Welcome to Wired to Build, a data-driven, technology-focused podcast digging into how owners and operators use technology to manage the full life cycle of their projects.
In this Guest Intro episode, hosts Nick Caravella and Christy Hunt sit down with Itzik Malka, CEO and co-founder of 4M Analytics — a company on a mission to bring visibility to what’s always been invisible: the subsurface.
Itzik shares how his experience in landmine detection and humanitarian demining shaped his understanding of risk, uncertainty, and the value of having trusted information before taking action. That perspective laid the foundation for 4M’s audacious goal: to build the first-ever digital map of underground infrastructure.
Together, they unpack:
Why buried utilities are a universal problem — and a hidden opportunity
How subsurface data impacts safety, budgets, and timelines on every project
The difference between “as-designed” and “as-built” — and why that gap matters
Why trust, speed, and collaboration are the new currency of construction
What it really means to be Wired to Build in a fragmented industry
About our Guest
Itzik Malka is the CEO and co-founder of 4M Analytics, a technology company building the first nationwide subsurface infrastructure map — starting with the United States. A former Israeli Special Forces engineer, Itzik began his career in landmine detection before applying his expertise to civil engineering and post-conflict recovery. His passion for using data to reduce risk and improve decision-making led to the founding of 4M, which now partners with DOTs and public agencies across the U.S. to unlock visibility into what lies beneath our streets, highways, and cities.
🔑 Key Takeaways
What’s underground is no longer invisible: 4M Analytics is creating structured, searchable data where none existed before.
Construction is fragmented — trust is the glue: Speed, data access, and transparency drive better decisions and stronger partnerships.
Documentation ≠ reality: “As-builts” are often incomplete or inaccurate — digital tools need to fill the gap.
Utility data is infrastructure: Owners must treat utility information as a core input, not an afterthought.
Change starts with good enough: Waiting for perfection holds back innovation. Actionable insight, even if incomplete, is better than none.
Safety, schedule, and cost all depend on subsurface clarity: From project planning to incident prevention, underground visibility is foundational.