Ronan Collins, a pioneer in digital engineering and BIM, shares his journey in the construction industry and the challenges he has faced. He grew up in a family of builders and was exposed to CAD at a young age. He joined Arup’s in 1996 and witnessed the rapid changes in technology. In 2003, he started his own company in Hong Kong, focusing on technology solutions for engineers and contractors. Ronan emphasizes the importance of understanding the value of technology and the need for proper training and education in the industry. Ronan shares his personal mistakes and lessons learned in the construction industry, including the importance of not getting too big too fast and the need to set up the right infrastructure before taking on international projects. He also discusses the future of the industry, highlighting the impact of cloud technology, remote working, offshore business models, reality capture, and data analytics. Ronan emphasizes the need for contractors and consultants to focus on solving specific problems and adding value to their projects, rather than chasing after shiny new technologies.
