Building Twice: Inside MEP's Digital Revolution - Gary Cowan - EARLY RELEASE

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EARLY RELEASE
Building Twice: Inside MEP's Digital Revolution

What happens when MEP meets cutting-edge VR/AR technology? Gary Cowan, Head of Digital Construction at Kane Group, reveals how his team is building the future (twice).

From real-time model collaboration in virtual reality to augmented reality site verification, Gary walks us through a digital construction workflow that most companies won't achieve for another decade.

In this episode, you’ll:

  • Discover how prefabrication and digital coordination can compress decision-making cycles from weeks to minutes and why this matters for your bottom line

  • Learn the real-world ROI of emerging tech like VR and AR from someone who's implemented it across live construction projects (not just pilot programs)

  • Understand the critical difference between technology that creates value and technology that creates noise, including Gary's candid take on AI hype versus practical applications

  • Hear how one contractor is building a competitive advantage by integrating robotics, point cloud scanning, and mixed reality into their end-to-end workflow

  • Get an insider perspective on what makes tech vendors worth your time and what makes them waste it

Chapters

  • 00:00 - Introduction: What Does a Head of Digital Construction Actually Do

  • 04:03 - Digital Workflows for New Build vs. Retrofit Projects

  • 09:18 - The Reality of Point Cloud Scanning and Survey Control

  • 16:00 - VR Evolution: From Tethered PCs to Real-Time Collaboration

  • 20:00 - Workshop XR: Walking Through Live Models Together

  • 27:14 - Augmented Reality on Construction Sites with Gamma AR

  • 30:00 - Mixed Reality: The Future of Real-Time Problem Solving

  • 32:40 - AI Advisory Board: Separating Hype from Practical Implementation

  • 38:04 - The Problem with "BIM Influencers" and AI-Generated Expertise

  • 43:13 - Rolling Out Technology: Live Projects vs. Endless Pilots

  • 48:26 - Real-Time Data Flow: Breaking Down Information Silos

  • 51:09 - Managing Technology Across Diverse Teams and Skill Levels

  • 54:10 - Robotics in MEP: Today's Reality and Tomorrow's Challenges

  • 56:20 - Diversifying Revenue: Digital Construction as a Service Offering

  • 58:24 - The Future of Digital Construction and Industry Education

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