Speaker Interview: Paul Doherty
About Paul Doherty:
Paul is Chairman and CEO of TDG (the digit group www.thedigitgroupinc.com), a globally renowned and award-winning architect who is one of the world’s most sought after thought leaders, strategists and integrators of process, technology and business. As seen on Bloomberg TV, acknowledged by CNBC as one of America’s Business Titans and reported by Forbes as “Changing the World”, Paul is a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council and a Fellow of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). Paul’s current work is as Chairman of TDG Global Ventures, a Smart City real estate development company that provides financing, design-build and innovative technology solutions around the world. Concurrently, Paul is the co-founder and producer of the critically acclaimed AEC Hackathon (www.aechackathon.com) that launched at Facebook Headquarters. His past successful ventures include Revit Technologies (Sold to Autodesk 2002), Buzzsaw (Autodesk 2001) and TRIRIGA (IBM 2011).
Interview:
Q: Why is now such an important time in the deployment of intelligent infrastructure in the US
A: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed by the US Congress in November of 2021 provides the US Construction Industry with unprecedented opportunities to plan, design, construct and deliver next generation projects that are funded and allocated at the local geographic level. The key to success for this industry’s generation is to figure out the proper path to unlock this potential and pathways to success.
Q: You have participated in US trade missions promoting digital infrastructure expertise globally, and have worked in this space all around the world. What kinds of examples can you point to that should inspire innovators in the US as we seek to regenerate our infrastructure?
A: Implementation of innovations are never a straight line process, but rather a recognition of innovation development timelines meeting global market need. We have numerous examples that either had US innovations ready for deployment, but the market was not ready or US Innovations were in process of maturing when the global market need was not interested. The Intelligent Infrastructure event in Auston, Texas is positioned to be a watershed moment in time that will assist both innovators and markets in better understanding the market needs of the practical planning and implementation of Digital Twins, one of the hottest digital asset deliverables in the world today.
Q: What specifically are the opportunities that intelligent infrastructure opens up with Digital Twins?
A: Digital Twins have been available and around for decades. In the Manufacturing Industry, digital twin technologies have provided simulations for process improvement for decades. The introduction of digital twins as a Level 1 of Engagement is where the industry will enter its relationship with digital twins. Digital Twins as a Level 1 provides a mirror image in a 3D environment with real world functionality to provide a level of familiarity with the end user. As levels mature, different levels of engagement will offer opportunities for end users that offer freedom of physics (Gravity), Tele-porting to different digital spaces, etc.
Q: What are you looking forward to at the Intelligent Infrastructure event in Austin on April 28th & 29th.
A: I am looking forward to interacting with the attendees as being in-person provides a more intimate experience than an online presentation. There is so much pent up demand for human interaction and socialization that I feel that the Intelligent Infrastructure event in Austin is positioned to be a milestone event for our industry.
