October 2021 - One Year of Dlubal Podcast: Digital and Innovative Trends in Civil Engineering

A year ago, we published the first episode of our "Dlubal Podcast: Digital and Innovative Trends in Civil Engineering". Since then, a new episode has appeared every two weeks. In this blog post, we look back on a year of Dlubal Podcast with exciting topics and interesting guests from all fields.

How would you explain this format to a person who knows nothing about podcasts?

It is a digital audio file, usually consisting of a series. The term is composed of the words pod and broadcast. Pod means "play on demand". For a broadcast, a person sends a message to all other participants from one point, similarly to a radio broadcast. However, interested parties can listen to them at any time. In 2000, Tristan Louis invented the concept. Dave Winer was the first to realize the idea. Until 2017, only a few people used this medium, but according to our podcast host, Podigee, around 10 million people in Germany now listen to this format, 4 million of them on a daily basis. It is mainly young people who are enthusiastic about podcasts.

The pandemic is also attracting even more listeners. The development is far from over. The number of listeners will certainly continue to grow in the future. Thus, they remain exciting.

It is difficult to say how many different podcasts exist, but experts estimate an approximate number of two million different formats worldwide. The topics are diverse. From science and history to sports and culture to entertainment and technical matters, interested people can find everything. The most popular podcast platforms include Spotify, Deezer, Apple, Google Podcast, and YouTube.

We have great enthusiasm for podcasts. They are always available. As in the case of an audio book, you can do something else at the same time; for example, cleaning or driving a car. The episodes are not long, so you do not get lost easily. You can also learn something. Listeners of all ages are interested in technical podcasts that cover a wide variety of topics.

In the German-speaking area, there are only a few formats on civil engineering. We took this as an opportunity to start a new podcast series – also for listerners outside the construction field. Our goal is to inform and to think outside the box. We want to provide information about future development, discuss digitization, and deal with formative events in the past.

First, let's start with a review. As of this writing, we have released 26 episodes. That is a total of 906 spoken minutes, or about 15 hours. Furthermore, 13 guests from various sectors have supported us. You can catch the episodes anytime on Spotify, Deezer, YouTube, Google Podcast, and Apple.

• In our first episode, we talk about "BIM in Structural Design". We explain what Building Information Modeling actually is. Although there are still some hurdles, we show the opportunities and possibilities BIM offers in structural design (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000001).

• The second episode deals with the topic of "3D Models in Structural Engineering". We clarify whether 3D models really have an advantage or are only a trend (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000002).

• In 1995, over 500 people died in the collapse of the Seoul shopping center. 900 were injured. A single mistake does not lead to such a catastrophe: It is an unprecedented chain of many small defects (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000003).

• In "Digital Trends in Structural Planning", we provide information about the future of BIM. What all is possible? (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000004).

• In Episode 5, we look at the events in Bad Reichenhall in 2006. Fifteen people died when the roof of the ice rink collapsed (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000005).

• The BIM workflow is important for data exchange and interfaces. The goal is openness and consistency. Data can be transferred from one project to another via direct interfaces or IFC (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000007).

• In Episode 8, we discuss the most famous event with regard to statics and dynamics. The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (available at: https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000008).

• How structural engineering benefits from BIM, we clarify in our ninth episode (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000009).

• Civil engineers have responsibilities regarding earthquakes. The number of deaths caused by this natural event shows that earthquake-resistant construction has a high value (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000010).

• Events in recent months and years show that floods and inundations are not rare at all: In fact, this is the most common natural disaster in the world. That's why we are talking about this natural event here (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000011).

• In 2000, a bad accident occurred in the Kitzsteinhorn/Maiskogel-Kaprun ski area. The reason is, again, a chain of mistakes. However, those responsible are not civil engineers (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000012).

• Germany has a good reputation in terms of construction. However, some failed construction projects have made Germany famous all over the world. Berlin Airport is the largest infrastructure project in Germany, known for its nine-year delay in commissioning (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000013).

• The construction industry is not known for its sustainable progress. However, there are more and more alternatives to conventional products and approaches. Road construction has been recycling for years. We discuss this in the 14th episode (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000014).

• In our 15th episode, we interviewed our guests for the first time. Philip and Michael Kalkbrenner are the founders of the "Construction Site" podcast. We exchange ideas with them about digitization and the future of construction (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000015).

• With Dr. Michael Kraus, we discuss artificial intelligence (AI) in construction. Is it the future or wishful thinking? (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000016).

• The current timber prices make you think. Is timber the building material of the future? We talk to civil engineer Vadim Rabinovic about this (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000017).

• The 18th episode is our first English, and thus international, episode. The architect Junghwo Park gives us an insight into parametric design (available at https://www.dlubal.com/en-US/education/infotainment/podcasts/000018).

• We talk to lecturer and professor Mathias Obergrießer about the future of BIM (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000019).

• Start-ups in construction are a rarity. In his podcast, Moritz Lönhoff interviews build-up companies for start-ups in the construction industry. He talks to us about his experience and guests (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000020).

• Maria Obermeier relies on digitization in her company. She tells us how construction machine rental and new technology can be combined (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000021).

• "Brückenbau beginnt im Kopf" ("Building Bridges Begins in the Head") – this is the book by Moritz Menge. He tells us about the opportunities and prospects, but also about the serenity of being an engineer (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000022).

• Women in construction are still a rarity. Susann Herbig deals with the current figures and the situation in the construction industry (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000023).

• BIM not only helps in structural engineering, but in all areas of construction. Daniel Alexander Oehler explains the world of Building Information Modeling in water management (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000024).

• Can concrete be sustainable? We discuss this question with Simone Stürwald. The lecturer in Zurich gives us an insight into the exciting topic of sustainability in the cement industry and in the construction industry in general (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000025).

• A qualifier revolutionizes the quality assurance of BIM projects. The automated model check with individual instructions for troubleshooting guarantees a reliable result. Julian Amann explains the spelling program for BIM (available at https://www.dlubal.com/de/bildung/infotainment/podcasts/000026).

Also, we always learn something new in our research. The numerous guests enriched every episode. In spite of our preparation, it is something different when a subject is explained by an expert. I was actually particularly inspired by one of our latest episodes on sustainability in construction. It is clear that the cement industry is not exactly making a positive contribution to climate change. However, I was unaware of the innovative and ingenious alternatives that already exist. I am also enthusiastic about how much some industry members have already tried to implement. This gives us the hope that the construction industry will also be ready to rethink in the long run.

The question now is, where our journey should go and what our future plans are. Disasters are very interesting to most. To make matters worse, there are still many that we have not yet discussed. For this reason, we will deal with them again, but we will also be able to welcome numerous other guests to our podcast.

Finally, we always appreciate feedback from all of our listeners. You are also welcome to write to us about topics that particularly interest you. We are open to all suggestions.