Leading Through Change
With Parsons Corporation’s Dr. Jim Birdsall

Dr. Jim Birdsall, Chief Technology Officer of Infrastructure for North America at Parsons Corporation, joins this episode of The Trailblazers podcast to explore how AI, digital engineering and human-centered innovation are reshaping the future of infrastructure. He and BST Global Chief Marketing Officer Eileen M. Canady discuss how his grandfather’s involvement in the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge and other engineering marvels inspired his own passion for the industry.

Their conversation delves into Jim’s role in bringing advanced technology, particularly AI, into Parsons Corporation’s 21,000‑person global operations. He explains how breakthroughs in LiDAR, SLAM modeling and scan‑to‑BIM workflows allow teams to create analysis‑ready digital twins that they couldn’t have five years ago. Jim acknowledges the growth he’s seeing in the workforce, noting, “As our contractors, designers and clients work within that environment, they’re able to build on that wealth of knowledge.”

Dr. Birdsall shares real examples of how AI is changing the world, like using traffic data from Vancouver’s Department of Transportation systems to accelerate city-wide safety analytics. He also discusses how Parsons Corporation is taking a disciplined, value-focused approach as the company embeds AI into rail operations, asset management and its digital engineering framework.

Listen to the full episode to hear Jim’s thoughts on a fully digitized infrastructure ecosystem and more!