Sanergy is a social enterprise based in Nairobi, Kenya, that safely collects and treats 12,000 tons of waste, converting it into valuable products: insect-based proteins derived from black soldier flies for animal feed, organic fertilizer, and biomass fuel briquettes. This model provides a closed-loop, zero-waste solution that ensures waste is transformed into high-quality sustainable products. We are in the process of scaling up our production of insect-based animal protein to convert roughly 70,000 tons per year of organic waste into 3,600 tons of animal feed through the construction of a new advanced facility. Sanergy is a devoted Autodesk user, and this massive construction project provided an opportunity to capitalize on the power of BIM 360 software. In this session, we will review the training given by third-party providers via the Autodesk Foundation, the challenges faced when rolling out a new technology-based way of working in construction within the context of an African country, and the benefits achieved.

Fusion 360 software is a cloud-powered CAD, CAM, and CAE tool, and it is the primary software for the instruction of degree apprentices at the AMRC Training Centre, part of the University of Sheffield. With rising student numbers, it was becoming increasingly difficult to provide detailed and timely feedback to students as they learned the basics of Fusion 360. In this session, Joe Palmer will present a bespoke feedback tool that has been coded in Python and implemented using the Fusion 360 API. This tool provides instantaneous feedback to students about the quality of their CAD models by assessing key model metrics. These metrics enable a complete picture of model quality to be determined by the script without any input from course tutors. This has empowered tutors to spend more time on valuable activities within the classroom. We will discuss a background of the Fusion 360 API, the tool's development process, and details of the scoring algorithm. We will also present a road map for future development.

You’ve been given the responsibility to manage CAD within your department and/or organization, but your job title does not include “CAD manager.” You do not or cannot dedicate all of your time to this task. So how do you do this? We’ll use my transition from reseller to mining equipment manufacturer as a way of examining how to get buy-in from management, how to get participation by the users (and your peers), where to start, and how to proceed, as well as reviewing my continuing development with time and project management. Let’s talk processes, procedures, training, CAD, management, and continual leadership.

Do you find yourself behind on design projects? Do you want to better familiarize yourself with AutoCAD software to improve your efficiency? In this class, we’ll discuss how to manipulate settings and options to improve speed. We’ll discuss how to set up drawings using Xrefs and utilizing paper space and model space. We’ll also look at how layer commands and object display settings can reduce clutter in your drawings to make it easier to manipulate drawing components. This class will help you become more familiar with some of the options in AutoCAD, and help you take that next step in your career using the many tools AutoCAD has to offer.

Most AutoCAD users have either taken an AutoCAD course or have been trained by existing users within their business. Very rarely do they get to explore some of the tools that aren’t standard. This session will address those “I wish I knew that” statements. This fast-paced class will introduce users to 45 important tips and tricks that can be achieved across “vanilla” AutoCAD software. We’ll categorize the tips across each area of AutoCAD, from navigation through to output—including Render, Creation, and Modify. The session will have a question-and-answer session at the end where the audience will be able to ask any questions that arise from the session.

Are you interested to learn more about modeless Revit plug-ins? Yes? Great, this class is for you. User experience and accessibility are becoming trends while developing software. How do you achieve that? You can achieve user experience by using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) instead of Windows forms, and achieve accessibility by using modeless dialogs. This class will present the advantage of using WPF and modeless dialogs while developing your Revit plug-ins. Users can see the actions and data flows between Revit and plug-ins. In this session, we’ll show a demo of the workflow consisting of multiple steps that depend on each other to show the features that WPF provides.

This presentation describes how to solve a problem within 5 days. It shows how to find ideas and concepts, build a prototype and have it validated by 5 customers. The method combines the best of Design Thinking, Lean Startup and Agile to develop and test products and services in less than a week with guaranteed success. If you are not afraid of innovation and your team wants to improve, you should try this method in your projects (services, products,...). As a team member you do not need any previous knowledge, only the desire to create something! And a competent Design Sprint moderator at your side, or you can train yourself as a moderator. You can act in different roles, e.g. as decision maker, moderator or expert. For the creation of the prototype, doers, writers, prop master, composer and interviewer are needed. Choose the role that best suits you or your experience and helps your team and make sure that the decision maker and moderator are equipped with the necessary skills.

In this session, we will present a powerful service for automatic generation of process simulation models from 3D plant models (for example, AutoCAD Plant 3D software). The simulation service is based on the Open Ontology-based Integration Platform “Simantics.” Information of a 3D model is extracted to generate and configure a dynamic simulation model and to calculate pressure-loss coefficients. The Forge model can be used for process and control design, control system testing, operator training, and process optimization and troubleshooting. The generated simulation-based virtual twin can be connected automatically to the Forge platform, capitalizing on the OPC UA standard, and simulation data can be visualized in Forge. We will also show how one can interface measurement data to the same system and do comparison between simulated and measured data, enabling fault diagnostic and troubleshooting services in Forge. We will demonstrate a case example using a small laboratory process.

Integrating building performance analysis results in the early stage of conceptual design supports effective design exploration and decision making. Such integration requires domain expertise and can be technically challenging, time consuming, and computationally expensive. Machine learning demonstrates great potential for building seamless workflows that provide faster analysis feedback. However, one of the challenges in the architecture domain is the lack of diverse data sets to train effective prediction models. This talk will provide a brief overview of the potential of machine learning in building analysis-prediction models and demonstrate how we can capitalize on generative design to compensate for the lack of data. We will present a workflow where generative design features for Revit software, Dynamo software, and Insight software are used to generate a synthetic data set for training a machine-learning model for energy-analysis prediction.

Ever wanted to get hands on with CAM in Fusion 360 software but felt a bit intimidated or didn't know where to begin? Want to see a job set up and run live during the session? Well, this is the class for you! Throughout the last 10 months, the speaker has gone from knowing nothing about machining or CAM to knowing slightly more about machining and CAM! This is the class for CAM newbies! We will go through the process of posting out your first computer numerical control (CNC) job without assumed knowledge. This will involve opening the Manufacture workspace in Fusion 360, creating a setup, creating tools, generating toolpaths, and posting out to machine G-code. We will even have a live demonstration of the running of the CNC job on a machine at University of Warwick's Engineering Build Space!

Why should you be using Dynamic Blocks? Quite simply, Dynamic Blocks can greatly reduce the number of blocks in your library, improving your efficiency. While it does take a little more time up front to create a Dynamic Block, the timesavings on the back end are well worth the effort! Even better news: if you are a proficient user of AutoCAD software, you should have no problem converting those boring, static blocks into shiny, new, Dynamic Blocks.

Dynamo for a long time has been the go-to tool of Revit users to quickly script solutions to time-consuming routine problems. However, there is much more that Dynamo can do beyond scripting. There is a whole world to explore with packages and integrations which you may not be aware of. See what is possible with AI, geometry manipulation, coding, generative design in Autodesk software, and document updates, as well as accessing web APIs with Dynamo. If you think you know Dynamo, then you’ve only scratched the surface. Check out this class to see the true potential of Dynamo and visual scripting.

The United Kingdom (UK) is experiencing an exponential demand for rail travel, combined with demands from passengers for safer, faster, more reliable trains. The only way to meet this demand today, and for future generations, is to invest heavily in the UK's rail infrastructure. However, in today’s economic climate, rail infrastructure owners have to spend available capital wisely and ensure better outcomes, based on quality design and construction. This class looks at how UK rail infrastructure owners are adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM) as a key enabler to making informed business decisions throughout the life of the asset, based on accurate, complete, and unambiguous information. To achieve this, they are developing standardized processes and providing client leadership for their supply chain to build integrated teams with the capability and capacity to deliver their requirements.

Fusion 360 software is a complete product-design tool that enables users to go from concept to production with integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE technology. We hear that a lot, but in reality, what does it actually mean? Is it the Swiss Army knife of design software? Can it do everything? This class will take attendees through the complete design and manufacturing process, from initial concept scribbles all the way through to generating files for 3D printing and toolpaths for a computer numerical control (CNC) job. We'll kick off with bringing some drawings into the Fusion 360 environment and using them as template. Then we will move on to some basic simulations, carrying out a design change and generating some communication visuals with custom materials. Finally, we'll hit up the Manufacture workspace to generate some toolpaths for CNC machining and potentially fire up a CNC machine (using Fusion Team to share tool libraries).

Alstom uses VRED Professional software to produce high-quality imagery for project communication, as well as real-time-experiences production for design reviews and communication movies, enabling a single-visualization digital mockup. Meanwhile, Alstom also needs to make sure its designs reach a broader population that includes external teams and individuals, and from this perspective, the communication production workflow is provided by Stingray game engine. This talk will describe the collaboration between Alstom and Autodesk, Inc., to build a VRED data workflow that capitalizes on Stingray game engine as an output source for their designs, consequently extending the reach of their project communication capabilities. This session features VRED Professional and Autodesk Stingray.

A new metro Line, with 19 kilometers and encompassing 15 stations, a maintenance yard, and 2 primary substations, represents a landmark achievement in utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM). A large-scale infrastructure project has set a new benchmark for the industry by implementing a comprehensive BIM (Building Information Modeling) approach, encompassing all disciplines, including geotechnical engineering and laser scanning for connection stations with existing lines. The project has also standardized data using IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) and introduced a new standard for contractual items, including a new contractual measurement method. Automated analyses have been integrated into robotic processes, and a train dynamic models to ensure equipment installations has been utilized and with data management. These innovations have significantly enhanced project quality and established the project as a national reference.

Join us as we explore the heart of rail alignment design. Turnouts are not just critical components of heavy rail; they also form the backbone of all rail projects, including light rail, metro, and high-speed rail systems. Our session is designed to empower you with the necessary skills to create your configuration file for turnout creation in Civil 3D software. Moreover, we'll guide you through the process of translating your geometrical requirements into a comprehensive turnout catalog. This presentation is your ticket to mastering the dynamics of rail alignment design, challenging conventions, and setting new standards in railway infrastructure.

This session will explore how language learning models (LLMs) can be integrated with Autodesk Platform Services APIs for optimization of hyperparameters like structural design, reduction of material usage, and embodied carbon. We'll demonstrate this using Autodesk Platform Services to extract building information modeling (BIM) data from Revit models to train LLMs, generating intelligent-design suggestions. The optimized designs are later visualized in Autodesk Platform Services Autodesk Viewer, clearly identifying improvements. Using sample Revit models, we'll showcase how this approach has led to substantial reductions in material consumption and carbon emissions, such as a 25% reduction in steel usage and a 30% decrease in embodied carbon. Discover how using AI and Autodesk Platform Services can create more-sustainable, more-efficient, and more-innovative structural designs, driving the industry toward a greener future.

Put on your lab coats and safety glasses as we take an up-close look at the Autodesk Construction Cloud Assets module in this R&D Laboratory case study. "Under the microscope," we'll examine how the SSOE Group has implemented the Autodesk Construction Cloud Assets module to organize and manage lab, mechanical, and electrical equipment while mapping Revit models to improve design coordination. This case study is an example of how accurately tracking assets throughout the project lifespan can lead to more-efficient coordination among design/engineering disciplines, owners, and the installation contractors. From the project management perspective, we'll also cover the benefits gained from referencing assets to the schedule, photos, and issues modules, and creating reports in Autodesk Construction Cloud.

The Autodesk 2024 Design and Make report showcases that 77% of companies report that upskilling employees is important. They also report they lack resources needed to design training programs. The Design and Make report also reflects that between 2021 and 2023 there's been a 143% increase in Autodesk's Media and Entertainment certification adoption, a 71% increase in AECO certification adoption, and a 100% increase in Autodesk's Design and Make certification adoption. Professionals and educators will learn about Autodesk's recognized certification and how earning certification helps validate your skills to employers and gives you the ability to differentiate yourself in this competitive labor force. Attendees will learn about available learning and training to upskill in Autodesk products. Additionally, they'll learn about our global distribution channels and reduced-price bulk vouchers for teams or students. Lastly, we'll discuss available state government funding for students. Twenty-five random attendees will receive a free voucher to take a professional Autodesk Certification exam.