
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In this episode of WDBE Talks, Aarni Heiskanen interviews Dr. Pallavi Mohan, a Senior Scientist and Solutions Architect at NVIDIA. They discuss Pallavi’s work in the XR and digital twins research space and the potential of digital twins and extended reality technologies for the built environment sector. Pallavi shares her journey into her current position […]
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The world faces a climate crisis, and the built environment is key to mitigating and adapting. Michelle Xuereb, the Director of Innovation at BDP Quadrangle, sees innovation as crucial to the transition to sustainable construction, and architects have a vital role in the process. She’s on a mission to build a culture of innovation within […]
The post Meet Michelle Xuereb, the AEC Sustainability Innovator appeared first on AEC Business.
Investing in climate-aware construction technology makes business sense, claims Sebastien Michaud, a venture capital investor. He will be one of the thought-provoking keynote speakers at WDBE in September. Sebastien is an investor at Foundamental, a Berlin-based venture capital firm. They are the only global fund that invests exclusively in ConTech – construction technology. Sebastien’s passion […]
The post Meet Sebastien Michaud, VC at Foundational appeared first on AEC Business.
The sustainability of a construction project should not be an afterthought but a crucial consideration from the start. Pyry Haahtela, the COO of Haahtela TVD, shared his views on when and how clients and developers can best manage the carbon footprint of their projects with simulation. The construction industry significantly contributes to carbon emissions, and […]
The post Simulation-Powered Planning for Sustainable Building Projects with Pyry Haahtela appeared first on AEC Business.
In this episode of WDBE Talks, Michelle Xuereb, the Director of Innovation at BDP Quadrangle, shares her insights on sustainability, innovation, and new approaches to creating built environments. As one of the keynote speakers at WDBE in September 2023, Michelle is a prominent voice in the field. During the interview, Michelle and Aarni Heiskanen discuss […]
The post From Objects to Sustainable Experiences with Michelle Xuereb appeared first on AEC Business.
What is the most feasible way to reduce construction’s carbon emissions? This was the question Pyry Haahtela and Aarni Heiskanen discuss in this episode of WDBE Talks. Pyry Haahtela has worked with the Haahtela TVD simulation model for over a decade. His mission is to develop cutting-edge technology capable of simulating the repercussions of decisions […]
The post The Most Effective Way to Reduce Construction’s Carbon Emissions with Pyry Haahtela appeared first on AEC Business.
Don’t miss BJ Siegel’s keynote speech at WDBE in September 2023. In this interview, we learn how he’s revolutionizing sustainable housing as a consumer product, using digital tools and asset-light approaches, while transforming how companies manage their data and processes. Designing commercial concepts BJ Siegel is on a mission to reinvent the world of urban multifamily housing […]
The post Get to Know BJ Siegel: Former Apple Executive and Co-Founder of Juno appeared first on AEC Business.
In this episode of WDBE Talks, Vappu Id of KIRAHub interviews Aarni Heiskanen. They discuss communication, construction tech, and the World of Digital Built Environment WDBE Summit. The discussion topics include: About Aarni Heiskanen Aarni Heiskanen is a Construction Innovation Agent and the co-founder of AE Partners and AEC Business. He has a master’s degree in architecture and […]
The post Construction Tech Communication and WDBE with Aarni Heiskanen appeared first on AEC Business.
How do you take the learnings from Apple’s way of innovating products and apply them to housing? On WDBE Talks, you’ll hear how BJ Siegel pivoted from Apple to follow his passion at Juno, a proptech company. In this episode, Aarni Heiskanen and his guest JB Siegel discuss: BJ will deliver his keynote at WDBE in September. […]
The post Productizing Sustainable Urban Housing with BJ Siegel appeared first on AEC Business.
Marzia Bolpagni will be a keynote speaker at WDBE in September 2023. In this interview, we learn about her passion for modernizing the construction industry to become more productive, sustainable, and inclusive. Marzia is a building engineer by background. She became interested in BIM, Building Information Modeling, during her studies at the University of Brescia, […]
The post Meet Marzia Bolpagni, Head of BIM International at Mace appeared first on AEC Business.
In this episode of WDBE Talks, Aarni Heiskanen’s guest is Sebastien Michaud, VC at Foundamental. They discuss investing in climate through technology, the theme of this year’s WDBE. The discussion topics include: About Sebastien and Foundamental Sebastien Michaud is Investor at Foundamental, joining from a British-Italian background and having previously worked in Product and Commercial […]
The post Talking Climate-Aware ConTech Investments with Sebastien Michaud appeared first on AEC Business.
Ready to get inspired and learn more about sustainable construction practices? Join us for this WDBE Talks interview with Marzia Bolpagni of Mace, who shares her insights on the importance of BIM in reaching climate goals. In the interview, Marzia and Aarni Heiskanen discuss About Marzia Marzia is Head of Building Information Modelling (BIM) International at Mace, where she develops and implements […]
The post Reaching Climate Goals with BIM – An Interview with Marzia Bolpagni appeared first on AEC Business.
We sat down with Daniel M. Hall, an assistant professor at TU Delft, to discuss ways of achieving circularity in the built environment. Daniel will be a keynote speaker at WDBE in September 2023, where he’ll talk more about future circular cities. Daniel is internationally known for his research on construction management and construction informatics. […]
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In this episode of WDBE Talks, Daniel M. Hall, Assistant Professor at TU Delft, talks about circularity and how to boost it with digital technologies and industrialized construction. Daniel is a keynote speaker at WDBE 2023. In the interview, Aarni Heiskanen and Daniel Hall discuss About Daniel Daniel is the lead of the Chair of […]
The post Talking Circular Future Cities with Daniel Hall appeared first on AEC Business.
The World of Digital Built Environment, WDBE 2022, took place in Helsinki and Tallinn on September 28-29. The summit offered inspiration and insights, and a chance to network in person after over two years of remote interaction. During the Tallinn day, I had a chance to ask five attendees what they thought of the event.
The post What Was Most Exciting at WDBE 2022? appeared first on AEC Business.
Shehzan Mohammed is Director of 3D Engineering and Ecosystems at Cesium. Aarni Heiskanen interviewed him on the innovations in geospatial technology, game engines, and the value of open standards to the developer community. Shehzan is a keynote speaker at WDBE. Shehzan grew up in India and did his undergraduate studies there. He moved to the […]
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I had the pleasure of talking with Per-Erik Åstrand, Business Development Executive at SoftwareONE. We discussed construction sector digitalization and how to succeed in it. Per-Erik is a keynote speaker at WDBE in September. Per-Erik has a background in the AEC industry, like many construction digitalization specialists. He has a master’s degree in civil engineering, […]
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Achim Menges is a world-renowned innovator in the field of new architectural expression and digital fabrication and a keynote speaker at WDBE in 2022. He shared his views on architecture and construction in an interview with Aarni Heiskanen. Achim is a registered architect in Frankfurt, Germany, and a professor at the University of Stuttgart, where […]
The post Meet Achim Menges, Architect, Professor, and Innovator appeared first on AEC Business.
Shehzan Mohammed is Director of 3D Engineering and Ecosystems at Cesium. In this WDBE Talks podcast interview, he discusses with Aarni Heiskanen the innovations in geospatial technology, game engines, and the value of open standards to the developer community. The discussion topics include: Shehzan’s career path His vision Shehzan’s most significant achievements so far at […]
The post Talking Geospatial Innovation with Shehzan Mohammed appeared first on AEC Business.
I sat down with Reid Senescu, Vice President of Product Management at Doxel, an AI-powered construction tech company. We discussed his professional life, the use of AI and data in construction, and looked into the future. Reid has a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University, and his work history includes companies like SOM, Arup, […]
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How do you successfully digitalize a construction business and gain a competitive advantage? Aarni Heiskanen discusses these and other topics on WDBE Talks with Per-Erik Åstrand, Business Development Executive at SoftwareONE. Per-Erik started as a civil engineer and moved to the software business. At SoftwareONE, he drives the digitalization of the AEC industry. The interview […]
The post Talking Construction Transformation with Per-Erik Åstrand appeared first on AEC Business.
Achim Menges is a world-renowned innovator of architecture and construction. He’s Aarni Heiskanen’s guest on WDBE Talks, discussing digital fabrication and the future of the construction industry in a world facing enormous environmental and social challenges. Achim is a registered architect in Frankfurt and a professor at Stuttgart University, where he is the founding director […]
The post Achim Menges Innovates the Way We Build appeared first on AEC Business.
Reid Senescu, Vice President of Product Management at Doxel, is Aarni Heiskanen’s guest on the WDBE Talks podcast. They discuss digitalization, the use of data, and situational awareness in construction. The interview covers these topics: What has inspired Reid most during his career Why Ben chose to join Doxel What kind of digitalization would give the […]
The post Solving the Big Challenges in Construction with Reid Senescu appeared first on AEC Business.
The evolution of digital 3D visualization is allowing everyone to experience and participate in urban planning in unprecedented ways. That’s the topic of Aarni Heiskanen’s interview with Dr. Ben Guy, head of Urban Circus and a keynote speaker at the WDBE. ”Communication is everything,” argues Ben. “Communication happens every day, and it can make or […]
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I sat down with Damon Hernandez in Helsinki at Urban3, the home base of the Finnish digital built environment ecosystem. We discussed the AEC Hackathon and Damon’s passion for connecting the digital and physical worlds. I initially met Damon Hernandez in November 2015 at the first AEC Hackathon in Finland. The hackathon followed the trademark […]
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Aarni Heiskanen recently chatted with Niknaz Aftahi, a keynote speaker at the WDBE 2022 conference. She touched on her path to becoming a construction technology advocate, her Big Why, the reason she started her own company, and so much more. Niknaz went against all odds to become an architect. For context, she received her Bachelor […]
The post Meet Niknaz Aftahi, the CEO and co-founder of aec+tech appeared first on AEC Business.
Aarni Heiskanen had the pleasure of meeting with Jacqueline Rohrmann, a keynote speaker at the WDBE 2022 conference. She talked about the digitalization of the construction sector, her experiences as a design manager at Tesla, and the industry’s future. If you’re a designer learning to use Revit, a BIM tool, you might have watched some […]
The post Meet Jacqueline Rohrmann, the Tesla Gigafactory BIM Expert appeared first on AEC Business.
Dr. Ben Guy, the founder and CEO of UC 3D Planning Technologies – Urban Circus – is Aarni Heiskanen’s guest on the WDBE Talks podcast. They discuss the use of 3D visualization technologies to bring a human scale to urban development and construction. Ben is a keynote speaker at WDBE 2022. Urban Circus is a […]
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Aarni’s guest on this episode of WDBE Talks is Damon Hernandez, co-founder of the AEC Hackathon and an extended reality expert. Damon attends the 90 Day Finn program by Helsinki Partners. The three-month residence allows him to explore Finnish business and technology ecosystems and create new connections with built environment trailblazers. Damon has worked with […]
The post Hacking Your Thinking with Damon Hernandez appeared first on AEC Business.
Niknaz Aftahi is the CEO and co-founder of aec+tech (aecplustech.com), an all-in-one innovation platform and community connecting AEC/O professionals with the latest tools and technologies. In this WDBE Talks interview by Aarni Heiskanen, Niknaz discusses construction sector innovation and technology and how she helps AEC professionals discover the right tech solutions. Our discussion covers Niknaz’s […]
The post Discovering the Right AEC Tech for You with Niknaz Aftahi appeared first on AEC Business.
I had the pleasure of meeting with Jacqueline Rohrmann to discuss the digitalization of the construction sector, her experiences as a design manager at Tesla, and the industry’s future. We also touched on the themes of her upcoming keynote speech at the WDBE 2022 conference. After completing her research project on Generative Design, Jacqueline kick-started […]
The post Jacqueline Rohrmann on BIM, Tesla Gigafactory, and Building Sustainably appeared first on AEC Business.
In advance of WDBE 2021, we sat down to talk with Rune Huse Karlstad, the Business Developer for AEC, Oil and Gas with Varjo Technologies. Our discussion focused on the current state of VR/AR technology, the practical role it plays in securing quality client feedback, and the importance of implementing the new in the modern […]
The post The Importance of Immediacy – An Interview with Rune Huse Karlstad of Varjo Technologies appeared first on AEC Business.
In this episode of WDBE talks, we sat down with Rune Huse Karlstad of Varjo Technologies to talk through the real-world use of VR/AR hardware and the capacity for BIM technologies to integrate and visualise sensor data to help add value for clients. Our discussion covered the increasing role VR headsets play for the sector, […]
The post The Importance of Immediacy: Talking BIM, VR/AR, and Supersensor Integration with Rune Huse Karlstad appeared first on AEC Business.
In the run-up to WDBE 2021, we talked with Dr. Sofie Pelsmakers, the Associate Professor for Sustainable Architecture and Sustainable Housing Design at Tampere University. Our conversation covered the importance of implementing human-led sensor technology, the need for continuous research, and the role urban supersensing can play when it comes to sustainability and improving quality of life. […]
The post Discussing the Importance of Human-Led Supersensing with Sofie Pelsmakers appeared first on AEC Business.
Digital innovation offers us unparalleled choice when it comes to realizing client goals. But finding the right approach is still as challenging as ever. The modern built environment is increasingly defined by digital innovation. This includes sensor technologies, digital integration, and other tools gathered under the growing potential of BIM. However, when it comes to […]
The post Contemporary Supersensing: Discussing Client-Led Implementation with Danielle Dy Buncio appeared first on AEC Business.
In this episode of WDBE Talks, we sat down with Danielle Dy Buncio of VIATechnik to discuss the role sensor technology has when it comes to on-site integration and the potential it possesses for helping us quickly understand and act to address future challenges. Our talk covered the power of unified digital technologies, the need […]
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In the run-up to WDBE 2021, we sat down with Brian Ringley, Boston Dynamics’ Construction Technology Manager. Our discussion covered the technical challenges involved in implementing robots on construction sites, the obstacles standing in the way of autonomy, and the renewed value of data capture. If one thing is clear, Covid has produced a call […]
The post Realtime Super Sensing – An Interview with Brian Ringley of Boston Dynamics appeared first on AEC Business.
In this episode of WDBE Talks, we sat down with Dr. Sofie Pelsmakers of Tampere University to discuss the role of sensor technology in the modern built environment and the continuing need for sustainable change within the contemporary built environment. Our conversation covered the need to address the ‘performance gap’ within the sector, the ethical issues surrounding […]
The post Urgency and Scale: Discussing the Importance of Human-Led Supersensing with Sofie Pelsmakers appeared first on AEC Business.
In this episode of WDBE Talks, we sat down with Brian Ringley of Boston Dynamics to discuss the role robots can play on-site when it comes to scanning and data capture. Our conversation covered the challenges of operating autonomously in construction, the importance of digital twins, and the renewed need for remote site access in […]
The post Closing the Loop: Discussing Automation and Realtime Supersensing with Brian Ringley appeared first on AEC Business.
We sat down with Jeff Schumacher, Microsoft’s Global Workplace Services Regional Lead Ireland, UK, and MEA, in the run-up to his keynote speech at WDBE 2021. Our conversation covered how technical innovation has changed the sector, the dangers of assumption, and why retaining a human-centred perspective is vital in a data-driven business. As we leave lockdown, […]
The post Progress, Property, and Privacy: Discussing Human-Led Infrastructure with Jeff Schumacher appeared first on AEC Business.
For this episode of WDBE Talks, we sat down with Aviad Almagor of Trimble Ltd. to discuss sensor technology in the modern built environment. Our conversation touched on the on-site implementation of robotics and AI-based solutions, the importance of data capture, and the challenges facing the sector today and in the years ahead. Aviad Almagor is the […]
The post On-Site Supersensing and the Future of Construction Automation – Discussion with Aviad Almagor appeared first on AEC Business.
We sat down with Lorri Rowlandson of BGIS to discuss the role sensor technology and technical innovation plays within the modern workplace. Our talk covered the historic reaction to change, understanding value, and the challenges facing the industry in a post-covid world. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your career today, […]
The post Supersensing for Greater Experiences and Better Decisions – An Interview with Lorri Rowlandson appeared first on AEC Business.
For this episode of WDBE Talks, we sat down with Microsoft’s Jeff Schumacher to discuss sensor technology in the modern built environment. Our conversation covers the role the tools play in helping us evolve our spaces, understand those living in them, and the renewed importance of privacy. Jeff Schumacher is the Global Workplace Services Lead at […]
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This episode of WDBE Talks features Lorri Rowlandson of BGIS. We discuss the role sensor technology and technical innovation play within the modern workplace. Our talk covers the historic reaction to change, understanding value, and the challenges facing the industry in a post-covid world. Lorri Rowlandson is Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at […]
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In this WDBE Talks podcast episode, Jaan Saar, Head of Digital Construction for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications in Estonia, talks about finding and implementing a common language for digitalized construction. To unlock the real benefits of all the cool technologies like AI, VR/AR, XR, IoT, and hyper-automation, we first need to make […]
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We sat down with David Weir-McCall of Epic Games to discuss the role VR plays in the modern AEC ecosystem. Our conversation covered the power of merging digital innovation with human insight, the importance of accessible data visualization, and the role that the Unreal platform plays across a range of sectors every day. Can you […]
The post Managing Narrative, Capturing Context, and Building Together: Talking VR and AEC with David Weir-McCall appeared first on AEC Business.
We talked with Professor Martin Fischer of Stanford University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department in the run-up to WDBE. Our discussion covered what drew him to the discipline and the practical challenges of applying BIM in the modern built environment. An essential part of contemporary design, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a valuable collaborative practice […]
The post Bringing BIM to the Modern Built Environment: An Interview with Prof. Martin Fischer appeared first on AEC Business.
We sat down with Dr. Jakob Strømann-Andersen of Henning Larsen’s Sustainability Engineering Department. Our talk covered the need for interdisciplinary research, sustainable practice, and how technology will lead change in the years ahead. Can you tell us a bit about your professional background and what you’re currently working on? I’m a partner with Henning […]
The post Engineering, Architecture, and Modern Technology – An Interview with Dr. Jakob Strømann-Andersen appeared first on AEC Business.
We sat down with Professor Kathrin Dörfler of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in advance of WDBE 2020. We discussed the importance of innovation and how her research focuses on the need for practical and productive solutions when it comes to on-site support. Digital and technical innovation plays an essential role in optimizing the […]
The post Architecture, Robotics, and the Importance of Human Interaction – An Interview with Prof. Kathrin Dörfler appeared first on AEC Business.
We sat down with Annalise Johns, Housing Lead of Connected Places Catapult to find out a little more about her work in the built environment, health, and regeneration. We discussed the challenges facing those operating in the industry, and what COVID-19 has revealed about how the sector is structured. Can you tell us a bit […]
The post Embedding Better Urban Living – An Interview with Annalise Johns appeared first on AEC Business.
Participants from 17 countries had signed up for the Digital Situational Awareness in Construction webinar and workshop on June 24, 2020. It was an official WDBE 2020 pre-event. You can now watch the four presentations of the virtual event on YouTube. The agenda: 1) How situational awareness boosts construction productivity, Professor Olli Seppänen, Aalto University2) Digital construction […]
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The Digital Situational Awareness in Construction webinar and interactive workshop event briefs you on the latest developments in digital construction and features first-hand experiences from the field. This is an official pre-event of the World Summit on Digital Built Environment WDBE 2020. The focus of this event is situational awareness; what it is, why it’s […]
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The AEC Hackathon at BLOXHUB in Copenhagen engaged 154 attendees from 33 countries to work on interesting urban challenges over a February weekend. The two WDBE Talks guests were there but in different roles. Alejandro Mata, Automation Manager at Ramboll Denmark, was in one of the hack teams. He talks about the experience of his […]
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This WDBE Talks podcast episode is a prelude to the pitchfest, WWF Life EconomisE KIRA-challenge, that takes place on May 19, 2020, in Helsinki and online. It’s a WDBE 2020 Pre-event, in which WWF is partnering with KIRAHub and RAKLI to find cutting-edge solutions that can support institutional investors and real estate owners in future-proofing […]
The post Redefining Sustainability Through Future-Proof Real Estate Investments appeared first on AEC Business.
In this podcast episode, Aarni speaks with Francesca Noardo and Rick Klooster who gave presentations at this year’s first WDBE pre-event which took place in Tallinn, Estonia. The event was about BIM-based Building Permit Process Automation. The WDBE pre-event took place on the 20th of February 2020 and was hosted by the Estonian Ministry of Economic […]
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In this episode of the AEC Business Podcast, Jaan Saar tells us about his work as Head of Digital Construction and why he thinks the public sector has a key role in the digitalization of the construction industry. Jaan has managed processes and IT in the construction industry for over 15 years. He joined the […]
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