Navigating the Future: Highlights from Autodesk University 2024 in San Diego
Autodesk University 2024 in sunny San Diego was a convergence of innovation, insight, and inspiration. From 15th to 17th October, over 12000 industry leaders, professionals, and enthusiasts gathered to explore the cutting edge of design and making. The event was a whirlwind of keynotes, panel discussions, and demonstrations that showcased how technology is reshaping our world. Here are the standout moments that captured the essence of AU 2024.
Driving Transformation: Empowering a New Era in Design and Making
The first keynote by Andrew Anagnost President & Chief Executive Officer set the tone for the conference, emphasising Autodesk’s pivotal role in the rapidly advancing technological landscape. As industries grapple with the pace of change, Autodesk is leading the charge by integrating AI to deliver practical, productivity-enhancing solutions.
Harnessing the Power of Data
Data is at the core of Autodesk’s strategy. By enabling users to structure and manage data through industry-specific cloud models, Autodesk is opening new avenues for AI-driven insights. This approach allows professionals to leverage past project data, compare versions seamlessly, and explore design changes more effectively. It’s a significant step towards smarter, more adaptable workflows across various industries.
AI as a Catalyst for Sustainable Solutions
With sustainability at the forefront, Autodesk’s tools are designed to support low-carbon goals from the initial design phase. The Paris Olympic Village project exemplifies this, where data-driven tools facilitated sustainable architecture by integrating natural ventilation and optimising materials. Designers can now make eco-friendly choices without compromising efficiency, thanks to early-stage analysis of embodied carbon.
Reimagining the Creative Process
Autodesk’s commitment to AI isn’t just about automation; Raji Arasu, Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer , Autodesk says it’s about amplifying human creativity. Tools like Wonder Studio enable animators to add realistic characters with minimal manual adjustments, shifting the focus back to storytelling. In manufacturing, AI manages dimensions and constraints, reducing errors and accelerating the design process. It’s a vision where technology enhances, rather than replaces, human ingenuity.
Future-Proofing Industry Standards
Casey Wasserman LA28 Chairperson & President talked about how by partnering with initiatives like the LA28 Olympic Games, Autodesk is helping to create sustainable, adaptive infrastructure while maintaining strict deadlines and budgets. Their AI roadmap aligns with the demand for efficiency and flexibility, providing practical methods for achieving complex projects in an evolving landscape.
The Future of Design and Manufacturing
The second keynote delved deeper into how technology is transforming industries, elevating workflows, and unlocking new levels of efficiency and creativity. With Amy Bunszel Executive Vice President, AEC , Autodesk, Diana Colella, Executive Vice President, M&E , Autodesk and Jeff Kinder, Executive Vice President, D&M , Autodesk
Reinventing Manufacturing for the 21st Century
Manufacturing is undergoing a revolution, driven by advancements in AI, robotics, and data. Autodesk’s Fusion platform is central to this transformation, bringing the entire product lifecycle—from design to manufacturing—into one unified environment. A remarkable example is Wave Mobility, an Indian electric vehicle company using Fusion to design sustainable vehicles powered by solar energy and AI-driven designs.
Automation Meets Creativity in Media and Entertainment
For media professionals, Autodesk highlighted how automation and AI are streamlining time-consuming tasks. Wonder Studio allows artists to insert and animate virtual characters in live-action scenes, drastically reducing manual effort. This empowers smaller studios to achieve Hollywood-quality effects, enabling them to focus more on storytelling and less on technical hurdles.
Revolutionising AEC with Data-Driven Insights
The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sectors also received special attention. Autodesk’s Forma industry cloud enhances collaboration and decision-making by integrating data from all stages of the BIM lifecycle. Baker Barrios, an architecture firm, leverages Forma for urban projects, allowing clients to visualise and optimise designs in real-time, assessing factors like airflow and noise impact.
AI-Powered Productivity
Across industries, Autodesk’s practical AI tools are automating everyday tasks that consume valuable time. From automating sketch constraints to handling natural language queries, these tools are giving designers more time for complex, high-value work. AI is becoming an indispensable tool for manufacturers, designers, and engineers alike.
The Vision Ahead
Autodesk is fully committed to supporting industry reinvention, with cutting-edge tools and an emphasis on sustainability. By creating an ecosystem where data, AI, and collaboration come together seamlessly, they’re empowering professionals to innovate sustainably and stay ahead in an ever-competitive landscape.
Decarbonising Roads and Highways: Insights from Our Expert Panel
One of the most engaging sessions I participated in was a panel discussion on embodied carbon in the road and highway sectors. Together with international experts Haley Waldhaus and Kristen MacKay(McElhanney) , Sheena Zhang(Autodesk), Renaud de Montaignac (Oris) and Phil Northcott (C-Change Labs) we delved into the regulatory, market, and technological factors driving a data-informed approach to sustainable infrastructure development.
The Global Landscape: Regulatory and Market Pressures
Embodied carbon is now a critical consideration as infrastructure projects align with climate commitments. Policies like the Inflation Reduction Act in North America are spurring carbon reduction in transportation projects. In the UK and EU, ambitious targets and frameworks like PAS 2080 guide carbon assessments at each project phase. We observed that while forward-thinking clients and regional authorities are pushing carbon targets, there’s an urgency to broaden this scope industry-wide.
Leveraging Technology for Sustainable Roads
Technology plays a pivotal role in achieving accurate and actionable carbon assessments. Tools like Oris’s Civil 3D plugins and C-Change Labs’ carbon assessment tools simplify carbon monitoring by pulling data from suppliers and transportation metrics to project precise carbon footprints. This allows teams to make data-backed decisions on materials, transport, and supply chains. Adjusting materials and quantifying the impact in carbon terms enables us to present clients with clear visualisations to support sustainable choices.
Private Sector Influence: Demand for ESG Commitments
There’s an increasing demand for sustainability credentials in private sector tenders. The younger workforce prioritises sustainable practices, and offering a carbon-conscious work environment helps attract and retain skilled professionals. It’s a vital element as the industry faces a shortage of qualified staff.
Challenges in Adoption and Industry-Wide Change
Despite progress, standardisation remains a challenge. A consistent approach to data collection, methodologies, and project integration would improve benchmarking and enhance industry-wide accountability. We discussed the need for regulatory frameworks across regions to establish uniform practices and avoid discrepancies. Incorporating these practices into existing workflows requires dedicated time for training and adoption.
The Path Forward: Collaboration and Accountability
Achieving carbon reductions requires industry-wide cooperation. From designers to suppliers, stakeholders must actively engage in the process. Integrating recycled materials, reducing transportation emissions, and benchmarking progress against recognised databases create a transparent, accountable framework that accelerates industry adoption.
Final Takeaways
We encouraged attendees to adopt carbon monitoring tools available today. Small steps—like using plugins for specific project sections—can significantly contribute to carbon reduction goals. As frameworks and policies evolve, the industry will be better positioned to meet climate targets through collaborative, data-driven action.
Transforming Carbon Assessment in Infrastructure: A New Chapter with Oris and Sweco
In a compelling demonstration, Guilhem De Montaignac of Oris and I showcased how advanced tools are reshaping carbon assessment in road and highway projects. Sweco’s commitment to reducing carbon across the infrastructure lifecycle led us to partner with Oris, whose Civil 3D tool is enabling us to assess, optimise, and report carbon emissions with unprecedented efficiency and accuracy.
Empowering Real-Time Carbon Insights
Oris’ tool represents a shift from reactive to proactive carbon management. Previously, manual calculations extracted from CAD drawings into spreadsheets were time-consuming and prone to error. Now, with Oris, our engineers can make real-time adjustments, instantly swapping materials or transport logistics and observing the carbon impacts on-the-fly. This flexibility allows us to iterate multiple project scenarios quickly, providing clients with clear visualisations and data on the carbon implications of each option.
Key Drivers for Change
Several drivers underscore the urgency of reducing embodied carbon in infrastructure. The UK’s Climate Change Act and the UN Sustainable Development Goals compel us to consider the environmental impact across the project lifecycle. Standards like PAS 2080 set a structured approach for carbon management, and Oris helps us meet and exceed these benchmarks by embedding carbon reduction into every stage of design and construction.
The A47 Wansford to Sutton Dualling Project Use Case
In cooperation with National Highways, Sweco used the Oris Civil 3D tool on a significant highway project. We mapped 26 pavement types and matched them to specific carbon impacts based on their location and material specifications. The ability to toggle between traditional and recycled materials was invaluable, allowing us to present our client with tailored carbon assessments that are both accurate and visually compelling. It’s a practical solution to meet the goal of a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
Moving Towards Digital Twins and Lifecycle Management
One promising development is the integration of Oris data into digital twin models. This capability allows carbon data to flow from initial design through construction and into the asset’s operational phase, offering a full lifecycle carbon assessment. Clients benefit from end-to-end transparency, gaining insights into maintenance and operational emissions while supporting sustainable asset management.
The Path Ahead
Our collaboration with Oris has streamlined our carbon tracking process, replacing a labour-intensive workflow with a seamless, automated system. This approach not only saves time but sets a new industry standard, moving beyond spreadsheets to fully integrated carbon management within our design tools. Clients and engineers can now assess environmental impacts effortlessly, making sustainability more accessible and actionable at every project stage.
Closing Thoughts
Autodesk University 2024 was a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration. From AI-driven design and sustainable manufacturing to carbon reduction in infrastructure, the event showcased how technology is empowering industries to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
As professionals in this ever-evolving landscape, embracing these tools and methodologies isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. Together, we can drive sustainable progress, enhance human creativity, and build a future that aligns with our highest aspirations.