Episode 4 - Travis Althouse - From Building Lego to Building Virtually to Building On Site (while Flying a Drone with Your Watch)

Travis Althouse, a construction technologist, shares his journey in the construction industry and his passion for driving digital transformation. From his childhood love for Legos and SimCity to his experience with Revit and other construction software, Travis has always been drawn to building and problem-solving.

 

Video recording at https://youtu.be/2qsTshcA1lw

 

He emphasizes the importance of standard operating procedures and effective communication in driving innovation. Travis also discusses the challenges of implementing new technology and the need to balance attitudes and relationships in the industry. He encourages young professionals to be prepared for negativity and to stand up for what they believe in. Travis shares his proudest moments, including his work at Revizto and his impact on the construction management program at his college.

 

He advises others to gain field experience and prioritize the needs of the people building the project. In this conversation, Travis Althouse shares his insights and experiences in the construction industry, particularly in the field of BIM and VDC. He emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes and being open to new technologies and processes. Travis discusses the challenges of implementing BIM in the field and highlights the need for effective communication and collaboration between different stakeholders. He also envisions the future of construction, with a focus on data, AI, and process optimization. Travis concludes by emphasizing the value of creativity and innovation in the industry.

 

Takeaways

• 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.

Sound Bites

• "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."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:39 From Legos to SimCity: The Early Signs of a Construction Technologist

07:48 Driving Innovation and Adoption through Communication and Standard Operating Procedures

10:50 Overcoming Resistance: Implementing New Technology in the Construction Industry

24:05 Advice for Future Construction Technologists

30:06 Understanding the Needs of the People on the Ground in VDC

34:18 The Importance of Being in the Model

37:16 The Future of Construction: Data, AI, and Innovation

51:27 Quick Fire Round

 

Keywords

construction, digital transformation, innovation, standard operating procedures, communication, technology implementation, attitudes, relationships, field experience, construction, BIM, VDC, mistakes, technology, communication, collaboration, data, AI, process optimization, creativity, innovation