Build Better Podcast Technology & Innovation

Utilizing Technology with the End User in Mind

by Emily Langner

Daniel Stonecipher

In episode 24 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia talked with Daniel Stonecipher, senior director of innovation at PROCON, Inc., a design/build firm based in New Hampshire.

Stonecipher is responsible for setting and overseeing the company’s overall innovation and technology initiatives. His primary role defines PROCON’s internal operational effectiveness and design/build capabilities using leading-edge technology and processes for a more efficient and interactive client experience.

Stonecipher shared how companies can use technology to collect and transform data into usable insights, further streamlining operations and effectively developing an “end in mind” strategy. 

This includes really understanding what information is being captured in the early phases of a project, he says, and the data that “would really directly translate into facilities management and assets management uses at the end of the day.” Stonecipher says, the “greatest insights that we find from this data we’ve collected is, how does it apply back to our businesses, which always revert to: Where did this happen, who was involved, when did it happen, how did it happen? Being able to capture this information during that design/construction/commissioning process in a geospatial way opens up a whole new avenue of data analysis and analytics.”

He says an advantage of data collection early and often is to “go beyond design phases and into construction phases, and make sure you centralize on a common platform so data can be co-located to allow for the greatest amount of exposure and transparency through the process.” This allows for lower project costs because information is clearly articulated and people are able to respond meaningfully and in shorter time frames.

Stonecipher says the end goal is to be able to collect very specific information about what was delivered during a project so a client can better analyze it later. He emphasizes that there is host of information that can be captured during the design phase that will come into play later on when a building owner is analyzing what their energy usage will be, what systems work well and which ones don’t, and identifying specific materials that contribute to lowering embodied carbon and other sustainability measures, for example.

As a final note, Stonecipher recommends companies be open to technology, to understand their organization and people, and clearly identify how they can leverage technology to help them do their jobs better. He adds that by understanding ahead of time what you’re really trying to get out of the data you’re collecting, you can better understand how to use it to the benefit of your clients and the project.

Listen to episode 24 now!