Ask anyone in the construction industry, and they’ll agree that establishing connections with peers plays a vital role in professional growth. Online platforms, along with in-person events, provide great opportunities to exchange ideas, stay updated on industry trends, and cultivate valuable relationships.
As a Regional Information Management Lead at GHD, I oversee the success of the building, transportation, water, renewable resources, and environmental delivery through Building Information Modelling and Information Management processes. It’s vital that I stay on top of the latest developments across the industry, while simultaneously making sure that I’m aware of the newest developments in the software platforms that we use.
I’ve been using Autodesk products since 2005. Software like AutoCAD and Revit has evolved, and been joined by platforms like Autodesk Construction Cloud.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve used Autodesk communities and networks to help my professional development, and through them I’ve also been given the opportunity to improve the software itself.
Here are just some of the ways you can enhance your Autodesk experience, contribute to the conversation, and become part of the community.
If there's one tab you'd have to keep open at your desk, it would definitely be the Big Room. This community offers virtual camaraderie like no other, allowing you to talk to like-minded people about Autodesk products. It’s an amazing group of people who are ready to share their knowledge of BIM, Autodesk, and construction in general.
Alex Eckhart, an award-winning Community Strategy and Customer Engagement Manager at Autodesk, and his small team run the Big Room. They organise fun events for everyone in the community. For instance, the Big Room partnered with Women in BIM for International Women's Day to promote the Women in BIM Conference.
The Big Room also shines a spotlight on people and their positive contributions to the industry. They even nominate a Member of the Month in recognition for their contribution to the community. I was honoured to be named Member of the Month in January 2024.
You might be wondering whether the Big Room really is that good, but take it from me – the informal knowledge I gained through this platform has directly aided my growth as a BIM professional. Here, you can bounce ideas and ask questions with members – just as if you’re chatting with mates.
The Research Community provides insights into new features in the early stages of development for the Autodesk products that you use every day.
Once you’ve registered, you can join groups for individual research activities based on the software you’re most familiar with. If selected, you’ll start with online feedback based on the researchers’ questions. That might then lead on to one-to-one conversations with the research team.
Often, you’ll be asked to test new platform features – these are usually early in their development phase. Some of these features could take years before they make it to the full release of the software.
You might also be invited to test changes to UI elements, like button placement, fonts, and even the colour of certain elements on the screen.
That’s not all. As part of the Research Community, you’ll also get access to:
Overall, this community provides an opportunity to explore cutting-edge technologies before their market release. I find it thrilling to shape the products I use and influence their future development, an experience anyone in the industry would surely relish.
Join the Autodesk Research Community
Joining the Feedback Community, sometimes informally known as the Beta Community, enables you to beta-test new features before they’re released for general use. These features, often more developed than those in the Research Community, are tested through preview builds or in-browser virtual computers.
Everyone is welcome to join the Feedback Community, with opportunities to access specialised groups based on your software usage. For example in one group, I contributed my insights on Design Collaboration with the DWG external reference integration.
Like the Research Community, the Feedback Community empowers you to shape future products. It's exhilarating to try new technologies before anyone else, providing a glimpse into how these features will transform our future work.
Here are some benefits you can enjoy after joining the Feedback Community:
While digital communities provide opportunities to connect with peers, Autodesk also organises events where you can meet people beyond the virtual forums.
At Autodesk Construction Meetups, industry peers gather to discuss common challenges and strategies, driving progress and innovation through collaboration. These meetups will not only enhance your skills and knowledge, but also offer insights into your peers' experiences and give you a great opportunity to network with other Autodesk users in your area.
There’s also Autodesk University, an annual conference that urges users to learn, connect, and grow with each other. Industry and product experts lead on-demand online sessions about varying topics, including The Future of the Construction Workforce and a GHD presentation titled Civil 3D + Generative Design = The Corridor Optimizer!.
In 2023, I even shared my knowledge alongside my friend and mentor, Deepak Maini, with our fellow industry experts. Our Autodesk University class, Maximising Construction IQ and Machine Learning for Predictive Analytics, gave us a platform to showcase how GHD uses technology to improve our project delivery outcomes.
There’s really no other event like Autodesk University. This year’s event is in San Diego, and I urge everyone to attend.
If you can’t make it out to an in-person event, the Autodesk Construction Virtual Meetups program is back in full swing with monthly interactive conversations on a variety of AEC topics.
They recently took on subjects like leveraging new features and building success for women in construction. Upcoming meetups will cover utilising AI, preconstruction and more.
You can register on the Virtual Meetups Hub Page to get updates and join the next event.
Participating in Autodesk communities like The Big Room, Research Community, and Feedback Community has undeniably enriched my professional journey and offered a platform to connect with like-minded peers and contribute to product development.
Events such as Autodesk University and Autodesk Construction Meetups have also helped me network, learn, and share insights on technology in the engineering and construction sectors.
I encourage anyone reading to join these vibrant communities to experience the same growth and collaboration that have helped me in my career so far. Together, let's continue to drive the industry toward a brighter future.
