The Digital Exchange - AECO Insights for Owners with Robert Brown

Implementing a digital twin platform is where strategy becomes reality. Choosing the right system is only the beginning. The real challenge is integrating it into existing workflows, preparing data, aligning teams, and building a sustainable governance model that keeps the twin accurate and valuable over time. In this episode, we are joined by Ian Siegel, [insert title] as we explore what it takes to implement a digital twin platform successfully, from data readiness and system integration to change management, adoption, and long-term stewardship. Whether you are starting your first pilot or scaling across an entire portfolio, this conversation brings clarity to the path from vision to execution.#thedigitalexchange #AECO #DigitalTwin #Implementation

Every owner wants consistency, quality, and usable data, but without clear standards and real enforcement, those goals fall apart quickly. This episode joined by Dr. Johnny Fortune to break down the purpose behind owner standards, the risks of ignoring them, and the practical steps organizations can take to make standards real on every project. If you’ve ever struggled with compliance, contractor alignment, or long‑term data stewardship, this conversation brings clarity.Contact Johnny https://www.aecodigitech.com/Catch up on AECO Tech Talk https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM3Qh4rTuqTIXS030DfLkrA#TheDigitalExchange #AECO #Standarization #AECOTechTalk

Digital twins are becoming essential for owners who need real time visibility, better asset performance, and a source of truth across planning, design, construction, and operations. But choosing the right platform is one of the most consequential and misunderstood decisions an organization can make. In this episode with Digital Twin Expert, Jacob D'Albora, we unpack what separates a true digital twin from a 3D model, the criteria owners should evaluate, and the pitfalls that lead to digital regret. From interoperability and governance to scalability and vendor lock in, we explore how to make a platform choice that delivers value today and resilience for the future.#TheDigitalExchange #AECO #DigitalTwin #DigitalDelivery

Today, we bring together three friends from Odessa Permian’s legendary Class of ’89. A team and a moment commemorated by Friday Night Lights. Decades later, they return not as athletes under the stadium lights, but as leaders shaped by the discipline, pressure, and brotherhood of those years. This episode explores how their shared past forged their leadership, how they’ve carried West Texas grit into the boardroom, and what it means to reconnect after a lifetime of growth, change, and hard‑earned perspective.The content in this video is used under fair use. All rights to the content, including images, music, and video clips, are reserved by their respective copyright holders. If you believe any content in this video infringes your copyright, please contact us directly.#thedigitalexchange #OdessaPermian #PermianPanthers #FridayNightLightshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRdiLV56Btk&t=237shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-OSW7cmBRc&t=35shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5fU1T_1SSohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kQKad5g8hk&t=5650s

In this episode, we will discuss how drones have becomeessential to modern construction oversight. But high‑qualitydata only matters if it’s captured safely and compliantly. Robert is joined by Breanna Brown, UAS Drone Pilot, to breakdown what it truly takes to operate in controlled airspace, why disciplined workflows matter, and how consistent aerial data gives owners the visibility they need to make confident decisions. From airside to landside, we unpack the realities behind safe, repeatable, high-value drone operations.

In this episode of The Digital Exchange, Robert talkswith Michael LaFontaine about the past, present, and future of survey. From traditional methods to modern reality capture, we break down how surveying shapes every project and why its evolution matters for owners, designers, and builders alike. They dig into how tools, expectations, and workflows have changed and what those shifts mean for accuracy, collaboration, and digital delivery across AECO.

On this episode of The Digital Exchange, Robert sits down with Mark Mergenschroer to talk about the messy, misunderstood world of asset data and why protecting the owner’s digital truth matters more than ever. From early requirements to final turnover, this episode breaks down what works, what doesn’t, and how owners can finally get the information they need.Mark Mergenschroer is an owner advocate and digital lifecycle steward with nearly 30 years of experience across design, construction, and operations in the built environment—most deeply in aviation. He is the Founder and Chief Digital Truth Officer of the AeroSteward Guardian Group, a pro bono, owner-first advisory collective dedicated to protecting the digital and operational truth of airports. Mark helps owners uncover data gaps, lifecycle risks, and handover failures before they reach operations. Through governance, lifecycle standards, and connected digital workflows, he bridges capital delivery and operations—so every asset is born with a future, not a data problem.#TheDigitalExchange #AECO #Assets #DigitalTruth

Owners often set the tone for digital delivery, but contractors live the reality. In this episode, Robert is joined by Alex Belkofer to dive into one of the most important and most misunderstood dynamics in construction: the contractor to owner relationship. They break down the disconnects, expectations, and opportunities between the field and the owner, exploring why tech adoption succeeds or stalls, how contract language shapes behavior, and which tools are actually making an impact on real projects. They also look ahead at what the next decade of construction technology will demand from both sides. This is a candid, practical conversation about how owners can lead smarter, more aligned teams.If you enjoyed this conversation and you're ready for tech-driven innovation, AECTechCon™ is back! May 6-7 at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Missouri. This two-day event is dedicated to AEC clients, practitioners, and partners using technology to transform the construction industry. Visit https://agcmo.org/aectc to join us there!#TheDigitalExchange #AECTechCon #DesignTech #ConstructionTech #AECInnovation #AGCMO

With 30+ years in the AECO industry, I want to introduce myself. Who I am, why I’m doing this podcast, and why construction technology needs a different kind of conversation. One grounded in the owner’s perspective.