Join us for a dynamic and interactive AU 2024 panel discussion, where leading infrastructure experts in geospatial information systems (GIS) will converge to explore the transformative impact that GIS has on built-world projects. This session aims to foster a deep dialogue between our panel of seasoned professionals and the audience. Together, we will navigate the evolving landscape of infrastructure development, focusing on how GIS technologies drive efficiency, sustainability, and innovation in this critical sector. Expect a lively exchange of ideas, experiences, and insights as we collectively tackle the most-pressing topics and challenges facing infrastructure professionals today. Whether you're a project manager, engineer, planner, or GIS specialist, this panel will provide valuable perspectives on using geospatial intelligence for infrastructure excellence.

The United Kingdom (UK) is experiencing an exponential demand for rail travel, combined with demands from passengers for safer, faster, more reliable trains. The only way to meet this demand today, and for future generations, is to invest heavily in the UK's rail infrastructure. However, in today’s economic climate, rail infrastructure owners have to spend available capital wisely and ensure better outcomes, based on quality design and construction. This class looks at how UK rail infrastructure owners are adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM) as a key enabler to making informed business decisions throughout the life of the asset, based on accurate, complete, and unambiguous information. To achieve this, they are developing standardized processes and providing client leadership for their supply chain to build integrated teams with the capability and capacity to deliver their requirements.

Globally, Architecture, Engineering and Consulting (AEC) firms are being asked to conform to mandates for the use of risk-based triple bottom line (TBL) analysis into design decisions starting in the conceptual planning stage. There is an awareness that infrastructure serves the public good and that lowest cost solutions are not sustainable, resilient, or adding to the quality of life of our society. The objective of infrastructure proponents in imposing TBL mandates is to shift from the lowest cost approach to a highest sustainable return on investment approach. The ability to monetize the public benefits of infrastructure via a triple bottom line economic assessment means that designs can be vetted more quickly, stakeholder push-back is reduced, and there is faster approval for the building of more sustainable and resilient infrastructure. This session will show how an AEC firm is helping a public agency use TBL assessment to calculate public value. This session features InfraWorks 360 and AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Autodesk strives to enhance its comprehensive products, empowering professionals from various fields with vast toolsets to facilitate the transition toward a sustainable future. Despite significant advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), keeping pace with innovation remains a challenge, especially when addressing sustainability complexities throughout design, construction, and operations. Hence, we present a framework using Autodesk Architecture, Engineering & Construction Collection and Innovyze products to help engineers and sustainability professionals identify sustainable solutions for civil infrastructure. Our solution democratizes sustainable design, construction, and operations through a live, collaborative platform solution, linking Envision Sustainability Guidelines and Principles with industry best practices and workflows. It aims to document practices, providing guidance across multiple dimensions of sustainability throughout the entire civil infrastructure project lifecycle.

Infrastructure development is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for a staggering 79% of global emissions. A substantial portion of these emissions stem from embodied carbon, which is found in the materials used in construction like concrete, steel, and glass. This session will explore the effects of embodied carbon in infrastructure and why minimizing embodied carbon is essential for meeting global sustainability targets. We will discuss how innovative technologies and tools can play a pivotal role in quantifying and reducing these emissions, and we'll present real-life applications where advanced technology has made measurable differences in cutting down the carbon footprint of large-scale infrastructure projects. Join us to learn how using the right tools can lead to more-responsible construction practice, helping pave the way toward a greener planet.

In today's world, the need for efficient infrastructure management has become increasingly crucial. As we navigate the challenges of cost optimization and environmental sustainability, it is imperative to unlock significant reductions in both financial expenditures and CO2 emissions. This presentation aims to shed light on how digital transformation is a key component for unlocking the potential in road and railway projects. Throughout the presentation, we will showcase a real-world case study and success story of organizations that have effectively unlocked 20% cost reductions and 20% CO2 emissions reductions in an infrastructure project. The examples will provide practical insights and actionable takeaways for you to implement in your own contexts. Ultimately, this presentation aims to inspire and empower organizations to embrace sustainable practices, make informed decisions, and create a positive impact on both the bottom line and the environment.

This session will provide an overview of 2 new Stormwater Modeling Solutions—Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) and AutoCASE software—that will help civil engineers and landscape architects design for the future. For decades cities drained stormwater with sewers, but these systems are fraught with pollution and flooding issues. In response cities have embraced a new “green infrastructure” approach to managing stormwater—partnering with developers to install absorptive rain gardens and green roofs to harvest water, filter pollutants, and provide a host of other social and environmental benefits. Autodesk, Inc., and its partner Impact Infrastructure have introduced these solutions to support this revolution. As green infrastructure is still a relatively new concept, GSI and AutoCASE software eliminate the learning curve by providing an easy way to design these techniques and analyze their benefits. This session features a case study on using GSI and AutoCASE software for the San Francisco Civic Center Historic District.

Our world has become increasingly interconnected, which makes resilient critical infrastructure more important than ever. Traditional methods of creating and maintaining non-building infrastructure struggle to keep up with the evolving landscape. In this talk, we'll discuss the urgent need for resilient and sustainable infrastructure in the face of aging systems, climate change, and urbanization. The session will focus on the transformative potential of digital technologies and explore how you can use them to design, build, and maintain transportation, energy, water, and utility systems. We'll present real-world case studies to show how digital transformation reshapes critical infrastructure today through data-driven decision making and advanced construction techniques. By gaining a deeper understanding of current challenges, you will walk away with actionable insights and strategies for integrating new technologies effectively into your business processes to reap rewards.

Construction Cloud is today being used across a large range of projects globally. This session will demonstrate a number of use cases, including how PlanGrid is helping build and maintain railways, Assemble is being used to quantify materials in dams, BuildingConnected is being used to source subcontractors for road projects, and BIM 360 software is being used to manage complex infrastructure projects. We will also show how Autodesk partners are being used in conjunction with Construction Cloud products to help infrastructure asset owners better use the data collected on a project.

With the rise of the metaverse, more engineers are seeking ways to take advantage of new technologies to enhance their workflows and improve productivity. New visualization and virtual reality (VR) tools are available, but how can we make the most of them? This class will delve into the newest VR and visualization tools to explain how they can be used to enhance workflows within infrastructure projects for rail, highways, and bridge structures—and get the whole team onboard with your project proposals. During this class there will also be an opportunity to experience these projects using a VR headset.

Information is the most important part of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Come and learn how to add user-defined information to a 3D model, and how to use and manage that information downstream in the processes. We will show how you can add project-specific information to your infrastructure model and how other project stakeholders can use it. You can also share this information with different geographic information system (GIS) systems. Workflow will include AutoCAD Civil 3D software, Navisworks software, and A360 cloud-based collaboration service This session features AutoCAD Civil 3D, A360, and Navisworks Simulate. AIA Approved

This class is all about combining the traditional software tools like AutoCAD Map 3D software, AutoCAD Civil 3D software, Revit software, Vehicle Tracking software, and Navisworks software with more recent technology like InfraWorks 360 software and ReCap 360 software in order to support the infrastructure construction process. The focus will be mainly on preliminary construction planning and visualization. We will also look at the capabilities of communicating information to the different stakeholders in the project. This session features InfraWorks 360 and AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Join us for an immersive experience of infrastructure. Better understand the value of 3D modeling and think of new ways you can add value to your business by engaging your senses and experiencing the infrastructure around you. This is a hands-on, mind-engaged activity—from the office to the field, to peer discussions of projects, to model building, to data capturing, to infrastructure experiencing through third-party tools.

This class will explain how users in the construction area can capitalize on AutoCAD Civil 3D software to accomplish tasks in order to be compliant with Building Information Modeling (BIM) for infrastructure requirements. We will show how to build and roll out an adoption plan for implementing new tools, processes, and workflow working with Autodesk Enterprise Priority Support.

The water industry is undergoing a state of rapid change as it faces a $1 trillion global risk of damaging flooding and water shortages that could impact 5 billion people by 2050. It's estimated that 60% of global water utilities will be forced to undergo digital transformation of their infrastructure to adapt to growing risks and meet sustainability demands. Join the Autodesk water team as we explore how digital transformation is reshaping the way the world manages water and water infrastructure. Through the lens of Autodesk's desktop hydraulic modeling products—InfoWorks ICM, InfoDrainage, InfoWater Pro, and InfoWorks WS Pro—we'll explore practical examples of how rapidly advancing digital technology is helping transform the workflows of industry stakeholders, including utilities, consultants, engineers, water modelers, and others.

This lecture will cover the process of creating striking videos designed to communicate complex infrastructure projects within a Building Information Modeling (BIM) pipeline. You will discover how products from Autodesk, Inc., can enable you to deliver detailed technical information to both engineers and non-technical audiences involved in a project. Helicopter video shooting, tracking, and 3D replacement have become essential exercises for achieving this purpose in transportation infrastructure projects such as airports, freeways, and elevated-train systems. We will follow some of these videos from beginning to end, covering topics that include: preproduction tips for shooting video from a helicopter and tracking with the MatchMover application; integration of tracking points and camera in a 3ds Max software environment; BIM pipeline integration with 3ds Max software and Revit software; rigging and animating transport in 3ds Max software; rendering management in the Backburner application; and optimized compositing. Download videos at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/thq3yvdw3119aho/AABlyqsDi9Wz57tZVBIImfnSa

In Chicago, infrastructure planning is changing rapidly. In response, WSP USA has developed a 400-square-mile InfraWorks model of Chicago. A powerful and collaborative tool is key to the planning and design of WSP projects. This panel will cover the use of InfraWorks software for projects that include O'Hare International Airport Express Rail Project, Interstate 290 Expressway, Urban River Edge Ideas Lab, and a large land development parcel. We'll examine the assets used in the Chicago model, including highways, roadways, bridges, utilities, airports, transit, and the Chicago River. We'll discuss workflows for civil infrastructure, as well as reality capture versus visualization. Panel presenters will show several examples that touch on some of the best practices, work-arounds, shortcuts, limitations, and advantages of the Chicago Model.

Learn how Autodesk® Infrastructure Modeler (AIM) software can enhance your transportation workflows during the design execution phase. In Part 1 of this series, we focused on the classic ability of Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler in the conceptual design space, but what about later in the design? This class will show how a well-established AutoCAD® Civil 3D software model can be fed into Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler to communicate the design visually. In addition, we will discuss interoperability options between Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler and other products within Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite, such as Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design software. This class will benefit Infrastructure Design Suite users who are interested in getting the most from their suite investment as well as standalone Civil 3D and Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler users who want to know more about how these products can interact.

The Infrastructure Symposium general session includes the welcome address, the highlights on a few key projects, the presentation of the 2014 Excellence in Infrastructure winners, and an overview of the symposium sessions to follow. The symposium provides peer-networking opportunities across owner/operators and the network of engineering, design, and construction firms focused on supporting infrastructure projects and managing asset lifecycles. The Infrastructure Symposium is on Monday.