“When engineers start trusting AI, what exactly are they trusting?”

In this episode of The Structural Intelligence Podcast, host Owen Keenan sits down with Stijn Jansen, co-founder of VIKTOR, to explore what happens when engineers begin building tools that build themselves. From aerospace engineering to software automation, Stijn explains how VIKTOR enables engineers to replace brittle spreadsheets with custom applications that integrate BIM models, simulation software, and now, AI-generated code.

Together, they unpack one of today’s core tensions in engineering: how do we reconcile the reliability of deterministic systems with the flexibility of AI-driven workflows? If machines now help author our tools, where does responsibility live?

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why engineers struggle to trust AI and how deterministic code restores confidence
• How AI can generate tools, without becoming the tool itself
• What it really means to “automate the boring and engineer the awesome”
• Why Python is becoming the new engineering literacy
• How hybrid workflows blend human judgment with machine speed
• Why engineers must evolve from tool users into workflow architects

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – When does automation become too unpredictable to trust?

02:15 – From aerospace engineer to code-curious

05:11 – What is VIKTOR and why build your own tools?

08:52 – Why engineers default to Excel under pressure

13:52 – “Automate the boring, engineer the awesome”

24:38 – Case study – automating the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel design

29:31 – Trusting AI vs trusting deterministic tools

35:59 – Unit tests and verification for engineering apps

41:16 – Connecting BIM, FEA and reports into one workflow

51:10 – When AI agents start acting like colleagues

56:18 – Where engineers should start with automation

59:43 – Outro

🔗 Guest:

Stijn Jansen CPO of VIKTOR

Website: ⁠https://www.viktor.ai/⁠

LinkedIn (Company): ⁠https://linkedin.com/company/viktor-ai⁠

LinkedIn (Stijn Jansen): ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stijn-jansen-viktor⁠

VIKTOR Free account: ⁠https://www.viktor.ai/start-now⁠

🎧 Host & Links

LinkedIn: ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/owenrkeenan⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7vcBFpl87NcqpLf0seIRaW

VoiceInspect.ai (AI for inspections): ⁠https://www.voiceinspect.ai⁠

👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on YouTube and Spotify to stay updated on new episodes.

“If we only solve the technical problem without understanding the human problem, we limit ourselves as engineering leaders.”

Is engineering moving fast enough to keep up with technology, or are we limiting ourselves by thinking too narrowly? In this episode, Owen Keenan sits down with Raj Aseervatham, President of Engineers Australia, to explore how engineers are uniquely positioned at the intersection of innovation, society, and the environment. Drawing on decades of experience across mining, energy, and infrastructure, Raj explains why technical excellence alone isn’t enough, and how engineers must balance human impact, economic value, and environmental responsibility in every decision.

From managing complex projects on-site to shaping national engineering strategy, Raj shares insights on leadership, curiosity, and the mindset shifts required for the next generation of engineers. Together, they discuss how fast-moving technologies like AI and material science aren’t just tools, they’re opportunities to expand what’s possible, to solve human-centred problems at scale, and to envision a future where engineering creates positive, lasting impact.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

- Engineering impacts go beyond technical fixes; it affects people, the economy, and the environment.

- Good engineers balance human needs, technical solutions, and long-term value.

- AI is a powerful tool for exploring options and optimising solutions, not a replacement.

- Leadership in engineering means looking beyond narrow scopes and thinking systemically.

- Investing in finance, economics, and the broader context strengthens technical expertise.

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Balancing innovation with worldwide consequences.

00:01:47 - Raj’s Journey From Africa to Australia.

00:02:44 - Mining, consulting, energy, and transition to non-executive leadership.

00:05:01 - Early career experience broadening perspective.

00:07:32 - The unintended consequences of engineering.

00:09:06 - Engineering’s central role in solving complex problems.

00:13:37 - The three pillars of solving problems.

00:17:26 - Raj's thoughts on AI as a tool to solve problems.

00:22:48 - Advice for mid-career engineers

00:31:34 - Engineers Australia's hopes

🔗 Guest:

Raj Aseervatham

President of Engineers Australia

Website: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/

LinkedIn (Company): https://au.linkedin.com/company/engineers-australia

LinkedIn (Raj Aseervatham): https://au.linkedin.com/in/raj-aseervatham

🎧 Host & Links

LinkedIn: Owen Keenan

YouTube: @Structural-Intelligence

VoiceInspect.ai (AI for inspections): www.voiceinspect.ai

👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on YouTube and Spotify to stay updated on new episodes.

“What if construction isn’t tech-averse just misread?”Is construction really slow to adopt technology, or have we been building the wrong tools? In this episode of The Structural Intelligence Podcast, Owen Keenan sits down with Ethan Ow, Co-Founder & CEO of Wenti Labs, to challenge the myth of resistance in the field. Ethan shares how his team is embedding AI directly into the tools site teams already use: automating safety checks, reporting, and documentation straight from WhatsApp.From his early days managing projects on site to building AI agents that act like digital interns, Ethan explains how technology can adapt to construction workflows instead of forcing teams to adapt to tech. Together, they unpack the mindset shift needed for the industry to finally make AI fit-for-purpose.🔑 Key Takeaways:- Why construction’s problem isn’t tech aversion it’s tool misalignment- How Wenti Labs turns WhatsApp chats into structured project data- How AI agents can automate safety tracking, documentation, and reporting- Why treating AI like an “intern,” not a replacement, drives better adoption- Why starting small is the key to innovation that actually sticks on site- Lessons from building AI tools that adapt to construction not the other way around⏱ Timestamps:00:00:00 – Rethinking Construction Tech Adoption00:02:07 – Ethan’s Early Journey00:06:23 – Real-Time Data in Construction00:10:10 – Designing AI for the Chaos of Construction00:16:39 – How Wenti Labs Works on Site00:25:50 – Closing the Communication Gap on Site00:30:54 – Turning WhatsApp Chats into Structured Data00:33:20 – Automating Concrete Tracking and Documentation00:35:03 – Treating AI Like an Intern, Not a Replacement00:43:30 – The Mindset Shift Construction Needs🔗 Guest: Ethan OwCo-Founder & CEO, Wenti LabsWebsite: https://www.wentilabs.com/LinkedIn (Company): https://sg.linkedin.com/company/wentilabsLinkedIn (Ethan Ow): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/ethanow🎧 Host & LinksLinkedIn: Owen KeenanSpotify: Structural Intelligence PodcastYouTube: @Structural-IntelligenceVoiceInspect.ai (AI for inspections): www.voiceinspect.ai👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on YouTube and Spotify to stay updated on new episodes.

How does a civil engineer go from designing tunnels to building an AI startup?

In this episode of The Structural Intelligence Podcast, Owen Keenan interviews Stevan Lukic, founder and CEO of Civils.ai a startup transforming how engineering teams use AI to extract data from construction documents. Before ChatGPT, before the hype, Stevan was already teaching himself to code and building automation tools for geotechnical logs, CAD drawings, and pre-construction workflows.

They explore the mindset shift from consultant to founder, the real challenges of launching a construction tech startup, and why the future of engineering is built on data, not just drawings.

⏱ Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Before the AI hype: Stevan's vision for engineering00:02:00 – From tunnels to tech founder: Stevan's journey00:06:00 – Lessons from engineering vs startup culture00:09:40 – Teaching himself to code and founding Civils.ai00:15:00 – The startup journey: accelerators, funding, and product fit00:19:50 – What Civils.ai does solving problems trapped in PDFs00:26:00 – Extracting data from drawings the holy grail of construction AI00:29:00 – Civils.ai vs ChatGPT why specialized tools matter00:33:00 – Barriers to AI adoption in engineering00:42:00 – The future of engineers in the AI era

👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on YouTube and Spotify to stay updated on new episodes.

Host & Links

• LinkedIn: Owen Keenan

• Spotify: Structural Intelligence Podcast

• YouTube: @Structural-Intelligence

• VoiceInspect.ai: www.voiceinspect.ai

What happens when a civil engineer decides to stop waiting for better tools and builds one himself? In this episode, Owen Keenan talks with Sebastian Masset, the creator of HECFlow, a Python-based automation tool for stormwater modelling in HEC-HMS.

They explore how Sebastian transitioned from spreadsheets to scripting, what role AI played in the process, and how any engineer can start bridging the gap between domain expertise and software.

⏱ Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Engineering Tools

00:11 Meet Sebastian Masset: Civil Engineer and Innovator

02:21 Sebastian's Journey into Engineering

05:01 Challenges in Stormwater Management

07:27 The Rational Method and Modern Solutions

09:30 Sebastian's Software Journey

14:49 Building the Automation Tool

17:24 Technical Deep Dive into HECFlow

21:42 Experimenting with File Structures

22:13 Using AI as a Co-Pilot

23:32 Building and Automating HECFlow

25:50 Challenges and Learnings in Coding

32:16 The Future of AI in Engineering

39:13 Advice for Engineers on Building Tools

42:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on Spotify and YouTube to stay updated on new episodes.

Engineering Reality - The Power of Simulation & Digital Prototyping
with Derik Cloete, Senior Engineering Solutions Manager at LEAP Australia

What if simulation wasn’t just about reducing prototypes, but about expanding how we think as engineers?

In this episode of The Structural Intelligence Podcast, Owen Keenan is joined by Derik Cloete to explore the creative and technical frontier of simulation. From digital twins to fluid-structure interaction, from CFD and FEA to the flow of blood through a virtual heart, this is a conversation about how physics, curiosity, and compute are changing the way we model, design, and decide.

You’ll hear how Derik and his team at LEAP Australia use multiphysics tools to support sectors from mining and defence to biomedical and optics, and how simulation is helping engineers ask better questions before anything gets built.

🔍 Topics include:

• Why systems thinking is central to modern engineering

• How simulation enables virtual testing at scale

• The role of tools like CFD, DEM, and digital mission engineering

• The shift from gut-feel to data-driven design intuition

• What it means to “prototype reality”

📍 Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
00:57 Derek Cloete's Early Career and Passion for Engineering
03:28 Transition to a Soft Technical Role
04:23 Role at LEAP Australia and Customer Interactions
05:47 Exploring Simulation Technologies
06:32 Diving into Physics and Simulation Applications
10:48 Three-Letter Acronyms in Engineering
11:24 Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
14:04 Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) and Digital Mission Engineering (DME)
18:28 Electromagnetics and Real-World Applications
21:30 Simulation Technology Development and Industry Applications
23:07 Empirical Standards in Engineering
23:46 The Role of Communication in Engineering
24:03 Engineering Morality and Standards
26:07 Exploring Simulation in Engineering
28:50 Practical Applications of Simulation
34:21 Parameter Studies and Design Optimization
39:15 The Future of Simulation and AI
39:47 Building a Community of Engineers
45:16 Final Thoughts and Summary

🎧 Follow the podcast to get new episodes as they drop
👤 Connect with Derik Cloete: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derikcloete/
🏢 Learn more about LEAP Australia: https://www.leapaust.com.au

#simulation #digitalengineering #FEA #CFD #designoptimisation #engineeringmindset #virtualtesting #prototyping #systemsengineering #multiphysics

When you look at a building, you see walls, floors, and roofs. But what you don’t see is the silent choreography of forces keeping it all standing.

In this AI Short, we break down the concept of the load path the invisible route every force takes from roof to foundation. You’ll learn:

• Why load paths are essential for structural safety and resilience

• The difference between gravity and lateral loads

• How load paths play out in a timber house, a concrete high-rise, and a steel portal frame

• The role of modern software in optimizing designs in real time

Based on insights from ClearCalcs’ article on load transfer, this episode makes a fundamental engineering principle accessible and memorable whether you’re a student, designer, or site engineer.

In this episode, Owen Keenan sits down with Brooks Smith, Chartered Structural Engineer, open-source contributor, and Head of Engineering R&D at ClearCalcs.

Brooks shares his unconventional career journey, from testing software at Ansys to conducting forensic investigations at the Empire State Building, before moving into cold-formed steel design and engineering platform development. Together, they explore how the engineer’s toolkit is evolving, from spreadsheets and hand calcs to cloud-based systems, AI-driven workflows, and data-informed design standards.

Whether you’re a design engineer, software-savvy practitioner, or just curious about the future of engineering, this episode dives into the mindset and tools shaping our profession.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Introduction

• 1:20 – Brooks Smith’s background

• 5:40 – Open-source projects and programming journey

• 7:20 – Transition into structural engineering

• 10:20 – Evolution of engineering tools over time

• 17:50 – How tools have improved practice

• 22:01 – Defining AI in the context of structural engineering

• 26:25 – AI’s role in structural design workflows

• 29:17 – What is emergent design?

• 31:36 – How innovation shapes standards and practice

• 33:47 – ClearCalcs tools and what’s next in development

• 38:30 – AI host summary and closing thoughts🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• 🔧 ClearCalcs
  https://www.clearcalcs.com/?utm_source=owenkeenan&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_campaign=podcast-feature

• 
  

  👤 Brooks Smith – LinkedIn
  www.linkedin.com/in/smithbh

• 
  

  💻 Open-source tools
  anaStruct (GitHub)
  pyCUFSM (GitHub)

• 
  

  📽️ CFSEI Presentation Slides (2024)
  Google Slides

• 
  

  📄 CFSEI Abstract
  Read the Abstract