*Subject to Change*
Thursday | March 19
Opening Plenary- CI & CRC | AEI & IRD: TxDOT's Digital Delivery Transformation
This session provides a comprehensive look at the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) project landscape, anchored by an in-depth presentation from the TxDOT Digital Delivery Program. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the state's digital delivery pilot projects, including a specific focus on the digital transformation of the high-profile I-35 Northeast Expansion (NEX) Central project.
Session Highlights:
- The Digital Delivery Program and State-of-the-Art Practices: Discover the program's strategic goals, including standardizing processes, leveraging data, and training the workforce for a fully digital future. Learn how digital delivery improves project communication, reduces risks, and provides more accurate model-based quantities, leading to lower construction costs.
- Project Portfolio Overview: Gain insights into TxDOT's broader project landscape and how the Digital Delivery Program is scaling these advancements across the state's transportation network.
- The NEX Project Digital Showcase: Get an exclusive look at how the I-35 NEX project is piloting these innovations, using digital deliverables to enhance project execution and collaboration.
This session is a must-attend for anyone interested in the future of project delivery, from project managers and engineers to asset managers and technology partners.
Speakers: Jacob Tambunga, P.E., Director, Digital Delivery, Texas Department of Transportation; Marco Galindo, P.E., Senior Construction Engineer for the IH 35 NEX Project, Alternative Project Delivery Supervisor, Texas Department of Transportation
Friday | March 20
Afternoon Plenary Session- Perspectives from Innovation Leaders: The Future of Engineering and Construction
As the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry accelerates into an era defined by artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, digital twins, and automation, innovation is transforming every stage of project delivery. This session brings together two leading voices; Charles Hixon, Former Chief Digital Officer at Mott MacDonald, and Thai Nguyen, Director of Innovation at Hensel Phelps; for a candid discussion on how innovation is reshaping design, construction, collaboration, and the workforce across the built environment. Through an engaging dialogue, they will share real-world examples, discuss organizational strategies for fostering innovation, and highlight what it takes to lead change in an industry balancing tradition with rapid technological evolution. The discussion will also offer insights into how academia and industry can collaborate to prepare the next generation of professionals for this rapidly changing landscape. The session will be conducted in a moderated format to promote a dynamic Q&A and exchange of ideas.
Moderator: Melissa Rohland, MBA, PE, PMP, Director of Strategic Programs, Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc.
Speakers: Charles Hixon, Former Chief Digital Officer at Mott MacDonald; Thai Nguyen, Director of Innovation at Hensel Phelps