What happens when you get two passionate voices in AEC and geospatial innovation together to talk about the future of our industry? You get a conversation like the one I (Marc Goldman) recently had with Matthew Byrd, Founder of the Reality Capture Network—a discussion that quickly turned to one of the most powerful presentations we’ve both seen lately.
Matthew and I were catching up as he was on his way to Prague for the 3DISE event and I was getting ready for back-to-back-to-back events. Swapping thoughts on tech trends, interesting projects, and the shifting expectations around digital delivery—he said, “Marc, have you watched that Konrad Wenzel talk from the Esri Stuttgart team? It’s next-level.”
If you haven’t yet, now’s the time: Watch the recording here.
The Power of Context: Where GIS Meets Reality Capture
Konrad Wenzel, Director of R&D at Esri Stuttgart Center, doesn’t just talk about the future—he’s helping build it. In this session, he showcases how the fusion of GIS, BIM, and advanced AI-powered mapping is enabling real-world applications that are anything but theoretical.
Matthew put it best:
“This isn’t just about capturing reality—it’s about understanding it, simulating it, immersing in it, and ultimately making smarter decisions because of it.”
Whether you’re managing infrastructure in an urban environment, simulating disaster response in Zurich, or analyzing terrain changes in Stuttgart, the takeaways are clear:
Context is everything. And when you combine geospatial intelligence with photogrammetry, point clouds, and AI-driven automation, you’re not just creating a digital twin—you’re empowering an intelligent twin that learns, adapts, and predicts.
A New Era of Decision-Making
One part of Konrad’s talk that stood out to both of us was the emphasis on autonomous mapping workflows. From drone-captured 3D data to dynamically updating city models, it’s clear we’re moving beyond static representations into systems that mirror and respond to the real world in near real-time.
Matthew added:
“This is what people want to see. Not just point clouds and 3D meshes, but insights. Actionable intelligence. A way to get ahead of problems before they happen.”
That vision comes to life in the disaster response simulation for Zurich, where flood scenarios are modeled using high-accuracy terrain data combined with GIS intelligence. It’s a striking example of how predictive analysis can literally save lives—and budgets.
Why This Matters for the AEC Industry
At the intersection of design, construction, and operations, professionals are under pressure to do more with less and do it faster. The solution?
Reality capture + GIS + AI = scalable, defensible decisions.
Konrad’s work shows how the use of Esri’s tools in conjunction with imagery enables richer collaboration and a deeper understanding of space and change. The digital twin becomes more than just a mirror—it becomes a living system for managing uncertainty.
Matthew summed it up:
“This is the kind of content the industry needs to see more of. It shows what’s possible—not in 10 years, but right now.”
Final Thoughts
If you are interested in the world of reality capture, and you work in digital construction, urban planning, infrastructure operations, or any field where location matters (and let’s face it, that’s all of us), Konrad’s talk is essential viewing.
Watch the full session now on YouTube
This conversation with Matthew reminded me just how fast our industry is evolving—and how much opportunity there is when we bridge the physical and digital.
Join me at RCON Digital Twin, where I’ll be sharing more examples showing how imagery, GIS, BIM, and digital twins are reshaping the future of the built world.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry leaders, gain practical insights, and see what’s next in geospatial and digital innovation.
