SPACEGASS and the Evolution of Legacy Tools for the New Era (w/ Ben James)

“How can our beloved engineering tools evolve for the future?”Most structural engineering workflows still rely on disconnected tools, manual processes, and time-consuming iterations, where engineers spend as much time managing data as they do making decisions. In this episode, I sit down with Ben James, CEO of SPACE GASS, to explore how engineering software is evolving in the age of AI, automation, and interconnected systems. From his journey as a consulting engineer to leading one of Australia’s most widely used structural analysis platforms, Ben shares how tools are becoming more powerful, more connected, and more central to the way engineers work.But as technology accelerates, the conversation shifts beyond software itself. Ben and Owen unpack what it really means to keep “the engineer in the loop”, why fundamentals matter more than ever, and how the best engineers will use these tools to amplify their judgment, not replace it. Whether you’re an engineer, consultant, or simply interested in the future of technical work, this episode explores the balance between innovation and expertise, and why the next evolution of engineering is not just smarter tools, but smarter workflows built around them.🔑 Key Takeaways:- Engineering software is evolving from isolated tools into connected ecosystems where data flows seamlessly.- AI increases speed, iteration, and output, but shifts value toward human judgment, interpretation, and decision-making.- The most effective engineers understand what technology can do, even if they don’t build it themselves.- Modern engineering teams increasingly require software expertise to automate processes and integrate systems effectively.- Innovation enhances engineering capability, but strong fundamentals and mentorship remain essential for reliable outcomes.⏱ Timestamps:00:00 - Engineering Meets AI Evolution4:05 - From Engineer to CEO8:11 - Engineer-Build Software Advantage14:03 - Disconnected Engineering workflows17:20 - AI in Fixing Workflows24:46 - Lowering the Barrier with AI30:13 - Engineers vs Software Complexity35:11 - Why Engineers Need Developers40:00 - Experience Still Matters Most46:00 - Guiding Engineers in the AI Era🔗 Guest: Ben JamesCEO of SPACE GASSWebsite: https://www.spacegass.com/LinkedIn (Company): https://au.linkedin.com/company/space-gassLinkedIn (Ben James): https://au.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjjames🎧 Host & Links LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/owenrkeenan Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vcBFpl87NcqpLf0seIRaW YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE9Ax8jAJl2x0QQp3cO8vrw VoiceInspect.ai (AI for inspections): https://www.voiceinspect.ai👉 Subscribe to the Structural Intelligence Podcast on YouTube and Spotify to stay updated on new episodes.#EngineeringFuture #Enginnering #TechInnovation