Episode Content

In this episode of the Digital Construction Podcast we sat down with Adam Favaloro , Digital Leader at GHD. With over 20 years in the industry, Adam offers a candid and insightful look into the current state and future of Digital Engineering (DE). He unpacks its immense value in resolving project challenges early, creating lasting digital assets, and tackles critical industry hurdles from budget constraints to talent shortages.


Adam highlights that Digital Engineering has evolved significantly. Initially focused on helping end-users visualise designs and for public stakeholder engagement, DE now plays a critical role in generating digital twins. These digital twins are used for construction planning and delivery, and most importantly, for asset management post-construction. 


Navigating the Digital Landscape: Key Challenges and Bottlenecks

A primary challenge is budget constraints, with DE often perceived as an "add-on cost" rather than a core value driver. Adam advises tailoring DE solutions to focus on areas of highest risk to demonstrate maximum return on investment. Resistance to change is also a significant hurdle, particularly from senior team member accustomed to traditional workflows.


The Shift from 2D to Model-Centric Delivery

Adam expresses his "pet hate" for the industry's continued overproduction of 2D drawings. He points out that while engineers sign off on drawings, site surveyors increasingly rely on model data exports. This creates inconsistencies and questions the value of extensive drawing sets, suggesting a future where projects ideally "just deliver models".


Building the Right Team: Structure, Skills, and Mentorship

Companies are still figuring out the most effective DE team structures. While centralisation aids coordination, it can sometimes strain relationships with engineers. A significant talent gap exists, particularly for professionals with 5-15 years of experience, largely due to past outsourcing models. Adam identifies non-negotiable skills for DE professionals: a deep understanding of construction processes, being extroverted and highly communicative to elicit information, and possessing a continuous drive to innovate and challenge existing workflows.


Client Engagement and the Long-Term Vision for DE

Educating clients on DE's full value, especially for post-construction asset management, remains a struggle. Many clients, even those with digital engineering frameworks, still focus on immediate construction costs and neglect updating digital assets post-AFC (Approved For Construction). Adam believes it is the industry's role to continue advocating for change and demonstrating long-term benefits.


Pioneering the Future: AI, Interoperability, and Impact

Looking ahead, Adam sees machine learning, AI, and large language models having a massive impact on automating quality checks and generating documentation. He stresses the vital importance of open standards and interoperability, but acknowledges that software vendors still face immense challenges in achieving true cross-platform editing (beyond basic referencing of IFCs). 


Key Takeaways:

  • Digital Engineering provides critical value through pre-construction clash resolution and long-term digital twins for asset management.
  • Major hurdles include budget limitations (DE seen as an add-on), industry resistance to change, and over-reliance on 2D drawings despite model data being used on site.
  • Cross-disciplinary software interoperability and open standards remain elusive, hindering seamless collaboration.
  • A talent gap, especially for mid-career DE professionals, impacts team mentorship and project delivery.
  • Essential skills for DE include strong construction understanding, excellent communication, and a proactive approach to continuous innovation.
  • Educating clients on the long-term benefits of digital workflows is crucial, as many focus only on the immediate construction phase.
  • The future of DE will be shaped by AI, machine learning, and the ongoing push for true interoperability.