Keynotes
Pekka Abrahamsson
Professor of software engineering
Member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters Faculty of Information Technology and Communications Sciences Tampere University
"From Vibe Coding to Vibe Building: What Software Engineers Got Wrong Before They Got It Right"
Bio:
Pekka Abrahamsson is Full Professor of Software Engineering at Tampere University and the founder of GPT-Lab, a research group operating across three campuses and studying how generative and agentic AI reshapes the way engineering work is specified, produced, and verified. His research spans empirical software engineering, and the organisational consequences of AI-native development practice. He is a member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, was named AI Researcher of the Year 2025 by AI Finland and Software Engineering Professor of the Year 2026. He works extensively with industry, building and deploying multi-agent systems as research instruments rather than demonstrations.
Information about the presentation:
Software engineers adopted generative AI two years before the built environment, and spent most of that time being wrong: about verification, about the durability of productivity gains, about prompting as a skill, and about where a profession keeps its truth. This keynote presents the empirical findings, what transfers directly to AEC and the one thing that does not.
Dr. Marzia Bolpagni
Head of BIM International - Associate Director, Mace Consult
"Building Trustworthy AI in AEC: The Role of International Standards"
Bio:
Marzia works as Associate Director at Mace Consult where she develops and implements digital construction solutions for public and private international clients. She holds a PhD in ICT and Smart Construction and she is passionate in filling the gap between industry and academia. She is glad to be a member of the BIMExcellence Initiative, Assistant Editor of the BIM Dictionary and Ambassador of Nima.
She is Expert at the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) TC 442 and ISO/TC 59/SC 13 where she chairs a Work Group on information requirements standardisation (Level of Information Need), an evolution from the concept of “LOD”. She is lead author of the Level of Information Need standard ISO 7817-1 and she has been appointed as liaison officer to the Artificial Intelligence groups both at ISO and CEN level. She is leading the special issue on "Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Construction Industry" for Artificial Intelligence for a Sustainable Built Environment Journal.
She is also PastChair of EC3 Modelling and Standards Committee, and Visiting Professor at Northumbria University. She is also founder of Italians in Digital Transformation Uk, she loves sharing her knowledge with students and she is often invited as keynote speaker at academic and industrial events.
She received 30+ awards for her activities.
She is co-author of the 4th edition of the BIM Handbook.
Information about the presentation:
Despite more and more organisations are incorporating AI procedures and solutions in AEC, its adoption remains often fragmented. Trusts and ethical use of data and algorithms has become a decisive factor determining whether AI genuinely accelerates innovation or introduces new risks. This keynote explores how international standards, developed by ISO and CEN, provide the essential foundation for trustworthy, ethical and effective use of AI in the Built Environment.
Adeline Chan
CEO & Co-Founder, AAL INNOVATION
"Beyond the Hype & Realities in Asia"
Listen or watch Adeline Chan's interview on AEC Businees Podcast.
Bio:
Adeline co-founded AAL INNOVATION LTD in 2024 when she recognised the potential of disruption that AI can do to the real estate and construction industry. Since then, her team has been grounded in research, engaging 200+ stakeholders mapped against 100+ AI ConTech and PropTech, bridging the supply (from China) and demand (globally) for domain-specific AI, consulting and customizing niche solutions for clients from Hong Kong to UAE to Kenya.
AAL became the first AI in AEC consultancy in the region and is now a fast-growing AI business transformation consultancy, multi-media creative studio serving the AEC and Real Estate sector — operating at the intersection of disciplines where most consultancies cannot.
On top of being a featured speaker at 70+ international events, Adeline also lectures regularly at four universities in Hong Kong including University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong, and guest lectures at international institutes frequently.
Adeline is also the Deputy-Chair at AI Association of Hong Kong, Womens’ Council, as well as an elected committee member at Royal Institute of British Architects Hong Kong chapter.
Information about the presentation:
How is AI actually being deployed in AEC today? Moving beyond speculation and drawing from AAL INNOVATION's direct experience in consulting and customizing niche AI ConTech solutions from China, exporting across Hong Kong, the UAE, and East Africa, eg. autogeneration of BIM MEP models, data-driven facility management for hospitals, and the most widely popular: AI for tender drafting.
This session ghost-busts myths and hype by offering a view on the state of play in AI in AEC, what are the advancements and use cases in AI in China and Asia. Other than Technology, Strategy and Operations are also key to cost-efficient AI deployment. Then how about the impact from the scales of Industry, Company and Individual practitioner? This session will also explain the difference between deciding on off-the-shelf AI tools versus custom-built solutions, and similarly, the difference between ‘+AI’ and ‘AI+’.
