Dr Jennifer Schooling features in the latest series of the Beyond BIM podcast discussing systems thinking, the CSIC and Centre for Digital Built Britain paper ‘Flourishing Systems’, changing the way the infrastructure and construction industry views data and the limitations of current economic models.
In the latest episode’s lively and interesting discussion, Dr Schooling, Director of CSIC, explains the benefits of systems thinking and the interdependent nature of infrastructure, the importance of data as an engineering tool to tackle key challenges facing the infrastructure and construction industry – including climate change, resource constraint and resilience – and the limitations of our current economic paradigm founded on exploitation of resources.
There is fundamental and inherent need to change the economic models we use. People are really getting their heads around the idea that humans only flourish if nature flourishes. We are entirely dependent on nature for the air that we breathe and the water we drink – we are part of that natural ecosystem and can’t see ourselves as separate from it. Dr Jennifer Schooling
“There is fundamental and inherent need to change the economic models we use. People are really getting their heads around the idea that humans only flourish if nature flourishes. We are entirely dependent on nature for the air that we breathe and the water we drink – we are part of that natural ecosystem and can’t see ourselves as separate from it.”
Considering what is important in trying to secure change and impact industry, Dr Schooling said: “Do something you are passionate about because that passion will keep you going. Find other people who are trying to make the same change and believe that change is possible. Explain the logic behind it and people will listen.”
The Beyond BIM podcast series was launched in 2019 by Dr Erika Parn, currently a Research Associate at the Institute for Manufacturing and Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) at the University of Cambridge, and podcast colleagues Lora Dimitrova and Peter Rugjev. BeyondBIM prodvides a platform for academics and practitioners to come together and chat about all things technological and theoretical that are informing discussion within the AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operation) sector on technology beyond BIM. To date episodes have covered emerging technologies such as AI, computer vision, photogrammetry, blockchain, robotics and innovation theories.
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