“If we only solve the technical problem without understanding the human problem, we limit ourselves as engineering leaders.”

Is engineering moving fast enough to keep up with technology, or are we limiting ourselves by thinking too narrowly? In this episode, Owen Keenan sits down with Raj Aseervatham, President of Engineers Australia, to explore how engineers are uniquely positioned at the intersection of innovation, society, and the environment. Drawing on decades of experience across mining, energy, and infrastructure, Raj explains why technical excellence alone isn’t enough, and how engineers must balance human impact, economic value, and environmental responsibility in every decision.

From managing complex projects on-site to shaping national engineering strategy, Raj shares insights on leadership, curiosity, and the mindset shifts required for the next generation of engineers. Together, they discuss how fast-moving technologies like AI and material science aren’t just tools, they’re opportunities to expand what’s possible, to solve human-centred problems at scale, and to envision a future where engineering creates positive, lasting impact.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

- Engineering impacts go beyond technical fixes; it affects people, the economy, and the environment.

- Good engineers balance human needs, technical solutions, and long-term value.

- AI is a powerful tool for exploring options and optimising solutions, not a replacement.

- Leadership in engineering means looking beyond narrow scopes and thinking systemically.

- Investing in finance, economics, and the broader context strengthens technical expertise.

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Balancing innovation with worldwide consequences.

00:01:47 - Raj’s Journey From Africa to Australia.

00:02:44 - Mining, consulting, energy, and transition to non-executive leadership.

00:05:01 - Early career experience broadening perspective.

00:07:32 - The unintended consequences of engineering.

00:09:06 - Engineering’s central role in solving complex problems.

00:13:37 - The three pillars of solving problems.

00:17:26 - Raj's thoughts on AI as a tool to solve problems.

00:22:48 - Advice for mid-career engineers

00:31:34 - Engineers Australia's hopes

🔗 Guest:

Raj Aseervatham

President of Engineers Australia

Website: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/

LinkedIn (Company): https://au.linkedin.com/company/engineers-australia

LinkedIn (Raj Aseervatham): https://au.linkedin.com/in/raj-aseervatham

🎧 Host & Links

LinkedIn: Owen Keenan

YouTube: @Structural-Intelligence

VoiceInspect.ai (AI for inspections): www.voiceinspect.ai

👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on YouTube and Spotify to stay updated on new episodes.

“What if construction isn’t tech-averse just misread?”Is construction really slow to adopt technology, or have we been building the wrong tools? In this episode of The Structural Intelligence Podcast, Owen Keenan sits down with Ethan Ow, Co-Founder & CEO of Wenti Labs, to challenge the myth of resistance in the field. Ethan shares how his team is embedding AI directly into the tools site teams already use: automating safety checks, reporting, and documentation straight from WhatsApp.From his early days managing projects on site to building AI agents that act like digital interns, Ethan explains how technology can adapt to construction workflows instead of forcing teams to adapt to tech. Together, they unpack the mindset shift needed for the industry to finally make AI fit-for-purpose.🔑 Key Takeaways:- Why construction’s problem isn’t tech aversion it’s tool misalignment- How Wenti Labs turns WhatsApp chats into structured project data- How AI agents can automate safety tracking, documentation, and reporting- Why treating AI like an “intern,” not a replacement, drives better adoption- Why starting small is the key to innovation that actually sticks on site- Lessons from building AI tools that adapt to construction not the other way around⏱ Timestamps:00:00:00 – Rethinking Construction Tech Adoption00:02:07 – Ethan’s Early Journey00:06:23 – Real-Time Data in Construction00:10:10 – Designing AI for the Chaos of Construction00:16:39 – How Wenti Labs Works on Site00:25:50 – Closing the Communication Gap on Site00:30:54 – Turning WhatsApp Chats into Structured Data00:33:20 – Automating Concrete Tracking and Documentation00:35:03 – Treating AI Like an Intern, Not a Replacement00:43:30 – The Mindset Shift Construction Needs🔗 Guest: Ethan OwCo-Founder & CEO, Wenti LabsWebsite: https://www.wentilabs.com/LinkedIn (Company): https://sg.linkedin.com/company/wentilabsLinkedIn (Ethan Ow): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ethanow🎧 Host & LinksLinkedIn: Owen KeenanSpotify: Structural Intelligence PodcastYouTube: @Structural-IntelligenceVoiceInspect.ai (AI for inspections): www.voiceinspect.ai👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on YouTube and Spotify to stay updated on new episodes.

How does a civil engineer go from designing tunnels to building an AI startup?

In this episode of The Structural Intelligence Podcast, Owen Keenan interviews Stevan Lukic, founder and CEO of Civils.ai a startup transforming how engineering teams use AI to extract data from construction documents. Before ChatGPT, before the hype, Stevan was already teaching himself to code and building automation tools for geotechnical logs, CAD drawings, and pre-construction workflows.

They explore the mindset shift from consultant to founder, the real challenges of launching a construction tech startup, and why the future of engineering is built on data, not just drawings.

⏱ Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Before the AI hype: Stevan's vision for engineering00:02:00 – From tunnels to tech founder: Stevan's journey00:06:00 – Lessons from engineering vs startup culture00:09:40 – Teaching himself to code and founding Civils.ai00:15:00 – The startup journey: accelerators, funding, and product fit00:19:50 – What Civils.ai does solving problems trapped in PDFs00:26:00 – Extracting data from drawings the holy grail of construction AI00:29:00 – Civils.ai vs ChatGPT why specialized tools matter00:33:00 – Barriers to AI adoption in engineering00:42:00 – The future of engineers in the AI era

👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on YouTube and Spotify to stay updated on new episodes.

Host & Links

• LinkedIn: Owen Keenan

• Spotify: Structural Intelligence Podcast

• YouTube: @Structural-Intelligence

• VoiceInspect.ai: www.voiceinspect.ai

What happens when a civil engineer decides to stop waiting for better tools and builds one himself? In this episode, Owen Keenan talks with Sebastian Masset, the creator of HECFlow, a Python-based automation tool for stormwater modelling in HEC-HMS.

They explore how Sebastian transitioned from spreadsheets to scripting, what role AI played in the process, and how any engineer can start bridging the gap between domain expertise and software.

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Engineering Tools

00:11 Meet Sebastian Masset: Civil Engineer and Innovator

02:21 Sebastian's Journey into Engineering

05:01 Challenges in Stormwater Management

07:27 The Rational Method and Modern Solutions

09:30 Sebastian's Software Journey

14:49 Building the Automation Tool

17:24 Technical Deep Dive into HECFlow

21:42 Experimenting with File Structures

22:13 Using AI as a Co-Pilot

23:32 Building and Automating HECFlow

25:50 Challenges and Learnings in Coding

32:16 The Future of AI in Engineering

39:13 Advice for Engineers on Building Tools

42:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on Spotify and YouTube to stay updated on new episodes.

Engineering Reality - The Power of Simulation & Digital Prototyping
with Derik Cloete, Senior Engineering Solutions Manager at LEAP Australia

What if simulation wasn’t just about reducing prototypes, but about expanding how we think as engineers?

In this episode of The Structural Intelligence Podcast, Owen Keenan is joined by Derik Cloete to explore the creative and technical frontier of simulation. From digital twins to fluid-structure interaction, from CFD and FEA to the flow of blood through a virtual heart, this is a conversation about how physics, curiosity, and compute are changing the way we model, design, and decide.

You’ll hear how Derik and his team at LEAP Australia use multiphysics tools to support sectors from mining and defence to biomedical and optics, and how simulation is helping engineers ask better questions before anything gets built.

🔍 Topics include:

• Why systems thinking is central to modern engineering

• How simulation enables virtual testing at scale

• The role of tools like CFD, DEM, and digital mission engineering

• The shift from gut-feel to data-driven design intuition

• What it means to “prototype reality”

📍 Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
00:57 Derek Cloete's Early Career and Passion for Engineering
03:28 Transition to a Soft Technical Role
04:23 Role at LEAP Australia and Customer Interactions
05:47 Exploring Simulation Technologies
06:32 Diving into Physics and Simulation Applications
10:48 Three-Letter Acronyms in Engineering
11:24 Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
14:04 Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) and Digital Mission Engineering (DME)
18:28 Electromagnetics and Real-World Applications
21:30 Simulation Technology Development and Industry Applications
23:07 Empirical Standards in Engineering
23:46 The Role of Communication in Engineering
24:03 Engineering Morality and Standards
26:07 Exploring Simulation in Engineering
28:50 Practical Applications of Simulation
34:21 Parameter Studies and Design Optimization
39:15 The Future of Simulation and AI
39:47 Building a Community of Engineers
45:16 Final Thoughts and Summary

🎧 Follow the podcast to get new episodes as they drop
👤 Connect with Derik Cloete: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derikcloete/
🏢 Learn more about LEAP Australia: https://www.leapaust.com.au

#simulation #digitalengineering #FEA #CFD #designoptimisation #engineeringmindset #virtualtesting #prototyping #systemsengineering #multiphysics

When you look at a building, you see walls, floors, and roofs. But what you don’t see is the silent choreography of forces keeping it all standing.

In this AI Short, we break down the concept of the load path the invisible route every force takes from roof to foundation. You’ll learn:

• Why load paths are essential for structural safety and resilience

• The difference between gravity and lateral loads

• How load paths play out in a timber house, a concrete high-rise, and a steel portal frame

• The role of modern software in optimizing designs in real time

Based on insights from ClearCalcs’ article on load transfer, this episode makes a fundamental engineering principle accessible and memorable whether you’re a student, designer, or site engineer.

In this episode, Owen Keenan sits down with Brooks Smith, Chartered Structural Engineer, open-source contributor, and Head of Engineering R&D at ClearCalcs.

Brooks shares his unconventional career journey, from testing software at Ansys to conducting forensic investigations at the Empire State Building, before moving into cold-formed steel design and engineering platform development. Together, they explore how the engineer’s toolkit is evolving, from spreadsheets and hand calcs to cloud-based systems, AI-driven workflows, and data-informed design standards.

Whether you’re a design engineer, software-savvy practitioner, or just curious about the future of engineering, this episode dives into the mindset and tools shaping our profession.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

Disclaimer: This episode was generated using AI, specifically NotebookLM, and is based entirely on the publicly available contents of CROSS Safety Report 1335. The dialogue you hear is fully AI-generated, no real people were involved in the voice or scripting. This format is an experimental tool designed to present technical safety insights in a more accessible, audio-first way for engineers, students, and construction professionals.

In this episode of Structural Intelligence, we explore the key lessons from CROSS Safety Report 1335, which investigates a serious incident involving the collapse of a precast concrete floor during an in-situ concrete pour.

While no serious injuries occurred, the event highlights critical safety and engineering insights about temporary works design, site supervision, and the importance of proper sequencing on construction sites.

We’re grateful to CROSS-AUS — the Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety initiative — for making this content publicly available. CROSS plays a vital role in sharing knowledge and improving safety outcomes across the built environment.

We encourage listeners to explore the full report and CROSS resources for deeper understanding:

👉 Original Report: Deficient design and oversight of temporary works leads to collapse – Report ID 1335
👉 Learn More about CROSS-AUS: https://www.cross-safety.org/aus

All credit to CROSS for their work in publishing this important information. This episode is a non-commercial reinterpretation designed to extend the reach of CROSS reports through an audio-first experience.

Can data‑driven design make mooring operations safer than the rule‑book ever imagined?
Senior Structural & Maritime Engineer Jordan Butler (WGA) explains how 20 terabytes of snapback simulations are rewriting global standards—and why engineers must look beyond compliance to manage real‑world risk.

Guest bio: Jordan chairs PIANC Working Group 251, leading the creation of international guidelines for snapback arresting systems. He combines hands‑on design with cutting‑edge computational modelling of mooring‑line failure at ports worldwide.

Episode guide
00:00 Intro – the hidden danger of snapback
01:28 How the “10° cone” became gospel
08:00 What is snapback analysis?
11:25 Conditions that trigger failure
14:17 Early guidance vs today’s standards
18:50 The Zagar incident (case study)
20:48 Building a 20 TB simulation pipeline
25:26 Site‑specific zoning vs blanket MEG‑4 rules
35:42 Engineering beyond the code
40:00 Key take‑aways

Links & resources
• Jordan on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbutlerengineering/
• Video: Dangers of Mooring Line Snapback – https://youtu.be/AHMdYf7XL14
• Demo: Snap Back Arrestor by TIMM Ropes – https://youtu.be/ULmn6tJO7Lk

Support the show
• Follow and rate us – it really helps new listeners find the podcast.
• Try VoiceInspect.ai (beta wait‑list) → voiceinspect.ai

Credits

Podcast Studio - https://www.instagram.com/nevverlandstudios/Editor - Austin Grader - https://nevverlandstudios.com/

In this premiere episode of Structural Intelligence, host Owen Keenan sits down with Brent Burgess, Senior Principal Technologist at WSP, to unpack the real-world role of automation in structural engineering.

Brent shares his experience working on the Swan River Pedestrian Bridges (Boorloo Bridges) in Perth — a complex project featuring curved geometry, angled piers, and cable-stay structures. He discusses how automation played a key role in solving design challenges and how custom scripting helped manage geometric complexity with precision.

💬 Other highlights from the episode:

• When automation adds value — and when it doesn’t

• Dealing with failure in coding (and the reward of persistence)

• Why documenting your scripts and workflows really matters

• Tips for engineers starting out with Revit, Dynamo, and Grasshopper

• The future of automation and AI in structural engineering

Whether you’re already deep in digital tools or just exploring what’s possible, this conversation delivers practical insights and honest stories from someone working at the edge of engineering innovation.

🎧 Subscribe now and join us on the journey toward smarter structures.