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.