Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost shared a new vision of what can be done with data and automation at his keynote address at the company’s annual event AU 2020. The popular event, which is went virtual this year due to COVID-19, kicked off on Tuesday and will continue till Friday. Autodesk University is a must-attend event for tendees to explore new ways of imagining and designing what’s possible across the industries of construction, manufacturing, architecture, engineering and media creation.
Opening his keynote by talking about the disruption brought upon by the pandemic, Anagnost said as the world is adapting to the new normal this year, the new circumstances are forcing us to reimagine new possibilities. “When we are through today’s challenges, construction will be permanently digitized, supply chains will be forever more resilient, and the line between physical and virtual production will be forever redrawn,” he promised.
ALSO READ: How digitalization helped AEC sector adjust to COVID disruptions
When compared to other industries, the construction sector seemed to have taken on the disruptions brought on by the pandemic relatively better. Of course, it has not been totally immune to the adverse effects, but an overall positive outlook comes from the growing realization that infrastructure investments is one of the most effective ways to boost economies hit by this global crisis. One encouraging trend was the clear visible shift by the industry towards more collaborative digital environments, and it is largely believed that some of these steps taken by the industry to adapt to today’s crisis will eventually better prepare the industry to meet the demands of the global infrastructure uptick.
Empowering innovators
While promising to empower innovators everywhere, Anagnost said, “We are committed to make your data more interoperable and more open… committed to empower innovators like you, with design and make technology, so that you can achieve the new possible.”
ALSO READ: Autodesk Construction Cloud gets powerful new products
Hinting at the slew of innovations and announcements that were to come, he also said, “During this AU, think about how data can help you connect the disciplines that you work with. When you are in classes, look for opportunities to automate your workflows. Think about what insights you can share with your peers. And focus on what adds value to you and to your business.”
Anagnost also announced that in October 2020, Autodesk became a Founding Member of the Digital Twin Consortium. Digital Twin Consortium members are committed to using digital twins throughout their operations and capturing best practices. Autodesk is also a member of the Open Design Alliance, a non-profit technology consortium that provides support and access to design file formats. Autodesk’s participation in both organizations is motivated by the company’s commitment to openness, working with peers to advance industry, and improving customer experience in the AEC space.
The following sessions saw the company announcing some significant product announcements.
Virtual AU 2020 goes truly global
Autodesk University (AU) 2020 is a series of conferences and an online learning destination focused on inspiring, challenging and energizing Autodesk software users, partners, and industry leaders about the future of design, engineering and construction. This year it virtually brings together more than 90k innovators from 190-plus countries to explore new ways of imagining, designing and making. AU also offers free year-round access to learning content, professional development, and inspirational industry talks from the AU conference events.
