shelidonJuly 20, 20242 Comments on Autodesk University 2024 – My Personal Selection (1)

The catalogue of classes for Autodesk University 2024 is here, and I have the privilege of having been selected amongst the speakers, so around October 13th I’ll be flying to San Diego with my significant otter and I’ll bask in a whole week of networking and high-level training. The event includes more than 650 sessions, and one of them is mine: “The Three-Horizons Problem: Using LEGO Serious Play for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Design” (id. CI1542). It’s my most ambitious project so far and I’m super-thrilled to be able to present it. It’ll take place Tuesday, Oct 15 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

I’ve been browsing the catalogue and here’s my personal selection of the classes I’m considering attending. They’re roughly grouped by topic.

Industry Innovation, Gamification and Design Thinking

Kenton Grant, AS4425 | Establishing a Design Technology Department
Tuesday, Oct 15
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM PDT

This session will explore Olson Kundig’s journey in forming a new design technology (DT) department, sharing insights from their foundational year. It will highlight their collaboration with leadership to align the department’s vision with firm goals, strategies for fostering creativity and efficiency and building a dynamic team. The discussion will cover empowering DT leaders, overcoming challenges, and best practices for establishing a successful DT department. Attendees will learn both strategic and practical aspects of building and leading a DT department that significantly impacts project outcomes and firm-wide innovation.

Sen Zhang, AS2603 | Revit as a Game Engine
Tuesday, Oct 15
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM PDT

This session will explore the concept of treating Building Information Modeling (BIM) software as a game engine, drawing parallels between BIM management and game design. It will cover designing user-friendly workflows, handling exceptions, and keeping users engaged, all within the limitations of Revit software. The presentation will showcase games built entirely within Revit and efforts to gamify professional production work at Ennead Architects, highlighting innovative approaches to using BIM in architecture.

Laura Kalinowski, EDU1050 | Enhancing Lesson Plans and Strengthening Industry Partnerships: A Collaborative Workshop for CTE Teachers
Tuesday, Oct 15
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM PDT

This collaborative workshop aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and partnership within the Career and Technical Education (CTE) community. It will focus on enhancing lesson plans, building industry partnerships, and engaging post-secondary educators to better prepare students for the evolving workforce. Industry professionals are invited to contribute their expertise in designing hands-on activities and industry-specific lesson plans, while teachers are encouraged to bring their ideas for collaboration. Attendees will actively engage, ask questions, and help establish a national network of STEM teachers and industry partners.

Laura Kalinowski, EDU1054 | Empowering Tomorrow’s Innovators: Fostering a Connection Between Industry and STEM Programs for Girls
Tuesday, Oct 15
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM PDT

Also dubbed “Maker Girl Mania: Inspiring Future STEM Leaders Part Two,”, the presentation will delve into the vital connection between industry and STEM education to inspire girls. Highlighting the impactful programs Maker Girl Mania and Tech Girls, the session will showcase how industry collaboration enhances STEM learning experiences, fostering creativity, problem-solving skills, and innovation. Participants will gain insights into best practices for engaging with schools and existing programs, aiming to create supportive environments for girls to excel in STEM fields. Join us to unlock the potential of the next generation of female innovators.

Jared Coelho, CS4375 | AEC Workforce Development: The Path to Human Flourishing
Wednesday, Oct 16
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM PDT

This session will highlight the partnership between Autodesk and the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA), focusing on how integrating Autodesk software into their Continuing Technical Education program helps marginalized communities enter the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. The discussion will emphasize proactive engagement strategies to enhance the pipeline of talented and productive entrants from these communities.

Jordan Giboney, AS3002 | M&E Magic in AEC
Wednesday, Oct 16
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM PDT

This class will showcase how the gamer generation, now in the workforce, is leveraging technology for fast, high-quality results in architecture, engineering, and construction. Participants will learn how the Autodesk Media and Entertainment collection can enhance AEC storytelling, visualization, and simulation and explore game engine workflows to create immersive experiences that expedite project completion.

Harrison Daigle, AS2579 | Outcome-Based Design: The Shift of Design Technology and Tools
Thursday, Oct 17
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM PDT

This session will explore the evolution of design and drafting tools, from CAD and BIM to AI, and how these technologies can prepare teams for the future. It will draw on experiences from a multidisciplinary design firm, highlighting the varied technology adoption rates and digital maturity across planning, landscape, architecture, and interiors. The focus will be on using lessons learned from completed projects as quantitative outcomes to inform new projects. By analyzing over 50 years of digital asset creation and completed projects, the session aims to uncover the potential within digital archives for enhancing future design processes.

Data Management

Jeremiah Owens, CS3022 | Data Sharing: When, Where, Why, and How?
Tuesday, Oct 15
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM PDT

This talk will address the importance of data sharing and collaboration in the design world, emphasizing how essential it is for minimizing costly construction mistakes. It will explore the potential of cloud tools for collaboration and discuss the challenges and questions surrounding effective data-sharing practices. Key questions to be answered include when and how to share information, the frequency of sharing, and ensuring that all project information is accessible to everyone.

Urban Design and Heritage

Ciaran Garrick, AS2220 | Preserving Our Heritage: Technology Strategies for the Digitization and Reuse of Existing Buildings
Tuesday, Oct 15
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM PDT

This talk will explore how technology, particularly Building Information Modeling (BIM), is playing a crucial role in preserving architectural heritage. It will present practical examples of documenting and adapting historic buildings using BIM, highlighting the capture of intricate details and their integration with contemporary spaces. The discussion will focus on developing project-specific BIM strategies for heritage buildings, and the necessary team skills, technology, and data to successfully deliver these projects.

Natalia Montero, AS4123 | Toward Safe and Inclusive Urban Landscapes: Bringing BIM and GIS Together
Wednesday, Oct 16
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM PDT

This talk will explore how integrating BIM (Building Information Modeling) and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) can help address spatial challenges in urban and infrastructure projects, enabling data collection and management to prioritize solutions effectively. Participants will learn to implement GIS interoperability with BIM in early-stage planning to create more sustainable, inclusive, and welcoming cities.

Artificial Intelligence

Dennis Goff, AS1412 | Artificial Intern: Let the Robots Get the Coffee
Tuesday, Oct 15
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM PDT

This class will explore the impact of AI on the architectural profession, emphasizing that AI can enhance rather than replace the work of architects. It will demonstrate how AI can take over tedious tasks, allowing architects to focus on meaningful design work and enabling junior staff to gain valuable experience. Practical examples from ZGF Architects will illustrate the integration of AI into workflows such as project benchmarking, Revit automation, and semantic search of code documents.

Wissam Akra, CS1784 | Overcoming the Project Diversity Dilemma: AI-Powered Solutions for Optimizing Diverse Subcontractor Sourcing
Wednesday, Oct 16
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM PDT

This session will explore the profound impact of diversifying trade partner relationships in the construction industry, highlighting how AI streamlines subcontractor sourcing, enhances compliance, and fosters innovation. Attendees will discover how embracing diversity drives down costs, increases competition, and cultivates a more robust and resilient construction landscape. The presentation will showcase the transformative power of inclusion in propelling the industry forward.

Diana Cristina Binciu, AS1653 | From Flat to Fab: Greening Landscapes with Landscape Information Modeling and Artificial Intelligence
Thursday, Oct 17
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM PDT

This session will advocate for the digital evolution of landscape design, transitioning from 2D to Landscape Information Modeling (LIM) with Revit tools and workflows, as demonstrated by Henning Larsen architects. It will also explore how AI can empower landscapers to optimize resource management, enhance water efficiency, and improve sustainability metrics like energy consumption, carbon footprint, and ecological equilibrium.

Yael Netser, AS4145 | Ethics in Computational Design: Infusing Equity into AI and Generative Design for Building Design Processes
Thursday, Oct 17
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM PDT

AI and generative design (GD) are revolutionizing the architecture, engineering, and construction industry, enhancing building functionality and sustainability. This talk will present innovative research from Carnegie Mellon University on incorporating equity and social sustainability values into a collaborative GD-ML framework, ensuring ethical and socio-sustainable design decisions are measurable and transparent to all stakeholders for a more equitable and resilient built environment.

These are just industry talks. I’ll take a look at the other formats in the upcoming days. What about you? Are you coming to San Diego or attending remote? Do you have a selection already? Share it in the comments!