Autodesk University, the contech stalwart's annual user conference, was back live Sept. 27-29 after taking place virtually for the past two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event incorporated a hybrid model for the first time. It featured over 10,000 attendees in New Orleans and more than 30,000 others online, according to Autodesk.
Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the show.
Autodesk
Autodesk unveiled a new partnership and a product upgrade.
The company announced a pairing with Epic Games, the operator of the wildly popular video game Fortnite and the developer of game software Unreal Engine, for “strategic collaboration,” according to a press release.
The goal of the partnership is to improve real-time experiences that contractors can take advantage of during the construction process. As a result of the partnership, Epic will be integrating their product, Twinmotion, with the Autodesk Construction Cloud.
Revit is used to design, document, and deliver projects, and Twinmotion complements the process by creating real-time design models.
Autodesk also introduced new capabilities for Construction Cloud, such as BIM enhancements and advancements to the schedule and cost management functions of Autodesk Build, according to a press release.
Microdesk
BIM and VDC firm Microdesk announced that it integrated its software, BIMrx, with BIM software firm Symetri's Naviate system, according to a press release.
Naviate is already integrated into Autodesk’s Revit, BIM 360, Construction Cloud and Civil 3D platforms, according to the release. The pairing between Microdesk and Naviate will streamline project setup, model management and documentation, the companies said.
Schneider Electric
Rueil-Malmaison, France-based Schneider Electric unveiled a new extension for Revit that aids mechanical engineers in designing systems using renewable energy sources, according to a press release.
The product, called Advanced Electrical Design, will help engineers in their BIM-based work while also simplifying the process, according to the company. The software enables users to layout power sources, equipment and loads of a project's electrical system programs and generate load letter reports or cable schedules using automated real-time calculations.
EarthCam
Camera tech company EarthCam revealed deeper integrations into the Autodesk Construction Cloud, according to a press release.
Contractors can add up-to-date EarthCam images to their Revit models and can adapt digital twins with live camera technology using pan and zoom features.
For the sixth generation integration, the company is featuring automatic weather reports, AI-based object tracking, safety analytics and more.
