How AECOM is Revolutionizing Reality Capture

Welcome to season 3 of the Confluence podcast! In this episode, AECOM’s Matthew Anderle joins Randall Stevens and Evan Troxel to break down how AECOM is pushing reality capture forward with custom-built robotics—rovers for “old dirty basements,” pipe crawlers for long culverts, and aquatic platforms for below-water inspections. They discuss layering environmental sensing on top of LiDAR point clouds, why digital twins must be operational (not just “great existing conditions models”), and what it means to help deliver LA28 as the first Olympics delivered in BIM.This episode is a tour through AECOM’s “mobile autonomous reality capture” toolkit, purpose built to extend scanning into places people can’t (or shouldn’t) go.They discuss:Why AECOM built a robotics program for reality capture: safety, access, and repeatability in harsh/confined environments“Sensorium” point clouds: humidity, temperature, air quality/particulates, and other context layered onto spatial dataHardware + workflow highlights: wireless FPV, safety tethers, modular payloads, off-the-shelf tool batteries, and custom electronicsThe “fiducial arm” problem: how to create registration targets inside smooth pipes so 500’ scans actually alignMakerspaces, trains, and hands-on fabrication as a pipeline for future STEM + AEC careersLA 2028: transforming ~60 venues on an immovable deadline, and what it means to run the program’s common data environmentLinks from the episodeAECOM: https://aecom.com/Matt Enderle on LinkedInLA28: https://la28.org/Digital twin (overview): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_twin-----The Confluence podcast is a collaboration between TRXL and AVAIL, and is produced by TRXL Media.Learn more about them at https://trxl.co/media and https://getavail.comLearn more about the Confluence podcast at https://confluence.getavail.com/podcastLearn about the Confluence events at https://confluence.getavail.com