The Re/Cap Podcast

Reality Capture Network
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If knowledge is power, and laughter is the best medicine, The Re/Cap Podcast is the 21st century’s penicillin. Except it’s free. No matter your field, The Re/Cap Podcast with RCN’s Ellis Malmgren serves up tech news in the industry’s most distinctive manner. Drawn from RCN’s signature Re/Cap newsletter, it’s where reality capture stands, who’s advancing it, and the history behind it. Oh, it’s also home to RCN’s famed AEC Error of the Week. It’s fun, informed, curious, a wee bit bold, and it would love to have you.

  1. FEB 10

    CHRIS MILLBERN: CyArk, Cultural Heritage, Ukraine, DRC, Petra, Gaussian Splatting, Teaching 3D

    Photographer and interdisciplinary scientist Chris Millbern is Head of Field Capture for CyArk, providing key technical and field experience in the areas of 3D mapping and cultural preservation. From Mt. Everest to underwater caves, Chris has led dozens of teams across the globe for everything from filmmaking to conservation, specializing in remote and hazardous environments. Having earned a degree in Ecology and Environmental Biology from UCLA, Chris was later chosen as the Rolex 2016 North American Scholar and has since been featured numerous times with National Geographic, BBC, Smithsonian, and other media outlets in print and television. Chris is involved with designing data capture techniques, expedition logistics and planning, and building lasting on-the-ground relationships around the world.

    2h 18m

  2. JAN 29

    Arctic Data’s Evolution, the International Polar Year, and Greenland Rescue Drones

    While layering up for the occasion, Ellis Malmgren covers the 145 years of the Arctic data-collection extravaganza known as the International Polar Year, or IPY - and why only four have occurred since 1881. He then connects the history to a modern-day case study in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, involving drones, AI, machine learning, and emergency response. Sources: IPY: https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/arctic-zone/ipy.html https://wayback.archive-it.org/23655/20241216111902/http://icestories.exploratorium.edu/dispatches/big-ideas/international-polar-year/index.html https://fortconger.org/histoire_de_la_premiere_annee_polaire_internationale-history_of_the_first_international_polar_year https://gml.noaa.gov/obop/spo/igy_history.html https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/65-years-ago-the-international-geophysical-year-begins/ https://earthzine.org/securing-the-legacy-of-ipy-2/ https://library.arcticportal.org/1211/1/IPY_Summary.pdf Arctic drones: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/11/arctic-drones-search-rescue-disaster-response/

    9 min

  3. JAN 20

    FORGET PISA! The Leaning Towers of Santos, Brazil, and Reality Capture in Construction & Engineering

    Ellis Malmgren details the history and causes of the leaning towers in Santos, Brazil, before explaining what reality capture and construction technology could have done to mitigate it…and why that’s still relevant today. 00:00 If You Think Watching a Lean Is Distracting…00:10 Brazil’s Soccer Supremacy… and an AEC Red Card00:20 Santos’ Three Claims to Fame00:40 651 Buildings That Forgot “Plumb”00:47 What Caused These Concrete Contortionists?01:00 Just Good Old-Fashioned Human Greed01:05 Post-War Boom, Cheap & Fast Construction01:17 Cutting Corners (Literally)01:35 Built on a Sand Trampoline01:45 Differential Settlement Takes Over01:55 MEP!? More Like WTF02:05 Living Inside a Funhouse02:30 Rooftop Putt-Putt, Anyone?02:35 Are the Leaning Towers Actually Safe?02:55 Can You Straighten a Building?03:10 Only Two Towers Got the Full Chiropractic Treatment03:30 What Could Have Prevented This Entire Mess03:40 No, the Tech Didn’t Exist in the 50s (That’s Not the Point)03:55 Reality Capture vs. Human Greed04:15 Seeing the Ground’s Deception Before Construction04:30 The Seven-Meter Sand Red Flag04:45 Verifying Instead of Just Trusting05:00 AI Detecting Lean Before Humans Notice05:10 Simulating Decades of Structural Regret05:35 Listening to Buildings in Real Time05:55 Turning Lean Into an Early Warning System06:00 Final Takeaway: Bring a Level to SantosSources:https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/leaning-towers-of-santoshttps://thetravellingsurveyor.com/2023/08/11/a-visit-to-brazil-baixada-santista-santos-sp-part-1/https://www.odditycentral.com/architecture/giant-dominoes-the-tilted-apartment-buildings-of-santos.htmlhttps://www.storyproductions.com/leaning-towers-santoshttps://www.smh.com.au/world/south-america/the-leaning-towers-of-santos-and-the-people-who-live-on-an-angle-20181113-p50fmb.htmlStay Connected with Reality Capture Network🔗 Explore more at: https://realitycapturenetwork.com/📲 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/realitycapturenetwork/?viewAsMember=true📸 Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realitycapturenetwork/Subscribe for more insights! Stay updated on the latest in reality capture, AEC innovations, and emerging tech. Hit that like button and subscribe for future content!

    7 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    Jason Jamerson: LSU XR Studio, NASA Digital Twins, Gaming, Film & Entertainment, Agriculture

    Jason Jamerson is the Director of Virtual Production at LSU, and Director of the XR Studio. He is also a professor and a 20 year veteran of the entertainment industry in NYC as a Design Supervisor and Production Designer for film and TV clients including HBO, Netflix, Paramount, and The History Channel, as well as both on and Off-Broadway.Today he creates momentum at the intersection of the Arts and Sciences through building relationships, producing and curating world-class performances, and developing applied research. He helps lead teams creating simulations and digital twins, film and commercial video, and immersive and interactive media, including live performance, video games, and AR / XR content.LSU XR Studio: https://xr.lsu.edu/Jason’s website & projects: https://jasonjamerson.com/index.html 00:00 Intro – Digital Twins, Art & Innovation at LSU 01:25 Jason Jamerson & the LSU XR Studio 05:25 Digital Twins, Syngenta & the Future of Energy 15:12 Real-World Impact of Digital Twins & AI 25:10 Open-Source Tools, Game Engines & XR 31:25 NASA’s Rocket Factory Digital Twin 44:25 From Entertainment to Industrial Innovation 55:45 Building the LSU XR Studio 1:04:25 XR Projects, Education & Industry Partnerships 1:15:25 Leadership, Creativity & Constraints 1:29:10 AI, Storytelling & the Future of Creativity 1:35:00 Live Theater, Art & Human Experience 1:43:30 What’s Next – Innovation & 2026 Outlook 1:46:30 Final Thoughts & Where to Follow

    1h 47m

  5. 12/05/2025

    Gaussian Splatting, Why It’s Called That, and World Models

    Description Ellis Malmgren explains how one of the most innovative 3D rendering techniques ties back to one of history’s most accomplished mathematicians - Carl Friedrich Gauss. Plus, a breakdown of today’s “world models” (Marble, JEPA, Google Genie 3) and the competition around them.  00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:43 The Legacy of Carl Friedrich Gauss 03:06 Gaussian Splatting in 3D Rendering 04:21 Introduction to World Models 05:12 The Battle of World Models 08:03 Conclusion: The Future of World Models

    8 min

  6. 11/17/2025

    Dr. Caldwell Buntin: Drone Dinosaur Discovery, Photogrammetry, VR, Geology, Mars, De-Extinction

    Rogers “Caldwell” Buntin is a researcher, lecturer, and drone pilot who received his Ph.D. in Ocean & Earth Sciences from Old Dominion University. He specializes in interpreting subtle fossilized traces that reveal how dinosaurs interacted with their environments. He joins Ellis Malmgren to explain his recent discovery at Dinosaur Ridge in Colorado; an apparent 100-million-year-old “dinosaur dance floor,” a site covered in intricate scrape marks and depressions made by theropods performing courtship displays. Using drones and high-resolution imaging, Buntin and his team interpreted these features as evidence of mating rituals, offering a rare glimpse into dinosaur social behavior and reshaping how scientists think about life in the Cretaceous. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:26 Dinosaur Ridge Discovery 01:27 Drone Photogrammetry and Field Work 04:07 Courtship Scrapes and Theories 18:40 Challenges and Logistical Hurdles 33:53 Emerging Technologies in Paleontology 50:02 Digitized Samples and Field Visualization 51:18 Communication and Collaboration in Research 52:10 Adoption and Resistance to New Technologies 54:17 3D Scanning and Its Potential 56:01 Artificial General Intelligence in Geology 57:42 Integrating Technology in Education 01:14:08 Challenges and Misconceptions in Field Work 01:16:47 Mentorship and Influences 01:19:51 Drone Piloting and Photography 01:27:41 Life Beyond Earth 01:34:15 Public Reach and De-Extinction 01:39:20 GIS and NASA Internship 01:43:03 Future Plans and Conclusion

    1h 45m

  7. 11/07/2025

    Matthew Byrd & Phillip Ellering: 5 Years of R-CON, Community, Education, RCN Collective, 2026

    Matthew Byrd is Founder & CEO of Reality Capture Network, where Phillip Ellering serves as VP of Creative. They talk with Ellis Malmgren about the 5 year journey of RCN’s flagship conference, R-CON, which just hosted its fifth rendition and will be expanding next year into Boise, Idaho’s largest venue.The RCN Collective is a new membership-based community platform that channels R-CON's signature spirit of collaboration, learning, and innovation. Its features include technical discussion forums, project requests board, collaborative channels, social hubs, a membership directory, an exclusive content library, and the RCN Committees.

    1h 16m

  8. 10/23/2025

    Dawn Zoldi, P3 Tech Consulting CEO: Autonomy, Drones, the Air Force, Law & Policy, Industries

    Dawn M.K. Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, Retired) is a licensed attorney with 28 years of combined active duty military and federal civil service to the U.S. Air Force. She is the CEO & Founder of P3 Tech Consulting, Publisher of Autonomy Global and an internationally recognized expert on uncrewed aircraft system law and policy, featured on Fox News, CNN, Forbes and Newsweek and on the PBS television network (show host Emmy-nominated series). Her Dawn of Autonomy podcast was recognized as one of the “Top 7 Drone Podcasts 2024 (The Drone Girl) and the “Best Drone Podcast of the Year 2023” (The Droning Company). She has also been recognized by FDI Insider as the Tech Advocacy Champion of the Year - USA 2024, Great Companies in the Consulting Category for the 6th International Women Entrepreneur 2024 Awards and has been listed as one of the Top Women in Aerospace & Aviation to Follow on LinkedIn for several years. Ms. Zoldi is the author of the book Unmanned Aircraft Systems Legal and Business Considerations: A Modern Primer for U.S. Drone Programs. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:28 Dawn's Military Journey 03:27 Early Legal Challenges and Career Highlights 15:03 Founding P3 Tech Consulting 18:36 The Birth of Autonomy Global 21:27 Challenges and Opportunities in Autonomy 30:44 Insights on Policy and Industry Trends 44:45 Aviation History and Drone Integration 45:11 The Ecosystem of Drone Technology 49:04 Geospatial Technology and Drones 51:40 Future Industries and Drones 55:39 International Approaches to Drone Regulation 59:34 Autonomous Units in Combat 01:10:10 AI in Law and Technology 01:12:54 Drone Privacy and Regulations 01:16:14 Personal Insights and Reflections 01:28:53 Conclusion and Future Prospects

    1h 31m
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About

If knowledge is power, and laughter is the best medicine, The Re/Cap Podcast is the 21st century’s penicillin. Except it’s free. No matter your field, The Re/Cap Podcast with RCN’s Ellis Malmgren serves up tech news in the industry’s most distinctive manner. Drawn from RCN’s signature Re/Cap newsletter, it’s where reality capture stands, who’s advancing it, and the history behind it. Oh, it’s also home to RCN’s famed AEC Error of the Week. It’s fun, informed, curious, a wee bit bold, and it would love to have you.

Information

  • Creator
    Reality Capture Network
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Reality Capture Network
  • Show Website
    The Re/Cap Podcast