In this episode of AEC Trailblazers, Valentin Noves sits down with **David Alpert, CEO and co-founder of Geopogo**, to explore how real-time visualization and AI-driven tools are reshaping the architectural profession. Alpert, an award-winning architect turned product innovator, shares his journey from managing landmark projects to building Geopogo Cities, a platform that leverages Unreal Engine, AR/VR, and BIM integration to transform the way architects, contractors, and clients engage with design at scale. The conversation begins with a striking reality check: in the United States, architects are involved in just 25% of projects, and only 1% of residential work. This leaves a massive gap where design expertise could add value but remains inaccessible, often because architectural services are perceived as too expensive. For Alpert, technology holds the key to unlocking this market. By making architectural workflows more efficient and outputs more affordable, digital tools can expand the reach of the profession while maintaining its creative essence. Importantly, he emphasizes that while automation and AI are critical enablers, they will never replace the human creativity and client connection at the heart of architecture. The episode also delves into Geopogo’s mission to bridge design data with urban context. With Geopogo Cities, architects can drop Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, Archicad, and other models into fully rendered city-scale environments for instant design reviews and stakeholder presentations. This capability not only accelerates decision-making but also ensures projects are viewed in context, supporting better collaboration and transparency. Beyond pure visualization, Alpert raises thought-provoking points about privacy and visibility in the digital age. Drawing from a personal anecdote about using Google Street View in Madrid to locate his daughter’s building, he reflects on the limits of current tools and the ethical questions they raise. While it’s now possible to navigate neighborhoods and evaluate design impacts virtually, interior visibility remains off-limits—and in some countries, entire views are restricted due to concerns like terrorism. This sparks a discussion on what the future might hold as digital visibility expands and how architects must balance transparency with security. Alpert also underscores the shift architects must make when stepping into the product world. Developing Geopogo required leaving behind a purely architectural mindset and learning to think like product builders—understanding user adoption, scalability, and the broader tech ecosystem. It’s a shift many in the AEC industry will face as technology becomes an integral layer of practice. For architects, engineers, and construction professionals, this episode provides a deep dive into the intersection of design, data, and digital ethics. From market gaps in architectural services to the promises and pitfalls of city-scale visualization, the conversation with David Alpert is a reminder that the tools we build today will define how the built environment evolves tomorrow. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit everse.substack.com
