Towards an Organization that Truly Embraces Change

On June 10th from 1-5pm ET the American Institute of Architects will hold is election during the Annual Business Meeting. Below is the video and transcript for my Final Candidacy Speech for Director-at-Large.

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Saludos,

I’m Ricardo Rodríguez, candidate for Director-at-Large. These past weeks, I’ve heard the issues affecting AIA leaders and members nationwide. A constant theme raised was the need to drive institutional change at many levels. Although change is discussed in the Strategic Plan, Knowledge Communities, and referenced in the Institute’s statements, there's little progress visible. I believe I am equally passionate and uniquely suited to help overcome these challenges.

Buckminster Fuller said, “You never change things by fighting against the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.” The historical moment we are living in requires us to rise to the occasion now. The “we are working on this” discourse only puts more pressure on local leadership. Components expressed not having the adequate support required to face our goals around climate action, EDI, and providing value. In short, business-as-usual is holding us back. We can't expect to change the world for the better if we are not open to change our mindset towards member engagement and business transformation.

I believe the AIA is a powerful organization for professional growth, yet we could also shape it into a platform for business empowerment by:

• Adopting a culture of open innovation, where we could invest in intellectual property and establish revenue-sharing opportunities.

• Rethinking how we advocate beyond just policies by amplifying the underrepresented voices and formally recognizing alternative career paths.

• Navigating change requires us to think beyond static toolkits and provide firms the digital resources urgently needed.

• Demolishing the institutional roadblocks preventing access to the education and solutions required to bridge the gap in digital literacy.

I’ve spent several years now implementing partnerships and innovation programs globally. Being a bridge between two worlds requires me to lean on my 15+ years of architectural practice, AIA|DC leadership roles, and Strategic Council experience. Given my expertise in executing strategic and digital transformation efforts globally, I’m committed to advancing our organization in this evolution. Let’s signal an alternative to the traditional approaches that bind us to many disadvantages and demand an organization that genuinely embraces “the many.”

Again, I'm Ricardo Rodríguez, and I hope to count on your vote. Reach out to me via www.bytesandmortar.com or LinkedIn for more.

Muchas gracias!

article_0101('Construction Technology')

Innovations in Construction Technology

One of the most powerful forces shaping the business environment today is the innovation in construction technology. The construction industry is on the verge of a digital transformation. New technologies will help builders and contractors work smarter, reduce costs, and provide homeowners with higher-quality, more sustainable, and energy-efficient homes.

It’s clear that a big part of the construction industry’s digital future is in AI and connecting machines/devices wirelessly to content on the internet.

Intelligent construction management software, equipped with big data and AI technologies, can store enormous business and construction data to automate operational construction processes. These new technologies can optimize workflows and improve the efficiency of procurement and logistics in complex construction processes. [Source: 8]

Innovative construction technologies have enabled massive improvements in safety, efficiency, and productivity in large construction projects. Today's technological advances in construction affect all aspects of the construction industry, always searching for ways to innovate and improve processes, including project planning, safety, and workers. [Source: 13]

Technologies such as AI (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are transforming the construction industry, resulting in long-standing inefficiencies and low productivity. The construction industry, which is currently looking for ways to innovate and improve processes, is ready for the next step with the right equipment and technology. Acceleration technologies are bringing a major digital transformation to the industry. [Sources: 10, 13]

Industrial technology has continuously evolved, and construction is no exception. We look at some examples from construction technology to see how they can benefit your construction business. Learn how new construction technologies drive efficiency, connectivity, analytics, and more. [Sources: 0, 10]

The construction industry has not always been one of the fastest to introduce new technologies. The development of construction technology is often attributed to new heavy equipment. [Sources: 0, 11]

In the past, the construction industry has been slow to develop and introduce new technologies, resulting in productivity growth that lags behind other sectors. As technology advances, the industry is looking for ways to innovate and improve processes. The construction industry is traditional and resistant to change, but many new technologies have promising construction projects. [Sources: 3, 7, 13]

This article gives a brief overview of some of the new technologies that are transforming the construction process. The common denominator of many of these technologies is access to a wealth of information that was not possible before. Design your next construction project with the latest engineering tools. [Source: 3]

The construction industry experiences technological innovation throughout the project lifecycle, with the Internet of Things (IoT) at the forefront. As the industry responds to a difficult period with an increased focus on innovation, there are likely to be further developments in automation and technology in the coming years that will reshape the construction industry as we know it. In addition to technological innovations, construction professionals can expect further innovative and valuable transformations on the back of augmented reality (AR / VR), drones, robotics, and additive printing. [Sources: 10, 12, 13]

According to McKinsey & Company, the investment in construction technology has increased in the past decade. This inflow of money is responsible for the rapid rise of building information modeling (BIM). This technical tool enables the digital rendering of buildings and allows E and C professionals to design, develop and operate the existing facility themselves. [Source: 11]

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has become the most widely used technology in the construction industry. Seventy-three percent of US contractors surveyed by Dodge Data Analytics in a report used BIM, and 79 percent of those who used it in more than 30 percent of their projects did so extensively. [Source: 12]

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one of the fundamental technologies, which not only offers numerous advantages of its own but can also be used as a basis for other construction technologies such as digital twins, artificial intelligence, and planning software. BIM can be used to create 3D models that evolve into additional dimensions, including planning (4D), cost estimation (5D), sustainability (6D), and operation and maintenance (7D). BIM shares knowledge about resources and plants, information that provides a reliable basis for decisions on construction projects throughout their life cycle, from early design to decommissioning. [Sources: 6, 12]

While the AEC industry has turned away from BIM over the past decade, it is the new design technologies emerging in the built environment and expanding what is possible with BIM. These include digital manufacturing, real-time visualization, virtual and mixed reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, generative design, reality modeling, and the development of digital twins. [Source: 9]

The construction industry’s future depends on the construction and construction data collection, the introduction of forward-looking analyses, and the introduction of new construction techniques and materials. Due to the sheer size of the projects, the number of people working on them, and the complexity of the tasks, the industry is ripe for continued adoption of new technologies to streamline processes and strengthen the ability to create larger and better projects. It is better to understand the seismic changes of technological adoption in recent years to understand the present and future of construction technology. [Source: 4, 8, 11]

Here is a summary of digital technology trends for the construction industry in 2021. Augmented and virtual reality are emerging technologies in the construction sector that are on the rise in development and introduction. Technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) enable construction companies and customers to visualize elements during their projects’ planning, construction, and reconstruction phases. [Sources: 6, 10, 12]

Construction technology is an umbrella term for any type of technology that finds special applications in the construction industry. Examples of construction technology include intelligent machines, automated robots, virtual reality, 5G, and IoT. [Source: 1]

Today, there are numerous examples of technologies that are leading to a revolution in the construction industry. Find out which 27 emerging trends in civil engineering can be observed in 2021. Emerging construction technology is the technology that has the most significant impact on the industry. [Sources: 2, 5, 10]

According to BAM Group CIO Steven Capperroyal, emerging technologies affect the construction industry on a large scale, transforming processes and capabilities through drones, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and more. Each of these will become an integral part of the technology for the industry. [Sources: 1, 4]

One way to improve drones and other construction technologies further are to use artificial intelligence and machine learning. With all the technologies available today, they will only help advance construction technology, and the construction industry will benefit from increased efficiency, cost, and speed. [Sources: 1, 13]

This is the last article of the "The Computer Made Me Do It" series, the 🤖 finishes strong. It gives us a well-referenced summary of the digital transformation going on within the AEC industry and the trends that are driving it. I'm curious to read your thoughts on the article or the series as a whole. Leave me a comment below

Sources:

[0]: https://www.rhumbix.com/10-new-construction-technology-trends-to-watch/

[1]: https://ukconnect.com/construction-technology-trends/

[2]: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/ectfs/

[3]: https://www.ny-engineers.com/blog/2019-technology-trends-in-the-construction-industry

[4]: https://connect.comptia.org/blog/emerging-technology-in-construction-industry

[5]: https://www.constructionplacements.com/construction-technology/

[6]: https://www.constructconnect.com/blog/7-construction-technology-trends-to-watch-in-2021

[7]: https://www.naiop.org/Research-and-Publications/Reports/An-Overview-of-Emerging-Construction-Technologies

[8]: https://www.startus-insights.com/innovators-guide/construction-innovation-map-reveals-emerging-technologies/

[9]: https://www.constructionexec.com/article/2021-outlook-emerging-technologies-impacting-the-construction-industry

[10]: https://www.imaginovation.net/blog/construction-industry-technology-trends/

[11]: https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/project-management/inside-our-program/stories/2020/the-future-of-construction-technology.html

[12]: https://www.constructionbusinessowner.com/technology/13-construction-technology-trends-watch

[13]: https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/construction-technology

article_0100('Digital Construction')

Construction Information Modeling (CIM) is among the most powerful digital technologies that benefit each stage of the building life cycle, including estimating, materials management, and labor management.

Digital construction is applying information technology in the building process to tell all facets of a project right from conception to completion. Construction Information Modeling (CIM) is among the most powerful digital technologies that benefit each stage of the building life cycle, including estimating, materials management, and labor management. It considers numerous factors in building construction, such as engineering drawings, specifications, and environmental considerations. It also helps in reducing costs and improving efficiency. Industry professionals can use this technology in various projects like buildings, dams, industrial facilities, bridges, etc.

A digital construction program uses a sophisticated capture, rendering, and visualization toolchain to build digital models of real-world objects in time. It takes into account numerous factors in building construction, including scheduling, material management, and budget. Also, digital construction software is handy for planning purposes as well as for verification purposes. The software can efficiently gather, store, manipulate and transmit accurate data. The software contains various tools such as context capture, point, marker, and grid layouts. The context capture tool is essential in digital construction. It allows the designer to quickly capture a particular site's physical and logical structure at a glance.

By using a marker, designers can specify spatial data and shape specifications during the design phase.

On the other hand, the marker phase will enable designers to create digital data from any source, such as 3D computer renderings or 3D photographs. By using a marker, designers can specify spatial data and shape specifications during the design phase. In the final step, digital construction uses the Reality modeling technique to combine all the captured data, such as floor plans and architectural blueprints. The final output is a digital model that can be used for any project, whether it is a simple conceptual design, large-scale building construction, or anything in between.

This week's article was a bit delayed and far shorter than the rest. I was surprised it focused on CIM and must admit it felt a bit "random". What do you think? Was it a 🤖 fail?