Autodesk University London in words and pictures

CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS CONVENE

Autodesk University is the conference for those who design, create, and make the world around us. It's the future of making things!

This year's event got underway on Wednesday offering an extensive programme of classes, forums, and keynotes with product experts and thought leaders over two packed days.

London's Tobacco Dock was teeming with delegates and exhibitors as attendees were encouraged to learn how others are pushing design to its limits, shaping industry, and developing success. 

STANDING ROOM ONLY AS DELEGATES FLOCK TO NBS

Our stand at the event attracted a steady stream of visitors offering a chance for attendees to see how our software and construction knowledge can power a highly-effective BIM workflow and get answers to their questions.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS FROM NBS

Visitors were eager to find out more about our tools for specification and collaboration like NBS Create and the NBS BIM Toolkit and our product and object libraries – the NBS National BIM Library and RIBA Product Selector.

There was lots of interest too in the NBS Online Viewer which makes it quick and easy for everyone working on your project to access and manipulate your design model and dive into a wealth of cleverly connected information (more on that in a bit).

KEYNOTE SESSIONS INSPIRE AND ENTERTAIN

The conference offered delegates the choice of attending over 90 sessions and the opportunity to gain certifications along the way.

The opening keynote explored the trends that will help create the future of making things showcasing companies around the world and exploring how they are embracing new methods and technologies to catapult how they innovate. Foster + Partners shared their experiences delivering projects such as Mexico City's Airport while Autodesk gave a peek into what’s on the technology horizon, including machine learning, AR/VR and robotics.

DELEGATES GET HANDS ON IN THE GALLERY

The Autodesk Gallery is designed to show how people are using new technology to imagine, design, and create a better world.

Exhibitions included a 3D visualisation of Baroque architecture courtesy of Andrew Saunders at the University of Pennsylvania; a UAV made from carbon fibre composite and produced using large-format 3D printing that could be applied as a mountain search and rescue vehicle courtesy of the Horizon AM project at the University of Warwick; a HP2 propeller model out of the Port of Rotterdam's RAMLAB which has been exploring the use of additive manufacturing to create metal marine parts on demand; and a 3D printed scale metal bridge from MX3D Bridge designed to span a canal in Amsterdam.

CONNECTING CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

The conference proved an excellent opportunity to network with individuals and organisations who are driving the construction industry's digital revolution forward.

It was a chance to mull progress, consider solutions and explore new technologies and ways of thinking...

INTRODUCING NBS ONLINE VIEWER

Autodesk University London also offered delegates a chance to see the NBS Online Viewer in action.

Dr Stephen Hamil from NBS shared the stage with Autodesk's Brian Roepke to show how the tool, powered by Autodesk Forge, makes it quick and easy for everyone working on your project to access and manipulate your 3D design model and dive into the wealth of information contained within. 

DEBATING THE BIG ISSUES

On Wednesday night NBS invited delegates to muse on some of the industry's big questions.

Here Alistair Kell from BDP, Marek Suchocki from Autodesk, Andrew Pryke from BAM Construct UK, Andy Moulds from Mott MacDonald and Dr Stephen Hamil and Sarah Grey from NBS stirred some heated debate on the future of digital construction.

By the end of the night attendees had mused on how best to blitz BIM barriers, the benefits of open BIM and appraised new and emerging technologies and their ability to revolutionise construction.

We've rounded-up the best of the conversations on theNBS.com.