Building Information Modeling (BIM) has gained increased adoption in the built sector globally in recent years. While there has been a lot of awareness about BIM across Africa recently, a lot of SMEs still find it hard to kickstart their BIM journey. They have attributed their poor implementation to so many barriers.

In this edition of Africa's Story Podcast Series by Blaze Inc., we explored some practical steps that SMEs can take to kickstart their BIM journey. Our guest for this edition is Kaouthar JEDDA, founder and CEO of BIM Tunisia.

Some of the issues we addressed are:
- How an SME can define its BIM Goals.
- How an SME can navigate the cost challenges associated with BIM.
- Some templates and standards to put in place for optimal BIM implementation by SMEs.
- Approaches to address the low level of BIM expertise in African SMEs.

Here is the full video conversation with interactive Q&A: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=bim-implementation-for-smes

Host: Onyema Udeze

According to the 2021 Industry Report on Digitalisation of Design and Construction of Class 2 Buildings in New South Wales, close to 40% of the interviewed firms, on average, invest less than 1% of their annual turnover on R&D activities.

In this edition of the Blaze Inc. Connected Construction Podcast Series, we discussed "Why We Need More R&D in the Building Construction Industry". The guest for this episode is Dr Zulfikar Adamu - an Associate Professor of Strategic IT in Construction at London Southbank University.

Some of the issues we discussed include:
- Why there is currently a low level of R&D in the built sector.
- How to build a strong R&D culture in a typical AEC Firm.
- Some emerging trends that are worth investing research money on in the built sector.
- How to create a link between Academic and Industry research in the Built Sector.

Here is the full video conversation with interactive Q&A: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=more-r-and-d-built-sector

Host: Onyema Udeze

Oftentimes as Architects, we get too carried away with the technical side of the training and profession. But it takes a business mindset and discipline to create and run a successful practice that can outlast the founders.

This episode of Africa's Story Podcast Series by Blaze Inc., explored the business side of Architectural practice with Arc. Oludolapo Ojelabi.

Some of the issues addressed are:
- Lessons we can learn from the IT sector in creating scalable business in the built sector.
- Strategies to create intergenerational Architectural Practices.
- Ways to integrate business training right from the tertiary institutions in the profession, etc.

Here is the full video conversation with interactive Q&A: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=built-sector-businesses

Host: Onyema Udeze

Tech Infiltration into the built sector has been on the increase for the past few decades. However, a lot of the tech buzz seems to revolve around the design and delivery of built assets.

For Developers, Real Estate/Facility Managers, their interests lie more on the final outcome - the properties. This has brought about a fast-rising sect known as PropTech.

- But what exactly is PropTech?
- How can PropTech reduce the Operational expenditure of built assets?
- How can PropTech enhance user experience in our facilities?
- What are the popular PropTech solutions in Africa?

These are some of the questions we addressed in this episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc.

Our guest for this edition is Ife Makinde, a member of PropTech Nigeria.

Here is the full video conversation with interactive Q&A: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=the-rise-of-proptech

Host: Onyema Udeze

This episode of Africa's Story Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. features an interview with Asmau Edes' Ikhuoria to throw some light on some of the similarities and differences between Architecture and Construction practices in Nigeria and the USA.

Edes is an emerging Architect and Assistant Project Manager practising in Texas, USA. She holds a BSc. and MSc. in Architecture from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria, and Masters in Construction Management from the University of Houston, TX. With about four and a half years of professional practice in Architecture and Construction in the USA, working in Design-Build Architectural, Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Engineering designs and project management, she has some experience with some International Building Code (IBC) editions and the path to architecture licensure in the USA.

1. As a young professional in the field of Architecture, with experience in both Nigeria and the US, we started by exploring the difference in her experience in both contexts.
2. From the comparison, we explored the role that the Higher Education Institutions and the professional bodies in Nigeria can play in supporting young professionals to become registered members of the profession.
3. We also explored the role that the membership and regulatory bodies can play to make the practice more inviting to the young ones, to mitigate the apparent drain of young creative talents from the profession in the coming years.
4. We also discussed the path to licensure in the USA, for someone with a foreign degree.

Here is the full video conversation with interactive Q&A: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=architecture-nigeria-usa

Host: Onyema Udeze

This episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. features an interview with Arc. Peter Odoh - a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

1. He started by explaining Design Autonomy and how we are beginning to lose it in the built sector?
2. After that, we defined what Smart Buildings can be and the role of Big Tech and IoT in Smart Buildings?
3. After that, we discussed the negative impacts of Green Tech on Design Autonomy in the built sector?
4. Then we discussed the way forward to curtail the negative impacts of green tech on Design Autonomy without losing the promising advantages of green tech?
5. Also, we discussed the role of the tertiary institutions in preparing the students for the massive Digital Disruptions in the built sector?

Here is the full video conversation with interactive Q&A: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=big-data-dangers

Host: Onyema Udeze

This episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. features an interview with Engr. Alonge Olusola, a Civil Infrastructure Engineer, BIM Expert, a Civil 3D and Autodesk Infraworks Trainer, and a Drone Pilot.

1. He started by explaining what exactly Drone Technology is and the various types of Drone Technology - in contrast to other similar trends in the built sector. Such as Photogrammetry, Laser Scanning, Scan-to-BIM, etc.
   
2. After that, he elaborated on the common applications of Drone Technology in the built sector, spanning the life cycle of a built asset - through Pre-design, Planning, and Design, Delivery, and Maintenance.
   
3. He also explained how Drone Technology complements BIM and GIS technologies, from an Infrastructure viewpoint.
   
4. After that, he deep-dived into the Untapped Opportunities of Drone Technology in the African built sector. What makes the technology a great fit for the African built sector.
   
5. From his rich experience in the industry, he highlighted the common challenges of Drone Technology in the African built sector, using himself and Nigeria as a case study.

Here is the full video conversation with interactive Q&A: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=drone-technology-in-construction

Host: Onyema Udeze

This episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. features an interview with Victoria Ikede, who was a BIM and Assistant Quality Manager at ATO Architects. She's also a Product, Web, and Process Designer. She was also a postgraduate teaching assistant at the University of Sheffield School of Architecture, UK. Currently, she is an Erasmus Scholar at BIM A+.

1. We started by addressing the reason for the topic: "So You Can Render, Now What?"
   
2. After that, Victoria gave us some insights into what drew her to technology.
   
3. She also gave some insights on why so many young professionals are fascinated by using software and learning to render?
   
4. Working as a BIM Manager in a considerably large Architecture firm, she gave some insights on the place of software proficiency in the workplace?
   
5. We also discussed some other aspects of the Architecture profession that younger professionals should learn to pay more attention to as they navigate their growth in the industry.
   
6. Victoria also shed some light on the long-term impacts and dangers of young professionals being too software-focused.
   
7. She also explained how she manages her visualisation tasks, being one of those tasks every Architect faces from time to time.
   
8. Before we rounded up, we played a fun game: deciding which of these trends are either overrated or underrated and why:
   

• Hand sketching
• Rendering
• Knowledge of Construction
• BIM
• Smart Buildings
• Sustainability
• 3D Printing
• Coding
• Photoshop
• VR
• Animation

Here is the full video conversation with interactive Q&A: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=so-you-can-render-now-what

Host: Onyema Udeze

The year is 2050, and the world is wholly connected with Web3.0 - while Web4.0 is making its entry. Blockchain applications have permeated every industry.

Great News: the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry has been disrupted at a level never seen before.  How did it happen?

This tell-tale episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. is a story from the year 2050 about a Native Integrated Company in the built sector and how it consolidated the value chain of housing delivery. 

The podcast argues that the beautiful empires of the built sector are not yet born, judging by sister industries. It argues that these will be companies that can connect the value chain of built assets end-to-end. This can be achieved through a smart combination of Integration and Modularisation.

Here is the written version of the podcast: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=the-year-is-2050-and-the-built-sector-is-finally-transformed-like-never-before

To learn more about the host, visit https://onyema.me

According to the 2021 Industry Report on Digitalisation of Design and Construction of Class 2 Buildings in New South Wales, close to 40% of the interviewed firms, on average, invest less than 1% of their annual turnover on R&D activities.

This episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. explores some critical reasons why we need more R&D in AEC firms.

While many research works are ongoing in academic and research institutions across the globe, the podcast focuses on R&D activities within business corporations in the built sector.

Some of the reasons outlined in the podcast include:

- Less Reliance on Other Sectors

- Better Products and Services to End-users

- Increased Efficiency and Productivity

- Profitability and Business Bottomline

- Industry Attractiveness - Talents and Investments 

The podcast also explores the role of structured training within AEC firms, which is currently low.

Lastly, the podcast seeks the various ways we can bridge Academic and Industry research projects in the built sector.

Here is the full video conversation: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=more-r-and-d-built-sector

Host: Onyema Udeze

According to NBS, BIM is a process for creating and managing information on a construction project throughout its life cycle. As part of this process, a coordinated digital description of every aspect of the built asset is developed, using a set of appropriate technology. This digital description likely includes a combination of information-rich 3D models and associated structured data such as product, execution and handover information.

A lot of firms in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction sector approach BIM implementation as a necessity.

- A necessity to abide by government policies, if there are policies in place.

- A necessity to look good to clients and win new projects.

- A necessity to look good to the other stakeholders in the industry, etc.

- But how about the necessity to "remove tobacco products from their stores" for good, as is the case with leading firms in sister industries? 

- How expensive is BIM?

- What is the Price of not embracing BIM by a firm?

- What is the Opportunity Cost of BIM?

These are some of the issues explored in this episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc.

Here is the full video conversation: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=how-expensive-is-bim

Host: Onyema Udeze

According to The Farmer Review of the UK Construction labour model 2016, there will be a 25% reduction in labour in the built sector by 2025.

A good part of the skilled workforce in the built sector is fed up with the geriatric processes bedevilling the industry.

Gamification is a promising tool/process that could play an important role in making the industry more attractive to young, creative talents and the labour market generally - through immersive, engaging, and task-based experiences 

This episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. explores the various ways that Gamification can be applied to various aspects of the built sector value chain.

It also highlighted some current limitations of gamification in the Built Sector, while projecting what the future of gamification might look like in the built sector.

Here is the written version of the podcast: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=gamification-of-the-built-sector

To learn more about the host, visit https://onyema.me

This episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. uncovered some of the underlying reasons why the built sector has failed to produce leading global conglomerates, despite being one of the oldest and largest industries on earth.

Some of the identified reasons are:

- Lack of vertical integration at the company level,

- Lack of vertical integration at the product level (built assets),

- Lack of Digitisation,

- The Education System,

- Leadership, etc.

Here is the full video conversation: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=built-sector-businesses

Host: Onyema Udeze

PropTech is a collective term used to define startups offering technologically innovative products or new business models for the real estate markets.

But it seems like most PropTech solutions today are more property-centric than user-centric - designed for developers, investors, and property management companies.

This episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. posits that to produce the level of disruption seen in sister industries in the past few decades, PropTech requires a ground-up approach that integrates the three main branches of the real estate industry: property development, sales, and management.  This requires the active participation of professionals in the built sector and is not a speciality for Data Analysts and IT Experts.

Here is the full video conversation: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=the-rise-of-proptech

Host: Onyema Udeze

Design is a creative endeavour that taps into the innate expressive capabilities of Designers.

As Architects and Designers, we shape the world around us through designs.

When you visit any part of the world, one of the things that stick to memory the most is the Architectural/Engineering edifices that complement the natural elements.

As creatives, our designs are often limited to our experience, exposure, and our natural talents. But the world around us is changing rapidly. These changes pose new challenges to designers.

The more complex our design problems become, the more we need new tools and technologies to manage the complexities, to deliver more innovative solutions to the world. 

Beyond the creative aspects of design are so many mundane/repetitive tasks, such as Project Documentation, Detailing, and Annotation tasks.

In recent years, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought up new ways to iterate the design process, leveraging technology. 

Instead of just simplifying common tasks, algorithms can now figure out how to solve complex problems on their own. 

This episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. explores certain levels of Design Automation, various Tools for Computational and Generative Design, and the role of BIM in all of this.

Here is the full video conversation: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=design-automation

Host: Onyema Udeze

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is increasingly gaining global acceptance/adoption in the past few years.

BIM Adoption in Africa, however, has been facing a lot of Barriers. There are also some Drivers that can accelerate BIM Implementation across Africa.

As a professional in the built sector in/from Africa, do you have a sound understanding of BIM?

Are you an adopter or a non-adopter of BIM?

In this episode of The Blaze Africa's Story Podcast Series by Blaze Inc., I interviewed Mansur Hamma-Adama (B. Eng., MSc., PhD) on the topic: Barriers and Drivers Towards BIM Adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Here is the full video conversation with interactive Q&A: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=bim-in-ssa

Host: Onyema Udeze

Africa, with its expansive landscapes and formidable animal life, the world's second-largest continent, is filled with natural features, historical landmarks, religious monuments, archaeological sites, parks, etc. 

Coming down to the built sectors, one of the most discussed trends - both in Academia and Industry today - is Building Information Modelling (BIM). 

BIM is becoming adopted and even mandated globally.

How about in Africa? 

This episode of Africa's Story Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. traces the journey of BIM so far in Africa, referencing two major works: The African BIM Report 2020 by BIM Africa and a research paper by Mansur Hamma-Adama (B. Eng., MSc., PhD).

Here is the written version of the podcast: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=bim-in-ssa

To learn more about the host, visit https://onyema.me

Technologies are mostly solutions to human problems.

Big-Data-Centric solutions are increasingly addressing age-long problems in the built sector in recent years.

Do you think this will pose a threat to both professionals in the built sector and the end-users (privacy-wise)?

This episode of The Blaze Connected Construction Podcast Series by Blaze Inc. explores the impacts of the infiltration of IT tech giants into the built sector - with emphasis on residential building solutions.

Such popular solutions as Google Home, Apple Home Kit, Amazon Smart Home System, etc.

Here is the full video conversation: https://www.blazemy.com/pages/blog?p=big-data-dangers

To learn more about the host, visit https://onyema.me

BIM means a multitude of things to a myriad of stakeholders, companies, and geographical locations, based on multiple factors... 

This edition of the Blaze Connected Construction Podcast by Blaze Inc. explores the important role of cloud-based tools in this Era of Connected Construction - using Autodesk Construction Cloud as a reference.

Here is the full video conversation: https://courses.blazeinc.net/pages/blog?p=what-does-bim-mean-to-you

To learn more about the host, visit https://onyema.me

This episode of the podcast features an exploration by Onyema Udeze - the current host of the podcast. He is a co-founder of Blaze Inc. He is the author of the book, Essentials of Smart Building Technology, which is available on all popular e-book platforms. He is an Instructor at Linkedin Learning and a founding director of BIM Africa Initiative...

• He started by establishing that such sister industries like the Automobile, Telecom, and Aviation sectors focus more on the end-user experience with their products than on the process that produces the products/services.
• He went ahead to establish the important role that BIM currently plays in the built sector.
• After that, he established that Digital Twin is the point of intersection between BIM and Smart Buildings.
• He went ahead to explain what Smart Buildings are and the components they are comprised of.
• Finally, by comparing the industry with sister industries, he established that we already have the infrastructure to make Digital Twins a reality - thus, delivering truly Smart Buildings.

Here is the written version of the podcast: https://courses.blazeinc.net/pages/blog?p=bim-smart-buildings

To learn more about the host, visit https://onyema.me