Dr. Mani Golparvar: Bringing the Project Site to Decision Makers at Reconstruct

By Luke Lightning

September 14, 2022

In this week's mini-episode of the Future Construct Podcast (34-minute podcast), our host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) is thrilled to be joined by Dr. Mani Golparvar (@mgolpar2), CTO and Co-Founder of Reconstruct (@reconstructinc). Reconstruct is a startup that Mani has been a driving force behind and describes it as a “Software-as-a-Service company” that equips an “AI-powered digital twin platform.” Reconstruct operates by integrating reality modeling, building information modeling, and project scheduling to visually track progress, analyze productivity, and proactively detect potential delays using predictive analytics.

Click to listen to our interview with Dr. Mani on Apple, Spotify, or Google, or watch on our Facebook or YouTube channels.

We learn from Mani about the process behind Reconstruct and how they plan to impact the future of construction. Founded in 2016, Reconstruct has already been acknowledged by several industrial awards, such as Crunchbase’s 50 Hot Tech Companies Globally in 2019, the 2016 World Economic Forum most innovative startup company, and the 2016 Innovation Award from Turner Construction (@turner_talk). He is also an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Computer Science, & Technology Entrepreneurship and the director of the Real-time and Automated Monitoring and Control lab at the University of Illinois (@UofIllinois).

Dr. Golparvar is highly regarded with his list of academic and lifetime achievements going on and on. His industry-leading work in the area of computer vision, machine learning, and BIM has been recognized by many awards, including the 2018 Walter Huber Research Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2017 National Top 20 Under 40 from ENR; 2016 Dan Halpin Award for Scholarship in Construction, and 2013 James Croes Medal for innovation in Civil Engineering from ASCE.

Highlights of Mani's interview with host Amy Peck include:

- How Reconstruct is helping construction companies design digital twins of construction sites to help paint the picture for the future of construction.
- Mani discusses how he is helping influence and educate the next generation of entrepreneurs.
- How KPIs can measure tangible impacts in your startup.
- How Mani sees the future of robotics impacting the construction industry and coexisting with workers and management teams.

Click to listen to our interview with Dr. Mani on Apple, Spotify, or Google, or watch on our Facebook or YouTube channels.

Prior to his work with Reconstruct, Mani has been a part of many national and international construction companies. Most extensively with Turner Construction, where he spent 2 and a half years before becoming an assistant professor in civil engineering at Virginia Tech (@virginia_tech) and going on to become the Director of Real-Time and Automated Monitoring and Control Lab. It was through his early success and through his ongoing research that he was able to build Reconstruct into the industry-changing company it is today. Dr. Golparvar’s vision is to take construction to new heights. With his expertise in AI, BIM, and augmented reality, Reconstruct is in a position to do just that.

SHOW NOTES

0:12  - Amy Peck introduces Dr. Mani Golparvar, the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Reconstruct.

4:16  - Dr. Golparvar talks about weekly coordination meetings at construction sites being archaic and how Reconstruct can completely change how construction sites operate.

18:10  - Dr. Golparvar talks about his vision for the future of the construction industry and how KPIs help him and his colleagues to gauge success on several different levels.

25:16  - Amy asks Dr. Golparvar about other technologies in his industry that he is wowed by. This is followed by an interesting conversation about the impact robotics has on the future of construction. 

31:19  - Dr. Golparvar talks about the “painstaking administrative work that we do in construction” and how to make it completely autonomous. “So we can have our people work, focus on more value-adding tasks.” 

About BIM Designs, Inc.

BIM Designs, Inc. is an agile BIM design, modeling, consulting, and coordination service provider for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) contractors and developers that desire experienced journeymen detailers and engineers for Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection (MEPF) modeling, Laser Scanning, and Virtual Design Construction (VDC) projects.

If you need 3D BIM modeling, design, and MEP detailing services, BIM Designs, Inc. (BDI) has the expert tradesmen who know how to precisely design and model your systems. Contact us today for a free estimate or to discuss your project needs.