This year, I had the opportunity to attend the first day of Digital Construction Week (DCW) at Excel London. DCW is a two-day conference that focuses on digitalization in the built environment. The theme for this year's conference was "Innovation in the Built Environment."
As someone who has attended a few previous DCW events, I must say that one of the main reasons I keep coming back is the chance to connect with industry colleagues, both old and new. It's a great way to catch up with people I know from the industry and meet new individuals. Additionally, I find it valuable to see how the industry is evolving and explore the exciting startup companies that often showcase their innovations at the conference. Compared to the previous year, I noticed a shift in the focus of technology discussions at this year's DCW. While last year seemed to heavily emphasize Common Data Environment (CDE) solutions, this year showcased a mix of emerging technologies. These included scan technology referred to as digital twin, robotics for construction activities, IoT tech for building (also known as digital twin), and the presence of established vendors offering various CDE solutions. I was surprised to see Accenture, known for its consulting services, present as a vendor selling digitalization services and software products. Another highlight for me was witnessing the passion and dedication of the ZERO group, fighting for positive change in the industry. They deserve sponsorship and support!
The conference venue was divided into different areas, each hosting specific topics and discussions. Throughout the day, I found myself drawn to the talks held in the Asset Management stage, the Transformation Hub, and the Net Zero Stage. It was interesting to realize that, despite being away from the industry for four years, not much has changed in terms of the processes and challenges in the UK. However, the urgency to tackle the climate crisis has added pressure on the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry to achieve CO2 emission targets. Furthermore, advancements in technology across other industries have prompted the AEC sector to catch up. For instance, IoT is becoming more prevalent in new buildings, and AI is benefiting other digitally literate industries. It's clear that before training algorithms for AI in the AEC field, digitalizing processes and documentation is a necessary step. The industry is under pressure to move swiftly in this direction.
Among the various speakers I had the chance to listen to, Shaun Farrell stood out the most. I always appreciate his ability to go straight to the point and provide practical insights and real-world examples. Personally, I struggle with talks that lack hands-on experience, as I find it difficult to connect with abstract concepts of how "things should be done" without seeing their application in a project. Nonetheless, such talks can be useful for those who are just beginning their journey in the industry. I've always been the type of person who learns best by witnessing things in action, rather than simply listening or reading about them. Attending the conference allowed me to catch up with current and former colleagues, which is always a pleasant experience. It helps me stay updated on the challenges, current state of the AEC industry, and where things are headed.
Since I joined Autodesk, I don't attend as many conferences as I used to since I can't share practical AEC knowledge anymore. But for the ones that asked a bit of a general life update: Yes, I still based in London; Yes, I still at Autodesk, working with Tandem, if you haven't check out Tandem you should, it's an amazing product that connects BIM, data and IoT, what I would call a digital twin, check us out https://intandem.autodesk.com/. Very proud of the work we are doing there.
Anyway, it's beneficial to step out and socialize every now and then. I must admit that by 4:30 pm, the introvert in me was ready to retreat and enjoy solitude for the next month. But to not wait many years to show up in a conference and see you all: What is the next conference you will be attending? Let me know!
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