Built Different

From jungle drones to high-rise progress shots, Neil of Blue Water Drones shares his wild path into construction tech—and how he's redefining what it means to be a service provider in reality capture. We talk about contractors self-performing drone work, why documentation saves more than just time, and how marketing footage can also win lawsuits.

How does a 76-acre offshore wind project turn daily drone capture into business-critical infrastructure?
In this episode, we sit down with Kara Fragola and Louis Saccaro from Skanska to unpack how their team scaled a 7-pilot drone program without adding chaos. Learn how civil and building teams synced ops with top-down visuals, how 60+ staff rely on daily flights, and why DroneDeploy has become a safety and planning essential.

Live from the AGC National Convention, this episode of Build Different features Roy Malcom (DPR Construction) and Cheri Hanes (AXA XL) as we unpack why construction tech so often gets ignored – and how to change that. From aligning tools with real jobsite pain points to building buy-in across teams, this convo is packed with practical tips to make your tech actually stick.

Bombarded with demos and LinkedIn DMs? Felipe Serrano from Brasfield & Gorrie breaks down his field-tested process for evaluating construction tech without burning out. From vendor intake forms to cross-team buy-in, we unpack how to vet tools, prove ROI, and avoid tech fatigue—especially if you're flying solo without a dedicated R&D team. Real talk from the jobsite to the boardroom.

Construction tech pioneer Joe Williams joins the show to unpack why smaller, leaner teams are better positioned to reshape the industry. From launching Project Atlas to navigating a Bluebeam acquisition, Joe shares hard-earned lessons on product vision, AI, and why unified data beats a bloated tech stack every time. If you’re rethinking how to build smarter with less overhead – this one’s for you.

Contracts don’t care what you meant—they care what you documented. In this episode, construction attorney Stewart Shurtleff joins the crew to break down the legal risks hiding in your jobsite texts, emails, RFIs, and photos. We dive into where AI helps (and where it hurts), how reality capture is changing disputes, and why casual communication can cost you big.

Jan Ahner from Alvin H. Butz, Inc. isn’t your typical superintendent. In this episode, we unpack how a boots-on-the-ground builder is driving tech adoption on his own terms — from early drone deployments to site-wide digital workflows. If you think innovation only comes top-down, this conversation will change your mind.

In this episode, drone consultant Ted shares how he turned hands-on field work into viral content and real industry impact—breaking down what actually works in reality capture, both on the jobsite and online.

The crew breaks down the ultimate project bracket – pitting execution tools, data strategies and industry workflows head-to-head. From drones vs. laser scanning to the battle between Precon and Financial Control, tune in for a no-holds-barred debate on what truly moves the needle in construction.

Big changes on Build Different! We’re switching up the lineup and bringing in a new voice. Tune in as we introduce our new host, dive into his journey through construction and tech, and talk about what’s next for the show.

In this episode, we dive into stadium construction trends, the rise of FPV drone footage, and must-have tech tools – Meta Smart Glasses, DJI Osmo cameras, and more. We also break down top insights from the ASC competition and reveal how industry events are shaping the next wave of construction talent and innovation.