Engineers spend too much time fixing broken data instead of focusing on high-level design. This inefficiency, known as workflow friction, is a major enemy of modern construction projects.

This episode explores how intelligent automation and verified software can eliminate manual rework and enhance global collaboration. We discuss the crucial challenge of trust between engineers and fabricators, the necessity of specialised AI solutions, and the innovations of Trim BIM.

Our guest is David Sanderson, a former site engineer who now leads Product Strategy for Trimble’s structural tools. He offers a unique 40-year perspective, having witnessed the digital transformation of engineering since 1982

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Accidentally invented structural software in 1982
Lack of trust creates workflow friction
Specialised AI best for tedious tasks
Commercial value prioritises software features
Contractual deliverable is still 2D drawing

GUEST DETAILS

David Sanderson is the Senior Product Manager for Structural Design Products at Trimble. His expertise is rooted in structural design, leading product strategy for major tools like Tekla Structural Designer, and championing the use of verified, quality-assured software in the industry.

Connect with David Sanderson, Senior Product Manager for Structural Design Products at Trimble:

PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS: https://www.trimble.com/en/products/tekla

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sanderson-49926852/

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/
Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

The contractual deliverable is still a 2d drawing, believe it or not. - David Sanderson
The biggest issue that I can see now is that within a project, you've got many stakeholders. - David Sanderson
People have got to start accepting other people's models on trust, in my view. - David Sanderson

KEYWORDS

#StructuralEngineering #IntelligentAutomation #WorkflowFriction #TrimBIM #PortalFrameDesign

Building and maintaining Ireland's vital coastal infrastructure requires facing the relentless challenge of climate change and rising sea levels. Protecting the country's six dedicated fishery harbour centres and their multi-million euro capital programme demands innovative engineering and strict public spending compliance.

This episode explores the high-stakes engineering required to adapt harbours for tomorrow, deploying modern tools like GIS and drones for efficiency, and the unexpected permitting hurdles government departments must navigate. You will also hear about the fascinating complexities of Noel’s private sector career, including the challenging Dunboy Castle restoration and the mammoth Opera Lane basement construction in Cork City.

We are delighted to welcome Chief Engineer at the Marine Engineering Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Noel Clancy, who shares his journey from Cork construction sites to leading national coastal upgrades.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Career journey from private to public.
Restoring Dunboy Castle from ruins.
Constructing deep basements in Cork City.
Managing Ireland's fishery harbour centres.
Designing coastal infrastructure for climate change.

GUEST DETAILS

Noel Clancy is the Chief Engineer in Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, leading the Marine Engineering Division. A civil engineering graduate and Fellow of Engineers Ireland, he is renowned for modernising public sector projects with GIS mapping and drone inspections. He manages the operation, maintenance, and capital upgrades for state fishery harbours while promoting lifelong learning and mentoring young engineers

Connect with Noel:

PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/biographies/noel-clancy/

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noel-clancy-41989738

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/
Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

So the better the information that we have at the front end, the better chance we have of not getting into dispute with the contractor. - Noel Clancy

"It's very important to have a relationship, and it's very important to have no surprises, you know, so to have everything properly planned. - Noel Clancy

One key thing is adaption, and essentially that's changing what you have to deal with, what you know is going to happen. - Noel Clancy

KEYWORDS #MarineEngineering #CoastalAdaptation #CivilEngineering #PublicSectorProjects #FisheryHarbours

Achieving Ireland's ambitious decarbonisation goals and meeting climate action targets requires massive investment and innovative engineering solutions across the energy sector. This is compounded by the increasing digitisation of our infrastructure and the need to deliver reliable power to a growing economy.

This conversation explores the strategic response to the climate and energy crisis, examining the future makeup of the Irish power system, the explosive growth of solar power, and how data and artificial intelligence are revolutionising asset management. We also look at the evolving role of engineers, the importance of complementary commercial skills, and how to advance your career in the sector.

Joining the discussion is Siobhán McHugh, Director and the Energy and Utilities Consulting Lead at PwC Ireland, and the current Chairperson of the Energy, Environment and Climate Action Division at Engineers Ireland. Her experience spans regulation, grid operation, and strategic consulting.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Career progression diverse energy roles
AI data transforming asset management
Solar generation exceeded cost projections
Infrastructure delivery policy advocacy
Human skills complement technical expertise

GUEST DETAILS

Siobhán McHugh is a Director and the Energy and Utilities Consulting Lead at PwC Ireland, where she advises clients in the electricity, water, and gas sectors on large-scale digital and energy transformation projects. Her expertise draws heavily on her deep operational background from EirGrid and a regulatory background from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), giving her a rare whole-system view of the industry. She also serves as the current Chairperson of the Energy, Environment and Climate Action Division at Engineers Ireland.

Connect with Siobhán:

PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS
www.pwc.ie/industries/energy-and-renewables/team.html
Social Media:
www.linkedin.com/in/siobhanmchugh/?originalSubdomain=ie

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/
Engineers Journal AMPLIFIED is produced by DustPod.io for Engineers Ireland.

QUOTES

So I'd say a lot of the challenges probably have a hidden positive in them, in that it's an advancement in technology, but it's just about figuring it out. - Siobhán McHugh
You're always working with people, and so that is the piece of experience. I think you need to help build your younger colleagues. - Siobhán McHugh
If I think of solar energy when we would have been modelling it, it was completely different cost basis, solar was quite expensive. That cost has come down now. - Siobhán McHugh

KEYWORDS

#EnergyTransition #IrishGrid #EngineeringCareers #DataAndAI #ClimateAction