AEC Innovators Circle Podcast | Episode 4: Digital Realism: Debunking the Buzzwords with Alain Waha

Welcome to the fourth episode of the AEC Innovators Circle Podcast — where industry leaders share their insights on the innovations and technologies shaping architecture, engineering, and construction.

In this episode, host Karl Smith, Global Head of Sales at Creative ITC, speaks with Alain Waha, Chief Technology Officer at Buro Happold, to explore how firms can move beyond the hype of digital transformation buzzwords and focus on what actually delivers real value.

Together, they unpack:

-Why digital transformation conversations are often dominated by buzzwords such as AI, digital twins, BIM 2.0, and OpenUSD
-How to cut through complexity and inflated expectations to focus on practical, impactful change
-What effective digital leadership looks like in large, multidisciplinary practices
-How firms can build the capabilities needed to deliver digital transformation at scale

Whether you work in architecture, engineering, or construction, this conversation offers a grounded perspective on digital realism — helping the industry move past spin and toward outcomes that truly matter.

The AEC Innovators Circle Podcast is produced and hosted by Creative ITC, the No.1 AEC Cloud Services Provider.

Learn more at https://www.creative-itc.com/

Jump to section:

00:00 - 01:46 - Intro
01:46 - 03:36 - What is Digital Transformation to Alain Waha?
03:36 - 04:54 - How is AEC's language transforming over time?
04:54 - 07:01 - Are AEC buzzwords important to driving industry conversations?
07:01 - 09:27 - Future visions of construction
09:27 - 13:51 - Using digital transformation to accelerate AEC innovation
13:51 - 15:36 - What needs to change in the AEC industry to create a better built environment?
15:36 - 17:34 - Designing for performative outcomes by closing the data loop
17:34 - 20:34 - The challenge to rationalising data
20:34 - 22:39 - Will the AEC industry ever achieve a common data environment?
22:39 - 27:52 - Debunking buzzwords: 'Platform' (and the current state of AEC platforms)
27:52 - 36:18 - Debunking buzzwords: 'AI' (and moving beyond endless experimentation)
36:18 - 39:19 - How can AEC firms showcase innovation beyond the buzzwords?
39:19 - 41:09 - Does the AEC industry still put humans at the core of design?
41:09 - 49:34 - Debunking buzzwords: BIM 2.0 & Digital Twins
49:34 - 51:52 - How Predictive Twins can influence the built environment
51:52 - 57:02 - Aerospace and Automotive: what can AEC learn for digital transformation?
57:02 - 1:00:30 - The future of digital transformation: Alain's view
1:00:30 - 1:02:01 - Subscribe for future episodes

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