CAD to GIS to Digital Twins: The Evolution of Transportation Mapping | Brad Adams

Join Matthew Byrd for an incredible conversation with Brad Adams, Senior Vice President of Transportation at Sanborn Geospatial, as he shares his remarkable journey from lifeguard to laser scanning pioneer. Brad was there when some of the first CAD systems arrived at TxDOT and owned laser scanner #24 in the world back in 2003!key Topics Covered:- Early CAD Implementation - Being on the ground floor of digital transformation in transportation engineering- LiDAR Pioneer Stories - From Project Pegasus in Dallas to building the industry from scratch- Technology Adoption Challenges- Why some brilliant professionals still haven't seen a point cloud- Innovation Philosophy - "Yeah, we can do that" mentality and figuring it out as you go- Data Integration Future - Building the digital conduit for transportation safety- Public Speaking & Leadership - Essential skills for advancing geospatial technology- Industry Evolution - From assumed coordinate systems to real-world integrationGuest Bio: Brad Adams is Senior Vice President of Transportation at Sanborn Geospatial, where he blends aerial mapping, LiDAR, GIS consulting, and content programs into comprehensive transportation solutions. With over 20 years in geospatial technology, Brad has been instrumental in digital transformation across major DOT projects and was a key figure in early laser scanning adoption.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction2:30 From lifeguard to construction to engineering8:15 Early CAD implementation at TxDOT12:45 Getting into laser scanning at Bohan18:30 Project Pegasus and proving LiDAR25:20 Technology adoption challenges32:10 Innovation and "figuring it out"40:15 Data integration and metadata48:30 Future vision for transportation safety52:45 Leadership principles and teamwork58:20 Advice for young professionals