My first Autodesk University: did it live up to the hype?

To many non-attendees, it appears the vanity fair of the construction tech community is having a fabulously nerdy time. From social media, AU looks like Disneyland for tech-loving technicians, engineers, architects, contractors, manufacturers and owners. This is not an unfair comparison given AU05 was hosted in Orlando.

I have been an Autodesk user since 2011. But throughout the years, I have not found a valid reason to attend AU in person. Drawing from discussions with friends and colleagues, my network contains a variety of EMEA- and Oceania-based Autodeskers who have also never attended in person. Some want to attend but cannot justify the return on investment to employers. Others have difficulty justifying a week-long trip to the US due to family obligations.

So, when I told BIMplus editor Justin Stanton that I had been accepted as a speaker for AU24, he demanded I write an exposé to answer the burning question: is AU deserving of the hype?

I will start by saying that I had a fantastic time at AU24. You can watch this video on LinkedIn to see what I got up to.

However, before continuing to the benefits, let me first consider the blockers to attendance (especially for non-US based Autodesk users).

Blockers to attendance

Cost and productivity

Getting authorisation from employers to attend may not be easy: conference passes ($2,250), hotels, and travel costs are overheads that many businesses may struggle to justify. Given the price tag, line managers would not be unreasonable in responding “… in this economy?!”

In addition to cost, there is an impact on work output. Most AU attendees close their laptops for three days. That’s without factoring in travel time and jetlag. As such, revenue may be impacted.

Furthermore, one’s motives may be questioned. Recent AU celebrity guests have included Ryan Reynolds and Trevor Noah. AU24’s San Diego venue was beach-adjacent. Given the sun and celebrity, a diligent line manager may question a proposal to attend.

Carbon footprint 

As an employee of a carbon-conscious business, air travel is eliminated where possible. My saving grace this year was that I was due to be in the US in October regardless of AU.

Free alternative

AU digital conference passes are free, and many sessions are pre-recorded and made available on demand on the Autodesk website. Arguably, the cost, productivity and carbon emissions can be mitigated by using the digital pass.

In-person: what’s the ROI?

Those blockers are pretty big hurdles to overcome. So, what’s the return on investment of attending in person?

Environmental considerations

First, to alleviate some of the carbon guilt, AU offers some silver linings. These include Autodesk purchasing carbon offsets for attendees. And a number of sessions focus on sustainability and carbon analysis tools in software, while AU24 attracted several environmental specialists, whom I am glad to have networked with.

These are not perfect solutions, but they help in the battle against climate change.

The benefits of attending in person

The networking and classes have already been beneficial to my work. The product demos made me aware of tools and solutions that will help me grow my business and improve productivity. Furthermore, the classes I attended have made me feel optimistic about the future of construction.

What’s so special about the industry talks?

In my session on modern construction disputes, I talked about how BIM and digital evidence can improve claims. For those interested, an on-demand version is available.

Talking about the world of dispute resolution is not particularly cheerful. However, I left AU24 feeling positive after finding a ‘theatre session’ talk discussing resilience in the face of adversity by speakers Jacob Hannah, Jim Rogers and Regan Brewer.

I hadn’t planned on attending, but I got chatting with someone at a coffee stand and wandered into the talk because they were attending.

Jacob detailed the distressing statistics from his ex-coal-mining Appalachian community, which suffers from opioid addiction, high unemployment and short life expectancy. He is working to tackle these issues through construction and development. Jim discussed mentoring and solutions to combat construction’s ageing construction population. Regan works to break the cycle of incarcerated women through training.

Another highlight was a session by the Volterra-Detroit Foundation (VDF). Its mission is to digitise the historic city of Volterra, which dates back thousands of years to the Etruscan era. This talk resonated with me as I have recently been volunteering to digitise deteriorating landmarks from my hometown in the Cotswolds.

I discovered both talks without purposefully seeking them out. An hour later, I emerged with a higher purpose. Other audience members I spoke to also felt determined to pass on knowledge and skills to their communities. In an hour, our mindsets were refreshed.

Had I watched the sessions online, I probably would not have felt the impact. Aside from the time difference between San Diego and the UK, when sitting in front of a screen, there’s always something else pressing that needs attention or a notification popping up. It’s easy to be distracted. Attending in person, my attention was undivided, and it was worth the time.

There is a reason that the quality of talks is high. Speaking slots are not easy to get. This year Autodesk received more than 3,000 community applications. By my count, they only accepted a few hundred. They ask speakers to list experience. Those accepted are obliged to attend workshops, prep sessions and a practice recording. The preparation is time-consuming, but it pays off when your presentation speaks to a global audience. I didn’t regret attending any of the sessions I went to and heard overwhelmingly positive reviews.

The Expo

In the AU Expo, I learned about how some of my favourite products are working to develop new AI capabilities. I got to play with new tools. And I was able to meet the minds behind some of my favourite products.

At stand 106, I met the team behind OpenSpace, a tool that works to improve construction records through 360-degree cameras. I have several clients who have successfully used OpenSpace to create and manage site records. However, I had several questions. On the OpenSpace stand, CEO Jeevan Kalanithi and I discussed the relationship between his product and insurance – better records, lower premiums. While I could have sent my questions via email and hoped for a response, it’s easier to get an answer in person, not to mention our conversation sparked new ideas.

Throughout the Expo, I learned about products and solutions I didn’t know about before. Given the deluge of marketing emails about new products in our inboxes, it can be hard to see the wood from the trees.

Networking and socials

I had a couple of planned sessions at AU24. My colleague Cliff Moser and I spoke with Eric Thomas on the Digital Builder Podcast. I also talked with the incredible Chiamin Lau about being a woman in construction dispute resolution. However, throughout AU, the unplanned lunches, dinners and drinks with unallocated seats were also incredibly valuable. Breaking bread with strangers helped form new connections.

I was warned to keep my social battery high for the final night. This was good advice given the finale involved a festival. AU attendees partied in a dedicated street in the trendy San Diego Gaslamp district. From every direction, we were plied with food, drinks and entertainment. The evening built up to an exclusive concert from Counting Crows.

Attendees were spoilt for choice. But after making many meaningful connections, I spent the final night packed into a karaoke bar, talking with a team of engineers from Quebec. I spent my last few hours of AU laughing and singing with new friends.

Was it worth it?

Yes, but as a speaker I am biased. As you can see from the video, I got to play with puppies and Lego. AU24 expanded my global network and gave me insights into all built environment sectors across the world. I cannot think of a rival conference with the same opportunities.

The benefits of in-person attendance were worth the investment. The opportunity to network, attend high-quality sessions, and engage with cutting-edge technology first-hand provided immense value. The inspiring talks and meaningful connections made during the event left me feeling optimistic and motivated about construction’s future.

The cons will continue to be carbon and cost – nothing is cheaper than staying at home. But only a fraction of the conference is available through the digital pass.

Next year, AU is heading to Nashville, Tennessee, making it slightly more affordable and closer to European attendees than San Diego. Will the lure of country music bring more international Autodeskers next year?

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