Driven by Data: New Approaches to Design and Industry

The digital revolution has brought us many things—new ways of working and connecting, new ways of building and making. It has also brought us data. A lot of data. From model and project data to enterprise data and beyond, businesses are generating more information than ever before.

“If you take all of human history, from the time we started writing on clay until the early part of this century, human beings came up with maybe five exabytes of data,” says Peter Leyden, futurist and senior fellow for strategic foresight at Autodesk. “Now we’re creating five exabytes of data every two days. And we’re doubling the amount of data we create every two years.”

At AU 2021, we learned about the changes that Autodesk is making to help you organize, manage, and make sense of your data—then put it to work. The key is Forge, Autodesk’s cloud-based development platform. As a recent article in Forbes details, Forge can help you connect all your projects and data together, no matter what tool you use.

“We're unlocking data and the capabilities of our entire portfolio of products to help you connect processes, automate workflows, and deliver valuable insights,” Andrew Anagnost, CEO and president of Autodesk, says in the AU 2021 General Session Part Three.

“Imagine a world where you can unlock critical project data, even from within different proprietary file types, where you don't have to share great big files with those downstream,” Anagnost says. “Where you can make your data available at the right level of granularity to everyone who needs it, regardless of their role or which product they're using.” It’s a whole new approach to data and what it can make possible.

Ready to build your skills with Forge and data? Check out this related AU content:

Building design and engineering

From initial proposal to closeout, a building project generates a massive amount of data. Figuring out how to use it to improve decision making can feel overwhelming—but can ultimately drive important business benefits. Explore how to aggregate data with a unified platform and better connect stakeholders.

Construction

Construction teams are under tremendous pressure to meet project budgets. Connecting your data can streamline workflows and deepen insights. Learn how to create efficient processes, establish clear accountability, and mitigate risk.

What kind of data is most useful for generating quality and efficiency gains in construction? The team from KLH Engineers believes the answer lies in strategic partnerships. Check out their industry talk, and discover how to streamline the flow of data between partners in the prefabrication process.

Design and manufacturing

Understanding how Fusion 360 stores data is critical for business owners. Learn how owners and IT managers can make sure they maintain control over the intellectual property of the company.

Media and entertainment

Open-source initiatives will be essential for the production of film, TV, and games moving forward. This panel discussion explores the history behind open standards, the production problems they can solve, the collaboration between tech partners and studios, and a vision for the future.

Learn more about the possibilities of Forge and data anytime at Autodesk University.