AECOM

Russ Dalton

Digital Construction Authority

Russ Dalton is a construction and infrastructure professional currently associated with AECOM, contributing to large-scale development and engineering projects across the United States. Based in the Louisville metropolitan area, he brings experience in managing complex construction initiatives and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Russ has been involved in high-profile projects, including major transportation and sports infrastructure developments, reflecting his commitment to quality and innovation in the built environment. Known for his team-oriented approach and industry expertise, he continues to play a key role in delivering impactful construction solutions while supporting organizational growth and project excellence.

Digital Tools Breaking Old School Barriers

Technologies like BIM, automation, and digital collaboration have fundamentally enhanced the design, preconstruction, and build process by creating things in the virtual space prior to construction. The results are measurable; teams are seeing a 29% increase in speed.

“ I position innovation early in the pursuit and scope definitions to ensure client buying to the value. “

I have executed in both directions (bottom up and top down). From the bottom, it is by implementing 3D design/ collaboration techniques to make more efficient and profitable production. From the top down, I seek executive level buy in to position our company in a more competitive position and in winning more projects. To that end, we have witnessed a 46% increase in win rate. In both scenarios we experience the same hurdles with the old school project management teams who seek to execute from the 1980's. As such, I have allocated a new PM approach towards digital twin delivery successfully.

I position innovation early in the pursuit and scope definitions to ensure client buying to the value. This has worked very well.

Managing Smarter with Metrics and AI

Develop clear guidelines to objectives at each deliverable. I believe that I cannot manage that which I cannot measure. As such, I have developed dashboards to monitor successes and make these dashboards available on demand to senior level management. Total transparency!

I am certain the AI technology we are developing at the design level will reduce our risk for better construction documents. In the construction side of our business, the new AI developments we are implementing will reduce our paper processes in the construction trailer. This reduction will allow our professionals to spend more time delivering a better project, on time and under budget.