With the recent advent of high-performance desktop computing and (nearly) infinite cloud computing, optimization techniques are entering mainstream design processes every day. There are so many offerings in this space—where do you start!? This industry talk aims to shed some light on the topic by taking a close look at the various Autodesk offerings in topology optimization, lattice and skin optimization, generative design (topology synthesis), and optimization for additive manufacturing. Attendees will get a firsthand look at actual production processes in use today that utilize these design optimizations, and they’ll learn the larger business impact that can be realized through optimized geometry.

Traditionally, design decisions are made and solutions are developed before understanding the potential outcomes of those decisions. We then validate the solutions, revise decisions, and redesign, creating massive waste in the process. This is the paradox of design. Design optimization techniques and technology (APIs, visual programming, and simulation tools) can help break this paradox by simulating many options and the potential outcomes—informing decisions rather than simply validating them after the fact. This technology will change how we design, much like the advent of Building Information Modeling (BIM) did a decade ago. Therefore, it is critical to understand the fundamental changes to the design process that will be necessary to capitalize on this new technology. This round-table discussion will explore the paradox of design, as well as the challenges of design optimization, lean design processes, simulation technology, and computational design.

This class will cover how to apply automation and generative design principles to optimize the design of a road network. The design starts from geographic information system (GIS) inputs, describing the site and its features, such as the boundary, existing buildings, and streams of water. Using InfraWorks software and Civil 3D software, it’s possible to create a model to start the definition of the design. Dynamo is used to apply a computational design approach and define modeling strategies to enable optimization. With generative design, it’s possible to explore multiple scenarios and find the best solutions to the problem balancing multiple objectives. Finally, with Dynamo for Civil 3D it’s possible to create complex objects like alignments, profile, and corridors to curate the selected solutions and refine the modeling as needed.

Implementing Simulation software early and often in the design process helps to reduce prototypes, get to market more quickly, and optimize your design for better performance. Designs are all around you—some that have used Simulation software, and some that could benefit from this optimization. In fact, most products require the use of multiple Simulation software products to achieve their best design. I know, I know . . . so where does the kegger come in to play? It might seem strange, but something as simple as a keg can be used to perfectly demonstrate nearly every Simulation software product. In this class, you will learn a bit of Simulation for Fusion 360 software, Autodesk CFD software, Autodesk Nastran In-CAD software, Simulation Mechanical software, Moldflow software, and Moldflow Design software. So, if you’re interested in how you can optimize your designs, or just want to grab a beer in one of the most entertaining classes of Autodesk University, this is the place for you! This session features Fusion 360 and CFD.

Parsons explores the advantages of generative design and optimization tools (such as Dynamo & Refinery) in the scope of evaluating and altering the form, orientation and Gross Floor Area (GFA) of residential buildings in existing master plans, using Reem Island Sector 4 as a case study. A superblock is selected from the original design and studied in an attempt to deliver a proof of concept for optimized design oriented solutions, efficiently developed and scientifically driven to meet our client’s needs.

As automation and augmentation begin to define our future work, this talk will address how Autodesk Generative Design tools can be used today, to reduce the impact of design and manufacturing and optimize a range of workflows. Generative Design tools can help makers create more, better, and with reduced use of resources, energy, and time. We will introduce the conceptual framework of sustainability, including key metrics and strategies to evaluate optimization. We will explore the alignment of sustainability goals with Autodesk’s range of products, to enable makers to make more-conscious, more-informed decisions addressing the sustainability of their creations. Attendees will develop awareness of core competencies of Generative Design tools in Fusion 360 to analyze product-development workflows, identify key design and manufacturing constraints for example projects, and become knowledgeable about generative-design optimization to reduce material and resource usage.

How cool it is to watch the Landing gears of an Aircraft getting retracted back to its resting position and opening during landing and taxing! But a landing gear of an aircraft contributes to 20 percent of the total aircraft weight as they are very heavy and they should be as they have to support the entire aircraft weight while landing, takeoff, or taxing. So with this in mind, we’ve come out with an innovative solution of applying generative design to the aircraft landing gear for weight reduction and design optimization for drag reduction and more, so with this approach, we will be designing a landing gear in two variants in which we’ll apply generative design to one variant and second will be designed like the conventional landing gears and then we’ll 3D print both of them and we’ll take our models to wind tunnel and static structural testing. and then at last we will study and compare the performance of both the landing gears in various loads and wind tunnel conditions.

InfoDrainage for Civil 3D software is a tool designed to support the requirements of delivering BIM (Building Information Modeling) compliance with optimized drainage design workflows. Civil 3D pipe networks and surfaces can be created from InfoDrainage networks or vice-versa and kept up to date via Parts Mapping. With InfoDrainage providing the tools to design, optimize, analyze, and compare drainage designs, gaining approval can be easy. Including traditional drainage and green infrastructure elements as 3D objects, the design remains true to site, helping to better communicate and support sustainable design approaches. Drainage designs involve iterative changes, which can be a painful and time-consuming process. Round-tripping is supported from InfoDrainage to Civil 3D networks, which can help to reduce data errors during required model updates. Using InfoDrainage for Civil 3D, engineers can efficiently represent their designs, giving greater confidence in the validity and accuracy of design information.

Discover the power of AI in design optimization with this innovative AU class. Learn how to use large language models (LLMs) and Autodesk Forma software, a custom extension, to efficiently compare and evaluate multiple design options for a specific site. Gain insights into how AI can analyze various design aspects—such as functionality, aesthetics, and environmental factors—to determine the most suitable option. Throughout the class, you'll explore real-world case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of using LLMs and Forma in design decision making. Acquire practical skills in using the Forma extension to streamline your design workflow and make data-driven decisions. By the end of this class, you'll have the knowledge and tools to harness the potential of AI in design comparison and optimization. Elevate your design process, save time, and create outstanding results that meet and exceed client expectations.

There are several commercially available optimization software packages on the market. BD has successfully used HEEDS MDO (a multidisciplinary design optimization software package) with Abaqus FEA to drive part design. Now we take the next step: connecting HEEDS MDO with Simulation Moldflow Insight 2015 software to explore process space for optimization and strength of part quality.

What’s the difference between topology optimization and generative design—and why does it matter when building advanced components? In this hands-on lab, we’ll explore the tools and workflows that helped Elara Aerospace design a launch-ready, record-breaking rocket built to survive the extreme forces of spaceflight. You’ll follow guided exercises in Autodesk Fusion software, learning how to harness both generative design and topology optimization to reduce mass, increase strength, and improve overall performance under tight constraints. We’ll walk through how to define loads, constraints, and materials. We’ll cover how to interpret and compare outcomes. And we’ll explore post-process geometry for manufacturability. You’ll gain practical experience in setting up a generative design study, comparing it with topology optimization, and understanding when and why each approach is appropriate. By the end, you’ll understand the theory—and have built and optimized a component for spaceflight-level performance.

Additive manufacturing—3D printing—is disrupting the manufacturing industry. It gives us the capability to create unique and efficient designs that were never possible before. One unique design method you can use to optimize designs is through part consolidation, or by taking a multipiece assembly and combining and merging the parts to create a single part with no assembly required. This class will focus on the various reasons and use cases to apply part consolidation, as well as general design practices you can use to successfully optimize a part using part consolidation.

The need for affordable housing has never been so high worldwide. One possible solution is to optimize the development of new neighborhoods. But how can you get a maximum number of residential buildings on your plot in a sustainable way while still providing comfort? In this class, we'll teach you step by step how you can use Generative Design for Revit and Dynamo to optimize the planning of neighborhoods of single-family residential buildings, including plot subdivision, land-use assignment, and placement and shape of structures. We’ll then review how Spacemaker brings even more value into this complex exercise for the optimization of multifamily residential buildings.

In the rapidly evolving field of airport architecture, integrating advanced design tools is crucial for optimizing performance and Sustainable Design. This presentation explores how Autodesk Forma and its extensions can be leveraged to enhance airport building design. Forma’s AI capabilities offer unparalleled design optimization for Sustainable Design from the earliest stages in the design process, and by utilizing powerful extensions to the Forma platform, it can provide real-time analysis of the envelope performance and the implications of substantial glazing systems and shading. This enables designers to optimize rapidly and allows for quick prototyping and feedback. Attendees will learn how these workflows can empower designers to integrate energy performance into their workflows, and gain insights into the latest tools to unlock new possibilities for achieving Sustainable Design goals in building design.

In this class, we’ll cover Civil 3D software and the new Grading Optimization program workflow. One of the most time-consuming tasks in Civil 3D is optimizing the design surface for your project. Using the new Grading Optimization program can greatly reduce the time you spend on this task. We'll walk through a basic site and demonstrate how to set up your Civil 3D design for the Grading Optimization program.

Want to learn how to use generative capabilities to design and optimize fluid flow with lower pressure drop and smoother channels—10-100 times faster? This class will present the Fluid Path study in the Generative Design Extension in Fusion 360 ("Generative Fluids” for short), a powerful generative technology for the CFD industry, explain how to apply it, and share advanced tips and tricks to significantly speed up the design process. You'll learn the Generative Fluids workflow, the physics and optimization behind it, and important aspects involved in getting as much as possible from the tool. Additionally, we'll cover how to connect the workflow with other Autodesk capabilities and products, such as Generative Design in Fusion 360 (to combine both generative technologies, structural and fluids); Autodesk CFD for result validation; and Fusion Electronics Cooling in Fusion 360. This session is a chance to ask direct questions to the people creating the product.

Do you spend days or weeks determining a corridor path for your roads and highways projects? Do you spend hours refining your roadway profiles to minimize costs and satisfy sophisticated constraints? Do you spend tons of money on software to help you design your roadways? No more. This class reveals the easy-to-use and cost-saving Corridor Optimization and Profile Optimization features available with Roadway Design for InfraWorks 360 software. We will present the enhancements included in our latest release and explain how to use them to achieve the most effective results for your roads and highways design projects. We'll also teach you tricks for configuring the services to work for mining, roadways, and railway design projects.

In the world of structural engineering, we are challenged to consider many design options, to find the fittest solution in the shortest time, and to be leaders in economic structure design. In this class, you will discover how computational design techniques can help automate this process in design and fabrication workflows for building structures. You will be blown away by several structural engineering workflows that you can use to optimize your designs with Dynamo. All kinds of techniques and computational design approaches will be considered to generate, evaluate, evolve, and cycle through structural design processes. You will understand how to perform your own design automation for repetitive structural tasks.

This class examines the difference between the traditional methods used to create traffic load combinations on bridge structures and the load optimization methods used in Structural Bridge Design software. We will examine the techniques that the program uses to create worst-case loading patterns according to the specification of a variety of bridge design codes. A number of different user-defined parameters are used to control the behavior of the module and we will examine these in detail. We will also discuss the benefits and timesaving garnered from using the resulting workflow. Additionally, we will use a demonstration to show how the optimization method fits into the general workflow of the design process.

Traditionally CAD and CAE have mostly been used for documenting designs and providing feedback on how they perform in operation. Improved tools, expanded computing power, and new manufacturing technology are now opening up new possibilities for computational design and engineering, where CAD and CAE are used to actually generate part geometry directly. These tools help engineers explore an array of design strategies and create lighter, stronger, or more-efficient parts by driving the design with functional goals, not just a handful of dimensions on a sketch. This course will provide some context for optimization tools as they exist today and introduce several new tools aimed at this goal-driven design concept.