In the first of a new series of short but insightful conversations with construction industry thought leaders, Steve Randall is joined by René Morkos of Alice Technologies. Are you ready to explore the cutting edge of construction technology?  René shares his remarkable journey, from hands-on construction projects around the world to pioneering AI applications in the industry. Learn how AI is not just changing, but revolutionising the way we plan, simulate, and execute construction projects. Find out how René's work is paving the way for a more efficient and cost-effective future, an ..read more

Welcome to Constructive Voices. In Episode 1 of Season Three, we explore the urgent shift within the construction industry towards more sustainable practices, particularly in the face of the UK government’s net-zero targets.  The construction industry is seeking environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional cement due to its significant carbon footprint, with the UK government setting net zero targets for the sector. A promising innovation in this field is Cemfree by DB Group, a binder made from waste material through alkali activation, offering an 85% reduction in carbon ..read more

This episode features Yaron Dycian, co-founder of WINT, who discusses the integration of AI in water management to combat water scarcity and climate change. WINT employs AI algorithms to monitor water flow patterns in buildings, identifying anomalies that indicate leaks or damage, which can result in substantial water savings and reduced carbon footprints. The system is designed to alert staff to these issues promptly, which is crucial given that about 25% of water in buildings is wasted, contributing to significant carbon emissions and financial losses, such as the $100,000 annual waste ..read more

“I never really saw engineering as the career for me and it wasn’t really pushed. When I was studying subjects like art, science, maths, those subjects were always my passion from school all the way up to college. But I was always looking at different career pathways like medicine, going into maths, or even going into marketing and media. And it wasn’t until I did lots of different work experience placements, that I realized that engineering really was the career for me.” This intriguing quote above is from this episode’s guest, Melissa Ahmed, who is talking to Emma Nicholson as part of t ..read more

“I grew up seeing my Dad as my role model. And he is a civil engineer. So I saw him working with interesting tools and software. I remember he had this huge table with massive white papers. It had scribbles of buildings all over it, and a ruler that was taller than me. He also had sketches on his computer. He had lots and lots of books. And all of this really fascinated me. I would even do pretend play when he was not looking.” The wonderful quote above is from this episode’s guest, Dr. Zenan Ahmed, who is talking to Emma Nicholson as part of the series Focus on Female Engi ..read more

Tune in to this podcast episode that could be life-changing for you, someone you love, or friends at work or on the next site you go to.  Jackie De Burca talks to Bill Hill, chief executive of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity. The charity has been in existence since 1956 and has evolved immensely over the decades. The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and its extensive network are doing phenomenal work through a variety of channels and initiatives. This episode investigates their work and how it has resulted in 125 active rescues to date. Active rescues refer to pe ..read more

Emma Nicholson speaks to Helen Ramsay whose enthusiasm and drive is bound to inspire you. Helen, who seems to have boundless energy, has worked in steel, water consultancy and medical device manufacturing, during her engineering career. “We need to be able to change the way we work and live, to be able to manage and also to reduce our impact on the environment. So I absolutely think it’s key. We can’t solve the problems that we face as a society without including half the population.” Emma Nicholson speaks to Helen Ramsay whose enthusiasm and drive is bound to inspire you. Helen, who seem ..read more

“I never dreamed that I will get to the point where I am.” Emma Nicholson speaks to the very insightful Magda Sartin about many aspects of her work in engineering and the path that led to it. From being a ballerina to now being a Mum who balances her successful career in engineering, Magda’s story will resonate with many of you. She touches on how motherhood has helped aspects of her work and also delves into Imposter Syndrome.   “I’ve never dreamed I will be working for international companies travelling around the world, living in different countries. So I would definitely recommend t ..read more

This episode features a really interesting conversation between two construction industry experts. Irish builder and TV star, Peter Finn, talks to David Hernandez, Managing Director of Elecosoft LLC.  Although David is based in America, he also talks to Pete The Builder about how the industry is doing there right now, Elecosoft’s history can actually be traced back to 1895 in Essex, England.   ..”So you have performance and predictive analytics. To me that is the piece that I think could be really transformative for the industry.” David Hernandez, Managing Director, Elecosoft ..read more

Constructive Voices, has been inspired by a former guest to create something new and exciting. Thanks to Emma Nicholson, we are collaborating to bring you a number of episodes that Focus on Females in the built environment. So far these have been extremely well received. In the third Focus on Females episode features , Emma Nicholson speaks to Océane Mbaguta, a recent Environmental Engineering graduate. Océane’s interview will be a great inspiration to younger women but for sure, her immense passion and motivation will trigger something in all listeners.   What we talk abou ..read more