BIM Heroes Episode 16: When Buildings Become Computers
The Metaverse Meets Hard Hats with Paul Doherty
From Trade Shows to Smart CitiesPaul Doherty, the architect-turned-tech-evangelist behind The Digit Group, takes us on a wild ride from 1990s CAD revolutions to the futuristic smart cities of tomorrow. What starts as a career retrospective quickly becomes a masterclass in how technologies like digital twins and the metaverse are quietly transforming construction sites today.
Paul’s journey reads like a time capsule of AEC tech history. After cutting his teeth designing IBM’s trade show booths (where he worked with a fledgling Microsoft and Adobe), he became one of BIM’s earliest champions - helping sell the first seats of Revit before its $133M Autodesk acquisition. His stories of convincing skeptical architects to adopt 3D modeling in the early 2000s will make any tech implementer nod in sympathy.
The Pain Points Driving ChangeTwo harsh realities are pushing innovation:
Labor shortages mean we must "do more with less" - Paul argues that 3D construction docs aren’t just nice to have but essential for clear communication
Language barriers go deeper than translation - when Spanish-language plans fail because workers can’t read, animated work instructions become critical
Digital Twins Get RealForget the hype - Paul shares concrete examples of digital twins in action:
Construction sites that never sleep: Avatars handle nighttime progress tracking and safety checks
The $80M virtual seats experiment: How Dubai’s Burj Al Arab hosted a boxing match where digital tickets outsold physical ones
Reality capture’s dirty secret: Most "scan-to-BIM" workflows still rely on manual cleanup (despite iPhone LiDAR’s promise)
Metaverse for Hard HatsThis isn’t about VR goggles - it’s about spatial computing that blends into workflows:
NPC project managers: AI-driven non-player characters that know every library ever built could soon advise architects
Buildings that talk back: Imagine your office saying "The air filter on floor 2 needs changing" in real time
eSports stadiums 2.0: Kinetic seating sections that physically rearrange based on audience demand
The Road AheadPaul leaves us with both warnings and opportunities:
Trust issues: Blockchain-based smart contracts may solve construction’s transparency problems
Legacy mindset: The industry still clings to 2D even as 3D proves its worth
Authenticity matters: Smart cities fail when they feel like "plastic mannequins" rather than organic communities
Final Takeaway: This episode shines when Paul grounds futuristic concepts in today’s job site realities. The metaverse isn’t coming - it’s already here in pieces for forward-thinking firms.