Revolutionizing Construction Scheduling with AI
This episode of AEC Trailblazers: The Founders Files features René Morkos, the founder and CEO of ALICE Technologies.
The conversation begins with a discussion about the gap between academic theory and practical application, a challenge René encountered during his PhD research. Prior to his academic pursuits, René had an unusual career, including a stint in Afghanistan where he gained valuable leadership experience at 22 years old managing a team of 140. These experiences shaped his entrepreneurial spirit, leading him to eventually become an AEC Startup co-founder and leader.
René dives into the capabilities ALICE is unlocking for the industry. By leveraging AI, the platform optimizes project scheduling and planning, resulting in significant time and cost savings. The core functionality of ALICE lies in its ability to explore millions of scheduling sequences, identify potential bottlenecks, and provide actionable insights to project teams, achieved through a rule-based system that works in conjunction with 3D BIM models.
Finally, René emphasizes the importance of passion and perseverance in entrepreneurship, highlighting the numerous challenges faced by startups, such as financial constraints and client retention.
About René Morkos, Founder and CEO of ALICE Technologies
René obtained his Ph.D. in artificial intelligence applications for construction as a Charles H. Leavell fellow at Stanford University. He is a second-generation civil engineer with over 15 years of construction industry experience divided between industry and academia. His professional experience includes working as a project manager in Afghanistan, underwater pipeline construction, automation engineering on a $350 million gas refinery expansion project in Abu Dhabi, ERP system implementations, and various Virtual Design and Construction projects.
With the launch of ALICE, René introduced the industry to a paradigm shift in construction scheduling and is on a mission to empower the construction industry with AI-powered generative construction scheduling technology to derisk projects and recover from delays.
