Confluence podcast S2E7
The Evolution of Computational Design and AI in Structural Engineering
Join Randall and me as we welcome Rob Otani to the podcast and go behind the scenes at TT. In this episode we hear about the evolution of computational design and AI in structural engineering. Rob shares insights from his journey starting as an engineer in the 90s to now leading CORE Studio, a 40-person innovation powerhouse at Thornton Tomasetti.
This conversation covers the importance of computational design, BIM, and the impact of AI and machine learning in the engineering and architecture industries. Rob also shares insights from their recent AEC hackathon, the creation of CORE Studio, and innovative projects like developing an AI tool by capturing the depth of knowledge shared in the emails of a late colleague.
Episode Links
Watch this episode on YouTube
Listen to this episode
About Rob Otani
Robert K. Otani, PE is Chief Technology Officer and Managing Principal at Thornton-Tomasetti, Inc., a 1800+ person multidisciplinary engineering and applied science firm, and founded the CORE studio, a digital design, application development, AI, and R&D group at his firm. He has 30 years of structural design experience involving commercial, infrastructure, institutional, cultural and residential structures on projects totaling over $3 billion USD of construction and has led numerous software applications including Konstru, Design Explorer, Beacon, and the first ML-powered structural engineering application Asterisk in the industry. He has served as President of the Structural Engineers Association of New York in 2007 and has been an Adjunct Professor at Pratt Institute School of Architecture and Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.
