Explore every episode of the podcast The Re/Cap Podcast

Ellis Malmgren is joined by Dr. Maya Ackerman, a globally renowned expert in the field of generative AI, the author of Creative Machines: AI, Art, & Us, and CEO/co-founder of WaveAI. Dr. Ackerman has been researching and developing innovative generative AI models for text, music, and art since 2014, with a focus on harnessing the power of AI to enhance and elevate human creativity. With over 50 peer-reviewed research publications to her name and her work having been cited in over 1,200 publications, Dr. Ackerman is an influential figure in the world of AI and Computational Creativity.She has been named a “Woman of Influence” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and has been featured in numerous media outlets such as NBC News, New Scientist, NPR, Grammy.com, SiriusXM, and international television stations. She is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Association on Computational Creativity and has served on the program and reviewing committees of twenty different AI journals and conferences. A sought-after speaker, Dr. Ackerman has been invited to present at numerous high-profile events and institutions, including the United Nations, IBM Research, Microsoft, and Stanford University.Creative Machines: AI, Art, & Us: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Machines-Future-Human-Creativity/dp/1394316267WaveAI: https://wave-ai.net/Re/Cap Host Ellis Malmgren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellis-malmgren-b22b0b74/Stay Connected with Reality Capture Network🔗 Explore more at: https://realitycapturenetwork.com/📲 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/realitycapturenetwork/?viewAsMember=true📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realitycapturenetwork/Subscribe for more insights! Stay updated on the latest in reality capture, AEC innovations, and emerging tech. Hit that like button and subscribe for future content!

Ellis Malmgren Re/Caps Emily Warren Roebling, a woman high in the running for Most Criminally Unsung Hero in built environment history. In 1869, The Brooklyn Bridge almost didn't get built, when chief engineer Washington Roebling fell severely ill from decompression sickness. So dude’s wife, Emily, who had neither studied nor sniffed engineering, taught herself everything. She ran the whole operation, and became the first person to cross the bridge. With a rooster. Construction's woman problem is older than you think. And so is the solution. 0:00 – The Story That Makes You Go “Wait… WHAT?”0:32 – Meet Emily (Not Who You Think)1:15 – The Brooklyn Bridge Problem2:05 – When Everything Falls Apart3:00 – The Unexpected Leader Steps In4:10 – The Wildest Twist (Yes… the Rooster 🐔)5:05 – How She Actually Pulled It Off6:20 – Why This Story Still Matters Today7:20 – Final Takeaway (You’ll Remember This)SOURCES:https://www.history.com/articles/brooklyn-bridge-emily-roeblinghttps://www.asce.org/about-civil-engineering/history-and-heritage/notable-civil-engineers/emily-warren-roeblinghttps://www.thesocialbrooklyn.com/emily-roebling-brooklyn-bridge/https://www.girlsincivil.com/pioneers/emily-warren-roeblinghttps://fendermarine.com/how-did-the-brooklyn-bridge-caissons-work/Re/Cap Host Ellis Malmgren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellis-malmgren-b22b0b74/

Dr. Manuelian’s Photo by Laurie ThomasDr. Peter Der Manuelian is Harvard University’s Barbara Bell Professor of Egyptology, and holds a joint appointment in the Anthropology Department and the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. He is also director of the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East (HMANE). He came to Harvard in 2010, after serving on the curatorial staff of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. At the MFA he was Giza Archives Project Director from 2000 to 2011, and now directs the Giza Project at Harvard. In addition to Giza, his Egyptian archaeological and epigraphic site work includes New Kingdom temples at Luxor (Epigraphic Survey, University of Chicago), and the Predynastic site of Naqada. Interested in both ancient and modern graphic design, he believes in bringing new technologies into his research and into the classroom. Recent efforts have focused on photogrammetry, AR and VR visualizations, and other immersive technologies as an aid to archaeological research. The 3D Giza Project at Harvard University: http://giza.fas.harvard.edu/Donate to the 3D Giza Project: https://community.alumni.harvard.edu/give/34086571Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East (HMANE): https://hmane.harvard.edu/Sketchfab Library: https://sketchfab.com/hmaneRe/Cap Host Ellis Malmgren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellis-malmgren-b22b0b74/00:00 Intro: Why the pyramids still matter00:01 How the Giza Project began00:04 The massive challenge of digitizing Giza00:06 Drones, 3D scans, and rebuilding the pyramids00:12 Can virtual archaeology be trusted?00:15 The pioneers who invented modern Egyptology00:20 Egyptology vs. Egyptomania00:24 The lost Arabic diaries of Egyptian excavators00:28 What people still get wrong about ancient Egypt00:31 Fake pyramid discoveries, aliens, and internet nonsense00:35 Virtual museums and the mystery of Queen Hetepheres00:43 Teaching archaeology with VR at Harvard00:49 The moment Peter knew hieroglyphs would be digital01:00 What ancient Egypt still teaches us todayStay Connected with Reality Capture Network🔗 Explore more at: https://realitycapturenetwork.com/📲 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/realitycapturenetwork/?viewAsMember=true📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realitycapturenetwork/Subscribe for more insights! Stay updated on the latest in reality capture, AEC innovations, and emerging tech. Hit that like button and subscribe for future content!

Dr. Eric Jankowski is a professor, and Director of the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State University, where he also leads the Computational Materials Engineering Laboratory. He earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2012, where he developed computational tools to study the self-assembly of nanoparticles. 

Dr. Jankowski’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-jankowski-ph-d-227aa64/

Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering: https://www.boisestate.edu/coen-materials/

Computational Materials Engineering Laboratory: https://www.boisestate.edu/coen-cmelab/

Photographer and interdisciplinary scientist Chris Millbern is Head of Field Capture for CyArk, providing key technical and field experience in the areas of 3D mapping and cultural preservation. From Mt. Everest to underwater caves, Chris has led dozens of teams across the globe for everything from filmmaking to conservation, specializing in remote and hazardous environments.

Having earned a degree in Ecology and Environmental Biology from UCLA, Chris was later chosen as the Rolex 2016 North American Scholar and has since been featured numerous times with National Geographic, BBC, Smithsonian, and other media outlets in print and television. Chris is involved with designing data capture techniques, expedition logistics and planning, and building lasting on-the-ground relationships around the world.

While layering up for the occasion, Ellis Malmgren covers the 145 years of the Arctic data-collection extravaganza known as the International Polar Year, or IPY - and why only four have occurred since 1881. He then connects the history to a modern-day case study in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, involving drones, AI, machine learning, and emergency response.

Sources:

IPY:

https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/arctic-zone/ipy.html

https://wayback.archive-it.org/23655/20241216111902/http://icestories.exploratorium.edu/dispatches/big-ideas/international-polar-year/index.html

https://fortconger.org/histoire_de_la_premiere_annee_polaire_internationale-history_of_the_first_international_polar_year

https://gml.noaa.gov/obop/spo/igy_history.html

https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/65-years-ago-the-international-geophysical-year-begins/

https://earthzine.org/securing-the-legacy-of-ipy-2/

https://library.arcticportal.org/1211/1/IPY_Summary.pdf

Arctic drones: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/11/arctic-drones-search-rescue-disaster-response/

Ellis Malmgren details the history and causes of the leaning towers in Santos, Brazil, before explaining what reality capture and construction technology could have done to mitigate it…and why that’s still relevant today. 00:00 If You Think Watching a Lean Is Distracting…00:10 Brazil’s Soccer Supremacy… and an AEC Red Card00:20 Santos’ Three Claims to Fame00:40 651 Buildings That Forgot “Plumb”00:47 What Caused These Concrete Contortionists?01:00 Just Good Old-Fashioned Human Greed01:05 Post-War Boom, Cheap & Fast Construction01:17 Cutting Corners (Literally)01:35 Built on a Sand Trampoline01:45 Differential Settlement Takes Over01:55 MEP!? More Like WTF02:05 Living Inside a Funhouse02:30 Rooftop Putt-Putt, Anyone?02:35 Are the Leaning Towers Actually Safe?02:55 Can You Straighten a Building?03:10 Only Two Towers Got the Full Chiropractic Treatment03:30 What Could Have Prevented This Entire Mess03:40 No, the Tech Didn’t Exist in the 50s (That’s Not the Point)03:55 Reality Capture vs. Human Greed04:15 Seeing the Ground’s Deception Before Construction04:30 The Seven-Meter Sand Red Flag04:45 Verifying Instead of Just Trusting05:00 AI Detecting Lean Before Humans Notice05:10 Simulating Decades of Structural Regret05:35 Listening to Buildings in Real Time05:55 Turning Lean Into an Early Warning System06:00 Final Takeaway: Bring a Level to SantosSources:https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/leaning-towers-of-santoshttps://thetravellingsurveyor.com/2023/08/11/a-visit-to-brazil-baixada-santista-santos-sp-part-1/https://www.odditycentral.com/architecture/giant-dominoes-the-tilted-apartment-buildings-of-santos.htmlhttps://www.storyproductions.com/leaning-towers-santoshttps://www.smh.com.au/world/south-america/the-leaning-towers-of-santos-and-the-people-who-live-on-an-angle-20181113-p50fmb.htmlStay Connected with Reality Capture Network🔗 Explore more at: https://realitycapturenetwork.com/📲 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/realitycapturenetwork/?viewAsMember=true📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realitycapturenetwork/Subscribe for more insights! Stay updated on the latest in reality capture, AEC innovations, and emerging tech. Hit that like button and subscribe for future content!

Jason Jamerson is the Director of Virtual Production at LSU, and Director of the XR Studio. He is also a professor and a 20 year veteran of the entertainment industry in NYC as a Design Supervisor and Production Designer for film and TV clients including HBO, Netflix, Paramount, and The History Channel, as well as both on and Off-Broadway.Today he creates momentum at the intersection of the Arts and Sciences through building relationships, producing and curating world-class performances, and developing applied research. He helps lead teams creating simulations and digital twins, film and commercial video, and immersive and interactive media, including live performance, video games, and AR / XR content.LSU XR Studio: https://xr.lsu.edu/Jason’s website & projects: https://jasonjamerson.com/index.html

00:00 Intro – Digital Twins, Art & Innovation at LSU

01:25 Jason Jamerson & the LSU XR Studio

05:25 Digital Twins, Syngenta & the Future of Energy

15:12 Real-World Impact of Digital Twins & AI

25:10 Open-Source Tools, Game Engines & XR

31:25 NASA’s Rocket Factory Digital Twin

44:25 From Entertainment to Industrial Innovation

55:45 Building the LSU XR Studio

1:04:25 XR Projects, Education & Industry Partnerships

1:15:25 Leadership, Creativity & Constraints

1:29:10 AI, Storytelling & the Future of Creativity

1:35:00 Live Theater, Art & Human Experience

1:43:30 What’s Next – Innovation & 2026 Outlook

1:46:30 Final Thoughts & Where to Follow

Description

Ellis Malmgren explains how one of the most innovative 3D rendering techniques ties back to one of history’s most accomplished mathematicians - Carl Friedrich Gauss. Plus, a breakdown of today’s “world models” (Marble, JEPA, Google Genie 3) and the competition around them. 

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:43 The Legacy of Carl Friedrich Gauss

03:06 Gaussian Splatting in 3D Rendering

04:21 Introduction to World Models

05:12 The Battle of World Models

08:03 Conclusion: The Future of World Models

Rogers “Caldwell” Buntin is a researcher, lecturer, and drone pilot who received his Ph.D. in Ocean & Earth Sciences from Old Dominion University. He specializes in interpreting subtle fossilized traces that reveal how dinosaurs interacted with their environments.

He joins Ellis Malmgren to explain his recent discovery at Dinosaur Ridge in Colorado; an apparent 100-million-year-old “dinosaur dance floor,” a site covered in intricate scrape marks and depressions made by theropods performing courtship displays. Using drones and high-resolution imaging, Buntin and his team interpreted these features as evidence of mating rituals, offering a rare glimpse into dinosaur social behavior and reshaping how scientists think about life in the Cretaceous.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:26 Dinosaur Ridge Discovery

01:27 Drone Photogrammetry and Field Work

04:07 Courtship Scrapes and Theories

18:40 Challenges and Logistical Hurdles

33:53 Emerging Technologies in Paleontology

50:02 Digitized Samples and Field Visualization

51:18 Communication and Collaboration in Research

52:10 Adoption and Resistance to New Technologies

54:17 3D Scanning and Its Potential

56:01 Artificial General Intelligence in Geology

57:42 Integrating Technology in Education

01:14:08 Challenges and Misconceptions in Field Work

01:16:47 Mentorship and Influences

01:19:51 Drone Piloting and Photography

01:27:41 Life Beyond Earth

01:34:15 Public Reach and De-Extinction

01:39:20 GIS and NASA Internship

01:43:03 Future Plans and Conclusion

Matthew Byrd is Founder & CEO of Reality Capture Network, where Phillip Ellering serves as VP of Creative. They talk with Ellis Malmgren about the 5 year journey of RCN’s flagship conference, R-CON, which just hosted its fifth rendition and will be expanding next year into Boise, Idaho’s largest venue.The RCN Collective is a new membership-based community platform that channels R-CON's signature spirit of collaboration, learning, and innovation. Its features include technical discussion forums, project requests board, collaborative channels, social hubs, a membership directory, an exclusive content library, and the RCN Committees.

Dawn M.K. Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, Retired) is a licensed attorney with 28 years of combined active duty military and federal civil service to the U.S. Air Force. She is the CEO & Founder of P3 Tech Consulting, Publisher of Autonomy Global and an internationally recognized expert on uncrewed aircraft system law and policy, featured on Fox News, CNN, Forbes and Newsweek and on the PBS television network (show host Emmy-nominated series). Her Dawn of Autonomy podcast was recognized as one of the “Top 7 Drone Podcasts 2024 (The Drone Girl) and the “Best Drone Podcast of the Year 2023” (The Droning Company). She has also been recognized by FDI Insider as the Tech Advocacy Champion of the Year - USA 2024, Great Companies in the Consulting Category for the 6th International Women Entrepreneur 2024 Awards and has been listed as one of the Top Women in Aerospace & Aviation to Follow on LinkedIn for several years. Ms. Zoldi is the author of the book Unmanned Aircraft Systems Legal and Business Considerations: A Modern Primer for U.S. Drone Programs.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview

01:28 Dawn's Military Journey

03:27 Early Legal Challenges and Career Highlights

15:03 Founding P3 Tech Consulting

18:36 The Birth of Autonomy Global

21:27 Challenges and Opportunities in Autonomy

30:44 Insights on Policy and Industry Trends

44:45 Aviation History and Drone Integration

45:11 The Ecosystem of Drone Technology

49:04 Geospatial Technology and Drones

51:40 Future Industries and Drones

55:39 International Approaches to Drone Regulation

59:34 Autonomous Units in Combat

01:10:10 AI in Law and Technology

01:12:54 Drone Privacy and Regulations

01:16:14 Personal Insights and Reflections

01:28:53 Conclusion and Future Prospects

Dr. Tessa Lau is an experienced entrepreneur with expertise in AI, machine learning, and robotics. She is currently Founder/CEO at Dusty Robotics, whose mission is to create robot-powered tools for the modern construction workforce. Prior to Dusty, she was CTO/co-founder at Savioke, where she orchestrated the deployment of 75+ delivery robots into hotels and high-rises. Previously, Dr. Lau was a Research Scientist at Willow Garage, where she developed simple interfaces for personal robots. She also spent 11 years at IBM Research working in business process automation and knowledge capture. More generally, Dr. Lau is interested in developing technology that gives people super-powers, and building businesses that bring that technology into people’s lives. Dr. Lau holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Washington.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:23 First Wow Moment in Robotics

01:24 Willow Garage and Robots for Humanity

03:34 Lessons from Savio Robotics

05:24 Founding Dusty Robotics

06:39 Challenges in Construction Layout

10:31 Early Successes and Failures

22:06 AI and Robotics

36:20 Leadership and Company Culture

42:22 Hiring Challenges in Construction Tech

43:33 Teaching Resiliency in Startups

45:45 Fundraising and Venture Capital Insights

47:22 The Pace of Robotics and AI

50:25 Universal Basic Income and AI's Impact on Jobs

52:33 The Importance of Business in Robotics

55:07 The Future of Robotics and Industry

01:02:14 Founding Dusty Robotics and Early Challenges

01:15:29 Learning from Field Workers and Customers

01:29:03 Exciting Future of AI and Robotics

Matt Cook supports Harvard’s students, faculty, and researchers with emerging computational methods, engaging learning spaces, and a campus-wide network of technological expertise. His research interests include 3D technologies (e.g. photogrammetry & VR) and embodied cognition. After studying philosophy at the undergraduate and graduate level (at the Universities of Florida and Oklahoma, respectively), he began working full time in libraries and developing new tools and systems to augment research and instruction across disciplines.Matt was Re/Capped for a staggering medieval architecture exhibit at Harvard. This immersive 3D experience brought to life a former Benedictine monastery, while sharing the tale of Kenneth Conant, a brilliant architect-detective who spent decades uncovering its secretsMatt visits with Ellis Malmgren to share his journey bridging academia and emerging technology. They discuss the Envisioning Cluny exhibit, Harvard Library Imaging Services, 3D data grants, breaking down silos, ethics of sensitive reality capture, the metaverse, VR & gaming, photogrammetry for academic departments on a budget, biology, philosophy, capturing the Globe Theater, backcountry survival, and much more.

00:00 Introduction to Harvard's Digital Scholarship Program

01:07 Envisioning Clooney: A Medieval Architecture Exhibit

03:52 The Role of 3D Scanning in Historical Research

11:28 Collaborating with Christine Smith

14:34 The Technical Side of 3D Scanning Projects

39:57 Ethical and Practical Challenges in 3D Scanning

50:17 Defending the Value of 3D and VR

52:02 The Oklahoma Virtual Academic Laboratory

52:58 Virtual Classroom Experiences

54:41 3D Scanning Projects at OU

56:32 Meditation Labyrinths in Libraries

01:03:26 The Intersection of Technology and Relationships

01:05:38 AI and Coding in Academia

01:16:32 Philosophy's Role in Emerging Technologies

01:32:06 Exciting 3D Projects and Future Prospects

The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) is a force of heroism, safeguarding America’s cultural heritage by bridging the gap between preservation and innovation. As a research and education hub within the National Park Service, the NCPTT supports the development and application of advanced technologies to preserve historic buildings, landscapes, archaeological sites, and cultural collections. From laser scanning, photogrammetry, and 3D modeling to environmental monitoring and materials conservation, the Center equips preservation professionals with cutting-edge tools and knowledge to protect fragile resources from deterioration, disaster, and time itself.Catherine Cooper, PhD, is at the center of it. Re/Capped thanks to her astounding work capturing two historic Vermont mills - windows into the Industrial Revolution’s demand of child labor - Catherine is helping establish the last line of defense for numerous structures across America.Dr. Cooper sits down with Ellis Malmgren in studio to explore the sprawling Slater and Wilkinson Mills Project, creative photogrammetry, segregation and the Rosenwald Schools project, the Slave & Tenant Dwelling Project, the 3D Digital Field Summer School for youth, author Lillian Smith & her home, the National Park Service, the PhD journey, what preservation looks like in 2035, and much more.

Well well, it’s The Re/Cap Podcast with Ellis Malmgren! What’s cappenin’ this week:The seminal scan of a national parkA Utah national park scans for safety & serenityThe Paris Air Show made France a simulation nationThe world’s largest 3D-printed building…smack dab in a Middle Eastern desertHawaii research initiative leverages photogrammetry and 3D scanning for an engrossing study on extinction and invasive speciesAn AEC Error of the Week of a stadium that went bust from rustQuick caps:[Article] New construction technology releases: July 2025https://www.constructiondive.com/news/construction-technology-july-2025-dji-openspace/752589/[Use Case] $57,000 scanning technology is paying off for Baltimore crime investigationshttps://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/harford-faro-joppatowne-crime-investigations-scanner/[Video] Wingtra Launches WingtraRAY, the drone made for surveyorshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az9vZfDcvVY[Article] AI turns Gaussian Splats into Revit modelshttps://aecmag.com/reality-capture-modelling/ai-tool-transforms-gaussian-splats-into-revit-models-lcc-for-revit/[Research Paper] Construction cost prediction model for agricultural water conservancy engineering based on BIM and neural networkhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-10153-4[Article] Apple to Upgrade Vision Pro in Two Ways Later This Yearhttps://www.macrumors.com/2025/07/09/apple-vision-pro-2025-features/Timestamps0:00 Episode overview0:34 Pre/Cap: The seminal scan of a national park4:07 Quick cap stories4:35 Bryce Canyon National Park Had the Splendor. Now It’s Got the Render.6:04 Simulation Innovation Was to the Paris Air Show, What Butter Is to the Croissant8:58 World’s Largest 3D Printed Building? Qatar Loose.10:58 Freakosytems: Reality Capture, Extinction, and the Complex Interplay of Hawaii's Birds & Plants13:38 AEC Error of the Week: Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium, going bust from rust

Yep. The Re/Cap Podcast with Ellis Malmgren! What’s cappenin’ this week.:

• The serendipitous 1980s birth of the Agri-Drone

• Sesame farmers enjoy newfound knowledge courtesy of daring drone imaging

• Nemetschek-out this collaboration with a university to remedy housing shortages in Iowa

• MIT tech gives robots special vision

• LiDAR, 3D modeling, and digital twins eagle on golf course design

• An infamous AEC Error of the Week in St. Louis that was a convergence of racism, neglect, and corner-cutting

Timestamps

0:00 Episode overview

0:33 Pre/Cap: The serendipitous 1980s Birth of the Agri-Drone

3:56 Quick cap stories

4:18 Open Sesame: How Drone Imaging Just Conquered an Age-Old Farmer’s Foe

6:42 Prairie Home Companions: Iowa College and Nemetschek Group vs. Housing Shortages

8:38 Kick Rocks, Marvel: Robots See Through Walls Thanks to New MIT Leap

10:25 Tech’s Tee Time: Golf Course Modeling & Twinning for Enhanced Player Flow

12:05 AEC Error of the Week: the Racism-fueled St. Louis’ Pruitt-Igoe housing project

Coral reefs, the rainforests of the sea. Teeming with life, these underwater cities support 25% of marine species despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor. They shield coastlines from storms and erosion, and sustain millions of people via food, tourism, and fishing. But coral reefs are also vital indicators of ocean health, and their rapid decline is a warning siren for the planet.

Dr. Orion McCarthy is sounding it. But he also may help silence it, through brilliant use of photogrammetry. Re/Capped in issue #44’s highlight of a partnership between Seatrees, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Samsung, smartphone photogrammetry is creating a sea change for reef monitoring, analysis, and communication.Dr. McCarthy speaks to Ellis Malmgren, with astounding footage, about the origins of coral reef danger, what we face if we lose them, the Samsung collaboration, ecosystems, kelp, why 3D excels in stories and showcasing recovery, artificial general intelligence, optimism & pessimism, academia, intense moments under water, and what makes Hawaii special.

00:00 Introduction

00:50 The Importance and Current State of Coral Reefs

04:02 Coral Bleaching

06:38 The Scripps, Seatrees, and Samsung Partnership

12:02 Photogrammetry and Coral Reef Monitoring

14:27 Microfragmentation and Restoration Techniques

15:54 Innovations in Marine Conservation

20:07 Community Involvement and Conservation Efforts

22:22 Challenges and Future of Marine Conservation

24:19 Personal Insights and Career in Conservation

39:41 Impact of Maui on Research and Personal Life

40:49 Challenges and Discoveries in Coral Reef Research

44:44 Effects of Wildfires on Coral Reefs

47:38 GIS and Photogrammetry in Conservation

49:23 Choosing Scripps for Graduate Studies

51:24 Seasickness and PhD Challenges

54:51 Balancing Visual Storytelling and Scientific Accuracy

58:30 Human Impact on Coral Reefs

01:03:36 Future of Coral Conservation and Technology

01:08:38 Personal Insights and Reflections

If you thought an autographed sports card or concert poster was cool, how about a NASA satellite?!Cutter Shea is one of very few who have penned their name on such a surface. Re/Capped in issue #40, his engineering prowess and broad technical knowledge led to his signature being riveted to the side of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx satellite, which leaned heavily on digital twins. This was the first U.S. mission to collect an asteroid sample with hopes of knowledge regarding our solar system, and the origins of life. Cutter joins Ellis Malmgren in studio for the whole story: NASA, motors & gearboxes, Lockheed, model-based systems engineering, digital twins & simulations, aerospace misconceptions, his journey to Cintoo, DJI and drones, the cloud, LiDAR, what most people don’t get about sales, and theories on last year’s mass drone sightings.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:39 The Purpose of OSIRIS-REx01:45 Early Career and Passion for Engineering03:23 The Role of Avior and NASA Collaboration05:46 Model-Based Systems Engineering10:21 Excitement and Challenges in Aerospace13:02 Personal Reflections and Legacy34:16 Transition to Reality Capture and Laser Scanning47:00 Entering the World of Drones48:49 Rapid Iteration in Drone Technology49:26 Drones vs. Laser Scanning: A Comparative Evolution50:49 Aerospace vs. Construction: Innovation Approaches54:04 Client Insights and Industry Learnings56:43 Understanding Point Clouds and Meshes59:25 Challenges in Data Sharing and Processing01:01:06 Future of Laser Scanning and Drones01:04:50 Debating Control Points vs. Checkpoints01:07:56 Reflections on Education and Industry01:14:00 Personal Anecdotes and Professional Growth01:24:11 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

For 3D knowledge, Michael Rubloff is like if the Library of Alexandria was bipedal and could run a website. And yet, his wisdom is somehow matched by his passion.

His stories have been Re/Capped numerous times, as he is the Founder and Managing Editor of RadianceFields.com, created in late 2022 to document emerging radiance field technologies. These methods, such as NeRFs and Gaussian Splatting, enable hyper-realistic 3D to be created from standard 2D images. His mission is to accelerate a multi-industry move into a hyper-realistic 3D world.

Michael has collaborated with some of the most impactful players in technology, such as NVIDIA AI, Shutterstock and Time Magazine. He has spoken at prestigious events like SIGGRAPH, Geo Week, and R-CON, where he unveiled his expertise on immersive NeRFs in the Enterprise. Moreover, Michael is the founder and manager of the largest Discord community of radiance fields, where he fosters a collaborative environment for NeRFs enthusiasts and creators.

00:00 Introduction

01:05 Michael's Early Challenges and Breakthroughs

03:29 Curating and Publishing Content

05:04 RadianceFields' Job Board

07:01 Consulting and Business

08:35 Understanding Radiance Fields

10:57 Shutterstock Collaboration

13:20 Future Vision for the Website

16:15 Key Developments in Radiance Fields

17:54 Michael's Journey into Technology

25:06 Public Speaking and Industry Recognition

26:32 NVIDIA GTC Highlights

30:40 Educational Impact and Misconceptions

35:38 NVIDIA's Ecosystem

36:18 Imaging in 2030

38:32 AGI and Radiance Fields

40:18 Admired Companies

45:27 Art vs. Science

48:52 Filmmaking

50:10 Starting with Radiance Fields

59:30 Upcoming Developments

01:01:50 Research Papers and Young Companies

01:03:28 New York City, Music, Sci-Fi Films, and Parting Remarks

Oh hey, it’s the Re/Cap Podcast with Ellis Malmgren!

This week’s cappenings:

• Capturing a 4th-century BCE Greek shipwreck…20 years ago

• A Titanic digital twin we’ll never let go of, Jack

• 300,000-image Gaussian splatting

• A tacklebox of tech for offshore wind farms and the life around them

• Four contech firms proving AI ain’t no buzzword

• An AEC error of the Week in which the world’s tallest library threw a brick fit 

  
  

Quick caps:

[Article] The Competitive Edge of Innovation in Architecture https://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/design-beyond-tradition-the-competitive-edge-of-innovation-in-architecture

[Video] Engineering The Future With Digital Twins at LSU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJraGVZqAkk

[Article] Disaster recovery is just the start for this Bentley-Google collab https://www.engineering.com/disaster-recovery-is-just-the-start-for-this-bentley-google-collab/

[Video] Drone News: Zipline Expands, Drone Detectors at Border, BRINC Raises 75m https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYOdEjQHaxs

[Article] Revit 2026 marks 25 years of BIM innovation—What’s New

https://architosh.com/2025/04/revit-2026-marks-25-years-of-bim-innovation-whats-new/

[Case Study] Kentucky Students Use VR to Enter Demanding Workplaces https://www.xrtoday.com/virtual-reality/kentucky-students-use-vr-to-enter-demanding-workplaces/

Timestamps

0:00 Topic overview

0:26 A sneak peek

0:44 Pre/Cap: Capturing a 4th-century BCE Greek shipwreck…20 years ago

3:02 Quick cap stories

3:20 Leo, If You Were King of the World, This is the Digital Twin of the World

5:13 A New Tier of Gaussian Splatting is Taking Imaging Beyond Imagination

7:21 Birds and the Buoys: AI LiDAR, Geo Data, and Smarter Offshore Wind Farms

9:04 Four Contech Firms Are Bulldozing Old Workflows with AI

13:41 AEC Error of the Week: University of Massachusetts Amherst W.E.B DuBois Library’s Brick Spalling

Main Re/Cap sources:

https://www.whoi.edu/press-room/news-release/autonomous-underwater-vehicle-maps-ancient-greek-shipwreck/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy6gjwd0g6o

https://radiancefields.com/infinite-realities-the-future-of-imaging

https://www.tomorrowsworldtoday.com/artificial-intelligence/new-ai-monitoring-protects-birds-supports-offshore-wind-farms/

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/contech-firms-ai-offerings-robot/744639/

http://scua.library.umass.edu/youmass/doku.php?id=d:du_bois_library

Subscribe to The Re/Cap Newsletter! https://www.realitycapturenetwork.com/re-cap-sign-up
Previous Re/Cap Newsletters: https://www.realitycapturenetwork.com/education

Description

It's The Re/Cap Podcast with Ellis Malmgren! 

This week’s ‘cappenings:

• The 2011 mega-capture of a famed 1,000-year-old French monastery

• A Harvard 3D Exhibit is a PhD in photogrammetry and historic preservation

• NASA seeks to safeguard our drones

• Construction bots get the Top 5 treatment

• Digital twins and sustainable design approach peas-and-carrots status

• An AEC Error of the Week at Denver International in which the only turbulence was with folks’ luggage

  
  

Quick caps:

Chinese LiDAR can recognize a face…from space https://www.biometricupdate.com/202504/chinese-lidar-system-could-recognize-a-face-from-space

Gaussian splatting in Blender https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-KNyJiLSPs

A concrete TED Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMiPKpXbm9A

The 3D scanning traveling metrology team keeping Warfighters airborne

https://metrology.news/traveling-metrology-team-keeps-warfighters-airborne-with-3d-scanning/

A new study on improving building energy models https://www.azobuild.com/news.aspx?newsID=23740

High-fidelity wheat plant reconstructions using 3D Gaussian splatting and neural radiance fields https://academic.oup.com/gigascience/article/doi/10.1093/gigascience/giaf022/8096368?login=false

Timestamps

0:00 Overview

0:29 The 2011 reality capture of a 1,000-year-old Cluny Monastery

2:49 Quick cap stories

3:20 Photogrammetry Honored an Architectural Historian, and Resurrected Ruins, at Once

5:07 NASA Is Ensuring Our Drones Can (Safely) Go to Infinity and Beyond

7:20 Droids in the Dirt: Autonomous Robots for Construction Sites, Ranked!

11:14 Copy That: How Digital Twins Make Sustainable Design an Easier “Yes”

13:36 AEC Error of the Week: Denver International Airport’s Automated Baggage System

Main Re/Cap sources:

https://www.cluny-abbaye.fr/en/discover/history-of-the-abbey-of-cluny

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/03/an-architect-detectives-medieval-mystery/

https://www.nasa.gov/missions/aam/nasa-makes-progress-on-advanced-drone-safety-management-system/

https://www.unite.ai/autonomous-robots-for-construction/

https://parametric-architecture.com/digital-twins-and-sustainability/

https://noonpi.com/the-denver-international-airport-automated-baggage-handling-system/

Subscribe to The Re/Cap Newsletter! https://www.realitycapturenetwork.com/re-cap-sign-up

Previous Re/Cap Newsletters: https://www.realitycapturenetwork.com/education

Welcome to The Re/Cap Podcast with Ellis Malmgren! This week’s ‘cappenings:

• The queen of seafloor mapping circa the 1950s

• Uncrewed autonomous ocean drones do work

• Is ConTech adoption as easy as 3 steps?

• AI & LiDAR are like a seatbelt for pedestrians and cyclists

• Say awe for dentalgrammetry

• An AEC Error of the Week so catastrophic, load bearing analysis was never the same

  
  

Quick caps:

• [Video] We Mapped 1000 Acres of Forest on a US Air Force Base With Drone LIDAR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scVpz95UWqk

• [Article] Pinpointing 3D Scanning’s Biggest Trends for 2025 https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/98634-pinpointing-3d-scannings-biggest-trends-for-2025

• [Case study] Computer science team uses AR to treat Parkinson’s https://www.unc.edu/discover/computer-science-team-uses-ar-to-treat-parkinsons/

• [Article] BIM training and new digital learning for the Japanese construction market https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/digital-construction-news/bim-news/bim-training-new-digital-learning-japanese-construction-market/148878/

• [Case study] Finland uses self-driving cars to collect geospatial data https://www.gim-international.com/content/news/self-driving-cars-in-finland-to-collect-geospatial-data

• [Article] 6% of architects use AI regularly https://www.constructiondive.com/news/architects-ai-regular-use-six-percent/743243/

Timestamps

0:00 Intro

0:29  Marie Tharp’s mapping of the ocean floor 50 years ago

3:33 Quick caps overview

4:02 Abyss Autonomy: Uncrewed Vessels, Geospatial Collaboration, and Florida Seafloor Mapping

6:25 Can Construction Tech Adoption Really Be as Easy as Three Steps?

8:53 LiDAR and AI, Giving Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Engineers the Light of Way

11:00 Exam, Cleaning, X-Ray…Photogrammetry

12:49 AEC Error of the Week: Kansas City’s Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse of 1981.

Primary Re/Cap sources:

https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2020/07/24/marie-tharp-connecting-dots/

https://woolpert.com/news/press-releases/woolpert-chance-maritime-employ-autonomous-vessel-and-team-collaboration-to-efficiently-map-florida-seafloor/

https://www.forconstructionpros.com/construction-technology/article/22936717/rdo-equipment-co-the-3-phases-of-technology-adoption-understand-adjust-and-integrate

https://showme.missouri.edu/2025/researchers-using-lidar-and-ai-to-advance-transportation-engineering-and-safety/

https://www.dentistrytoday.com/intraoral-photogrammetry-the-next-step-in-full-arch-implant-precision/

https://dev.thinkreliability.com/case_studies/root-cause-analysis-of-the-hyatt-regency-disaster-cautionary-tale-about-assumptions/

Subscribe to The Re/Cap Newsletter! https://www.realitycapturenetwork.com/re-cap-sign-up
Past Re/Cap Newsletters: https://www.realitycapturenetwork.com/education

Welcome to The Re/Cap Podcast with Ellis Malmgren!  This week’s ‘cappenings:

• A major auto manufacturer’s decade-old, whole-factory digital twin

• Volvo calls on Gaussian splatting for safety

• The world’s first 100%-AI architectural project

• A consumer goods titan rethinks product shoots with digital twins and NVIDIA Omniverse

• Laser & structured light scanning thrill manufacturers

• An AEC Error of the Week in the 1960s at the height of high-rise craze

  
  

Quick caps:

• [Article] NVIDIA Open Sources 3D Gaussian Ray Tracing and 3D Gaussian Unscented Transform https://radiancefields.com/nvidia-releases-3d-gaussian-ray-tracing-and-3d-gaussian-unscented-transform

• [Podcast] Scaling Global Land Rights through Geospatial Innovation https://www.gim-international.com/content/article/scaling-global-land-rights-through-geospatial-innovation

• [Use Case] Digital Twin Consortium: Digital Twin-Enabled Microfactory for Smart Manufacturing https://www.digitaltwinconsortium.org/initiatives/technology-showcase/micro-factory/

• [Article] In the Age of AI, Idea Curation Will Eclipse Creation https://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/innovation-article/age-ai-idea-curation-will-eclipse-creation-032025.html

• [Case study] Public Works Pioneers Drones-as-a-Service Program for Salem, Oregon https://lidarmag.com/2025/03/14/public-works-pioneers-drones-as-a-service-program-for-salem-oregon/

• [Article] Inside Red Bull Racing: How 3D Printing and Scanning create a winning advantage in Formula One https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/inside-red-bull-racing-how-3d-printing-and-scanning-create-a-winning-advantage-in-formula-one-237590/

Timestamps

0:00 Intro: a 100% AI architecture project in historic Slovenia 

0:25  A whole-factory virtual twin…in 2016

2:37 What’s cappenin’ this week + quick caps

3:24  Volvo Is Making Fewer Things Splat, With Gaussian Splatting and Virtual Worlds

5:26  Archificial Intelligence: Behold the World’s First 100% AI Architecture Project

7:58  Deodorant Duet: The $150B Consumer Goods Company Using Digital Twins for Content Creation

9:47 Lighten Up: Laser & Structured Light Scanning, and the Twilight of Traditional Part Inspection

12:55  AEC Error of the Week: East London’s Ronan Point Collapse of 1968

Main Re/Cap sources:

https://www.volvogroup.com/en/news-and-media/news/2017/mar/virtual-twin-plant-shorten-lead-times.html

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/03/volvo-reconstructs-crashes-with-ai-in-virtual-worlds-to-make-safer-cars/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kissacastaneda/2025/03/13/see-inside-the-worlds-first-ai-architectural-project-by-studio-tim-fu/

https://www.unilever.com/news/press-and-media/press-releases/2025/unilever-reinvents-product-shoots-with-digital-twins-and-ai/

https://www.advancedmanufacturing.org/smart-manufacturing/light-em-up/article_80cf757c-0418-11f0-9d87-0fbad974851e.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-44498608

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIvD2agDBnM

Subscribe to The Re/Cap Newsletter! https://www.realitycapturenetwork.com/re-cap-sign-up
Previous Re/Cap Newsletters: https://www.realitycapturenetwork.com/education

Welcome to The Re/Cap Podcast with Ellis Malmgren!

What’s Cappenin’ This Week:- An 1854 mapping story that changed public health forever- GIS steadies pandemic mayhem- The world needs minerals, so mines need SLAM drones- The Middle East wants to build insane stuff, and robots might allow it- Digital twins expedite stroke recovery- An AEC Error of the week of a football stadium’s personal foul, roughing itself, automatic falldown Quick caps:- Apple says Enter virtual Sandman, gets immersive with Metallica for Apple Vision Pro: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/03/apple-unveils-immersive-concert-experience-with-metallica-for-apple-vision-pro/- Drone News: New Helius Drone, Blue UAS Changes, Skydio Sends Tracker to Police, & SkyeBrowse Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJaS-w16Ias- How digital twin tech can make a big difference in employers’ GLP-1 costs: https://hrexecutive.com/how-digital-twin-tech-can-make-a-big-difference-in-employers-glp-1-costs/- What are the trends driving BIM in North America?: https://www.bimplus.co.uk/what-are-the-trends-driving-bim-in-north-america/- The Matthew Byrd Podcast: Adapt or Die - The Future of Construction Technology!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61rcAdTkABI&t=2s- Student uses photogrammetry and 3D printing to recreate face of 2,000-year-old 'Kimmeridge Woman': https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeology-around-the-world/article-845420Episode Timeline0:00 Intro: The $500-billion Line 0:40 How an 1800s Epidemic Was Solved with GIS before there was GIS3:02 What’s cappenin’ this week, and quick caps3:44 COVID Had No Roadmap. GIS Helped Draw One, and Is Ready To Again.6:46 Simultaneous Laxing and Mining: SLAM Drones, Critical Minerals, and Mining’s Paradigm Shift8:49 Dune Droids: The Middle East’s Ambitious Construction, and How Robots May Achieve It Training10:55 PT, Meet DT: Digital Twins and Supercharged Stroke Recoveries12:57 AEC Error of the Week: The University of Washington Stadium Collapse of 1987Main Re/Cap sources:https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/john-snow-hunts-the-blue-death/https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/blog/covid-gis-five-year-look-back/https://insideunmannedsystems.com/mines-are-vital-to-the-us-economy-drones-have-joined-the-crew/https://www.cbnme.com/expert-insight/transforming-construction-in-the-middle-east-with-robotics/https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-exoskeleton-digital-twin-recovery.htmlhttps://www.historylink.org/File/2947Subscribe to The Re/Cap Newsletter! https://realitycapturenetwork.com/re-cap-signup/?_gl=1*18tlk62*_ga*MTA2NjI0NDQ4Ni4xNzMzNDE4Mzg4*_ga_6WRSZKK4DF*MTc0MjM5MzgyOC4xMjcuMS4xNzQyMzkzODMxLjAuMC4w*_ga_2KDEY26EET*MTc0MjM5MzgyOC4xNzcuMS4xNzQyMzkzODMxLjAuMC4wPrevious Re/Cap Newsletters: https://realitycapturenetwork.com/blogStay Connected with Reality Capture Network🔗 Explore more at: https://realitycapturenetwork.com/📲 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/realitycapturenetwork/?viewAsMember=true📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realitycapturenetwork/Subscribe for more insights! Stay updated on the latest in reality capture, AEC innovations, and emerging tech. Hit that like button and subscribe for future content!

Welcome to The Re/Cap Podcast, the expansion of RCN’s Re/Cap Newsletter - where reality capture stands, who’s advancing it, and the history behind it. 

This podcast, as it matures, will be far from a solo act. There will be a revolving door of guests, some of them RCN folk, some of them relevant to stories we’ll cover, and others who just own platinum brains you’re sure to glean something from. Enjoy, and we are honored to have you.

What’s Cappenin’ This Week:

• A mind-warping fossil site discovery 15 years ago…and what 3D scanning did with it

• iPhone whale scans bolster knowledge and conservation

• African city planning looks to airborne scanning

• AI-VR de-escalation training for police

• The American Society of Civil Engineers awards a robotic bridge inspector

• An AEC Error of the Week of a structure sinking faster than Drake’s career

  
  

Quick caps:

[Article] Meta Researchers Generate Photorealistic Avatars From Just Four Selfies

[Interview] Creating impact with geospatial and satellite Earth observation

[Article] Robots Making Robots: These Humanoid Robots Are Getting Set To Reproduce

[Article] AI’s Potential for Transforming The Gaming Industry 

[Video] Boston Dynamics Robotics: Pick, Carry, Place, Repeat | Inside the Lab with Atlas

[Video] I 3D-Printed My Drone Footage (Photogrammetry Magic!)

Episode Timeline

0:03 Podcast intro & context

1:05  Pre/Cap: Mind-bending fossil discovery 15 years ago in Chile

3:10 What’s Cappenin’ this week and quick caps

3:55 Mobi-Dick: Smartphone Capture, Stranded Marine Life, and New Necropsy Knowledge

6:21 Natural Disasters Have Made Africa’s Urban Planning Maddening. Aerial LiDAR’s Gladdening.

8:25 You Have the Right to Remain Silent, and Super Calm, Thanks to This New AI/VR De-Escalation Training

10:00 Truss the Process: American Society of Civil Engineers Awards Robotic Bridge Inspection System

11:29 AEC Error of the Week - Kansai International Airport

Main Re/Cap sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRLZ29mLdSQ

https://phys.org/news/2025-03-qa-smartphones-3d-scans-stranded.html -  https://www.suasnews.com/2025/03/utilizing-drone-technology-and-lidar-for-resilient-town-planning-in-african-cities-against-natural-disasters/

https://uknow.uky.edu/research/uk-researcher-enhances-police-de-escalation-training-immersive-ai-vr-simulations

https://news.mst.edu/2025/02/missouri-st-researchers-robotic-bridge-inspection-system-earns-asces-2025-pankow-award/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzr8lkiQ3_A&t=1s