Spacial appoints NYU professor Ravid Shwartz-Ziv as scientific adviser

Spacial, a Palo Alto-based startup specializing in AI-powered engineering for residential construction, has appointed Ravid Shwartz-Ziv as a scientific adviser. Shwartz-Ziv is an assistant professor at New York University’s Center for Data Science, where his research focuses on using information theory to explain the learning processes of large language models (LLMs).

Spacial’s platform aims to automate the conversion of 2D architectural drawings into 3D, code-compliant construction documents, including structural and MEP permit sets. The company seeks to address the lack of industry standards for verifying the accuracy and code compliance of AI-generated plans. By focusing on explainable AI, Spacial intends to make technical decisions in the planning and execution phases more transparent and robust, ultimately reducing project timelines and revisions.