How do we move AI from hype to helpful in civil and site design?
Live from AU 2025, ISG’s Jason Douglas shares how connected workflows across Forma, Revit, Civil 3D, and ACC are becoming real; why fast, responsive partners matter; and how Dynamo scripts eliminated version ping-pong to save time in production. We dig into training at scale, automation wins, and what it takes to keep multidisciplinary teams in sync.
You’ll learn:
How connected workflows across Forma, Revit, Civil 3D, and ACC are breaking down data silos in AEC
Why practical automation—like Dynamo scripting—creates real productivity gains for design teams
What strong partnerships and responsive support mean for successful tech adoption
How AI is shifting from hype to helpful through applied machine learning and predictive tools
Ways to keep multidisciplinary teams aligned and trained as technology evolves
Why communication and collaboration matter more than ever in achieving digital transformation
MEET OUR GUEST
Jason Douglas is a CAD Manager at ISG, with roots in civil design and a passion for practical tech. After starting in architectural drafting, he shifted to civil, became a go-to champion for software adoption, and now leads standards, support, and training across platforms like Civil 3D and ACC—lately extending automation with Dynamo to boost team efficiency.
TODD TAKES
Connected Workflows Are Becoming Real
For years we’ve talked about connected construction as a vision. Now, with tools like Forma and Revit integrating more tightly with Civil 3D and ACC, we’re seeing the walls between disciplines start to come down. This isn’t theory anymore—it’s the beginning of a truly unified way to design, build, and manage projects.
Partnerships Drive Practical Innovation
Innovation isn’t just about software features; it’s about the relationships and support that make technology adoption possible. The right partner listens, responds quickly, and helps translate tools into outcomes. That kind of support accelerates adoption and creates measurable productivity gains across teams.
AI and Automation Need to Deliver Value
AI has dominated headlines, but the real impact comes when it moves from hype to reality. Practical applications—whether through automation in ACC, Dynamo scripts in Civil 3D, or predictive insights—are what will change daily workflows. The key is building trust in the technology so it’s seen as a time-saver, not a risk.
More Resources
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Other Relevant Links:
Jason’s LinkedIn
ISG Website
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18:55
The Real Meaning of Innovation in Construction
How do you build a culture where innovation thrives instead of being feared?
Recorded live at Autodesk University in Nashville, this conversation with Cliff Cole, Director of Virtual Design and Construction at The PENTA Building Group, dives into what it really takes to embed innovation into the DNA of a construction company. Cliff shares how storytelling, timing, and empathy create trust and drive adoption—turning change management into a shared mission instead of a mandate.
You’ll learn:
Why every construction team is already innovating (even if they don’t call it that)
How to build a culture that celebrates creativity and problem-solving
The art of storytelling to communicate innovation effectively
How timing and trust make or break new technology adoption
Ways to overcome generational and cultural barriers to change
MEET OUR GUEST
Cliff Cole is the Director of Virtual Design and Construction at The PENTA Building Group, a Las Vegas–based general contractor known for projects across healthcare, education, gaming, and tribal sectors. With over two decades in the industry, Cliff has built a reputation for fostering innovation through empathy, collaboration, and storytelling. He’s a passionate advocate for redefining construction’s culture—helping teams see that every challenge is an opportunity to innovate, communicate, and grow.
TODD TAKES
Innovation Starts with Culture
Innovation in construction isn’t just about adopting new tools—it’s about creating a culture where people feel empowered to solve problems creatively. Every project brings unknowns, and teams already innovate daily to adapt and deliver. Recognizing that mindset helps shift the narrative: construction is, at its core, an innovative industry.
Storytelling Unlocks Buy-In
Problem-solving alone isn’t enough—innovation needs to be communicated. Too often, teams do the hard work but don’t showcase how it’s transforming outcomes. Building the muscle of storytelling, meeting people where they are, and delivering the right message at the right time is what turns technical solutions into cultural movements.
Timing and Trust Matter in Change
Rolling out new technology or processes requires more than good ideas—it requires timing, trust, and empathy. People resist change not because they can’t use technology, but because they need to see the value in their own context. Walking in their shoes, asking the right questions, and introducing solutions at the right moment makes adoption stick.
More Resources
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.
Bridging the Gap Website
Bridging the Gap LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Instagram
Bridging the Gap YouTube
Todd’s LinkedIn
Thank you to our sponsors!
Graitec North America
Graitec North America LinkedIn
Autodesk’s Website
Other Relevant Links:
Cliff’s LinkedIn
PENTA Group Website
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30:36
From Data to Decisions: BIM Governance, AI & Interoperability
What does it take to build a data strategy that empowers people—rather than overwhelms them?
Live from AU Nashville, BIM governance leader Kirsty Hogg unpacks how to build a useful data strategy (not a data swamp), keep feedback lightweight in ACC, and prepare your teams for AI, machine learning, and cloud-first workflows. We dig into lessons-learned capture, lakehouse fundamentals, picking low-friction tools (Ideate, File Sync), and why cultural safety (“it’s OK to learn fast”) turns skeptics into champions. Plus: what seamless interoperability should look like—and how to inch toward it today.
You’ll learn:
How to frame questions before filling your data lake
Practical ways to capture “lessons learned” via ACC issues
Change management that actually sticks (and who should be the messenger)
Why fewer tools = faster wins—and where AI truly fits next
A realistic path toward interoperability and Forma-era workflows
MEET OUR GUEST
Kirsty Hogg is a BIM Governance Lead based in London, overseeing software strategy, standards, and workflows for a global engineering consultancy. She focuses on practical data governance, cloud-first delivery, and scalable processes that make ACC, Ideate, and automation work for real project teams. Kirsty champions “data with intention,” helping organizations capture the right signals for analytics and AI—while building a culture where learning fast beats perfection.
TODD TAKES
Data With Intention, Not Accumulation
Start with the questions, then collect the data. Keep data feedback capture lightweight (e.g., “lessons learned” via simple ACC issues), make it interoperable, and build your data lake to serve decisions—not to hoard. Machine learning comes after you’ve curated useful, consistent signals.
Make It Safe to Learn Fast
Change sticks when teams are allowed to “do it wrong” once to see why the better path matters. Spread champions beyond BIM—let others carry the message so the right people hear the “what’s in it for me.” The right messenger accelerates adoption.
Fewer Tools, Faster Wins
Choose tools with a low learning curve and broad utility to cut cognitive load and speed uptake. Automations and smart syncs free people from busywork so they can focus on value. Keep strategy horizons short, stay cloud-first, and design for interoperability as Forma and AI evolve.
More Resources
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.
Bridging the Gap Website
Bridging the Gap LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Instagram
Bridging the Gap YouTube
Todd’s LinkedIn
Thank you to our sponsors!
Graitec North America
Graitec North America LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
Kirsty’s LinkedIn
Cundall’s Website
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25:10
Making Sustainability Work: Turning Vision into Action
What does it take to make sustainability more than a buzzword?
Recorded live at Autodesk University 2025 in Nashville, this conversation with Allison Scott, Director of Customer Experience & Industry Engagement at Autodesk, dives into how sustainability becomes real when it’s woven into the daily workflow.
Allison shares how the AEC industry is entering a hockey-stick moment—where data, technology, and culture converge to turn good intentions into measurable impact. From integrating carbon with cost to building a culture of accountability, this episode explores how innovation, accessibility, and human leadership are reshaping the built world for people and planet alike.
Highlights from the Conversation
Why sustainability must be embedded into everyday workflows
How connecting cost and carbon drives smarter business decisions
The rise of digital culture and generational change in AEC
Turning data into action: the role of tech in reducing emissions
Why transformation happens top-down and bottom-up
MEET OUR GUEST
Allison Scott is Director of Customer Experience & Industry Engagement at Autodesk, leading sustainability initiatives that bridge technology and impact across the built environment. With over 20 years of experience spanning architecture, construction, and tech, Allison focuses on transforming sustainability from a concept into a core business advantage—helping firms design, build, and operate with purpose and performance in mind.
TODD TAKES
Sustainability Must Be Woven Into the Workflow
Allison underscored that sustainability can’t be a side effort or a separate team in the corner—it has to become part of the everyday workflow. Just like BIM or digital field tools, the biggest gains happen when sustainable practices are integrated into decisions early and often.
Practicality Turns Buzzwords Into Value
Sustainability often feels overwhelming or abstract, but Allison reframed it as a practical, competitive advantage. By tying carbon data directly to cost, companies can ground big goals in everyday project choices—whether it’s reducing waste, reusing materials, or tracking embodied carbon. That shift moves sustainability from “good intentions” to measurable business impact.
Transformation Happens Top-Down and Bottom-Up
The industry is in a hockey-stick moment where both leadership mandates and grassroots champions are driving change. From superintendents using mobile tools to enterprise-level firms making sustainability part of their strategy, the cultural shift is accelerating. The future of innovation comes from aligning both forces to make sustainable, tech-enabled practices the norm.
More Resources
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.
Bridging the Gap Website
Bridging the Gap LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Instagram
Bridging the Gap YouTube
Todd’s LinkedIn
Thank you to our sponsors!
Graitec North America
Graitec North America LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
Allison’s LinkedIn
Autodesk’s Website
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31:11
The Fellowship of Design: Conquering AEC’s Workflow Quests
What does it take to turn AEC’s ‘impossible quests’—like coordination, data sharing, and upskilling—into victories? Every great innovation begins with a quest.
Recorded live at Autodesk University 2025 in Nashville, this episode features Jessica Brams-Miller, Director of Design Technology at Hart Howerton, as she leads us through the epic adventure of solving AEC’s toughest challenges — from the Point-Limit Basilisk to the Merge Hydra.
Jessica shares how creativity, collaboration, and a “fellowship of leaders” mindset are helping firms turn roadblocks into victories. When teams share data instead of guarding it like the One Ring, innovation becomes a shared journey — not a solo climb.
💡 Highlights from the conversation
Turning Revit monsters into teachable moments
Building a fellowship for open knowledge-sharing across firms
Using tools like Ideate and Forma to forge stronger workflows
Why innovation means breaking the rule… to rewrite it for good
Collaboration as the true magic of the modern AEC world
MEET OUR GUEST
Jessica Brams-Miller is Director of Design Technology at Hart Howerton, where she helps lead a multi-disciplinary team across architecture, planning, and interiors. With a creative spirit and technical mastery, Jessica is on a quest to make collaboration, data-sharing, and innovation part of every firm’s journey.
TODD TAKES
Creativity Unlocks the Full Value of Tools
The opportunity comes when teams think creatively about how to adapt tools to their workflows—whether that’s reimagining site modeling, tiling data, or inventing new approaches. When technology and ingenuity work together, even the toughest constraints become opportunities for innovation.
Share the Map: Open Data > Precious Secrets
Progress accelerates when teams talk early, share data, and swap playbooks. Jessica’s “fellowship of leaders” mindset—publishing cleaned workflows, comparing what works, and leaning on partners and tools like Ideate—turns isolated fixes into industry improvements. Collaboration beats siloed genius every time.
New Tech Needs New Habits
Adoption sticks when you pair tools with clear processes and upskilling. Weekly check-ins, consistent updates, baseline skills, and model hygiene turn change fatigue into momentum. Innovation, as Jessica puts it, is knowing the rules—and breaking them for the better.
More Resources
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.
Bridging the Gap Website
Bridging the Gap LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Instagram
Bridging the Gap YouTube
Todd’s LinkedIn
Thank you to our sponsors!
Graitec North America
Graitec North America LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
Jessica’s LinkedIn
Hart Howerton Website
Sobre Bridging the Gap: Insights & Innovations in Construction
Join the innovation adventure that spotlights MEP and the construction industry – advancements in technology, distinctive perspectives, the soft skills required for successful digital transformation, and stories about the problem-solving mindset that continues to shape this great industry and propel it forward. The Bridging the Gap Podcast gives voice to the incredible things happening in and around construction while championing the fact that this is a great industry to be in.
The host, Todd Weyandt, seeks out enlightening conversations with industry experts who are changing the technological landscape. Engaging a full spectrum of voices, he champions an industry dialogue that supports companies as they try new things, advance and thrive.
He is on a mission to embrace and share the innovations transforming the AEC, MEP and manufacturing industries.
The Bridging the Gap Podcast is brought to you by Applied Software. With solutions for the modern project, Applied is on a mission to transform industries by empowering clients and championing innovation with real-world expert consultants.
Bringing you a comprehensive array of solutions for AEC, MEP and manufacturing, the experts of Applied have a singular focus – helping you achieve higher performance. Visit asti.com today.
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