AU2024: your guide to all things water in San Diego this year

The Design & Make Conference is heading to sunny San Diego this year, and we’re serving up a packed agenda for our water connoisseurs! This year’s event will run for three days from October 15-17 and will serve as the pivotal event of the year for forging connections, inspiring innovation, and driving a more sustainable future through digital technology.

We’ve been working hard to build out relevant content at AU for water professionals of all kinds. So, no matter your role – be it an engineer or operator, executive leader or industry novice, stormwater or clean water focused – we’ve got something for you at AU2024.

Here’s our guide to making AU2024 count.

First stop, general session keynotes

The must-see events for all AU attendees are the main stage general sessions. They are filled with lively music, exciting customer videos, dynamic speakers, and an energy that will give you the burst of inspiration you need to bring back to your role. During the Day One and Day Two General Sessions, you’ll hear from Autodesk leaders like President and CEO Andrew Anagnost and EVP of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Solutions Amy Bunszel. They’ll give exclusive insights into industry trends and new product release content that will help you stay informed and current in your work.

Last year, Andrew and Amy announced Autodesk AI and showed the many ways Autodesk is delivering innovative solutions with technology that unlocks creativity, helps solve problems, and eliminates non-productive work. One of these product announcements was the Machine Learning Deluge tool in InfoDrainage – an exciting application of Autodesk AI for the water industry.

The big keynotes: What to add to your schedule

Water leadership track: discover the latest trends to help you stay competitive

Looking for top level insights to help you guide your team, make informed decisions, and become a more thoughtful leader? At AU, there are plenty of opportunities for executives and managers in water to deep dive into the latest trends and emerging technologies that will help you get ahead and stay ahead.

We’re bringing in leaders that are changing the water industry with innovative applications of water technology to give informative talks at the AU theater. You can look forward to hearing from leaders like Sheila Thomas-Ambat of the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina who delivered a theater talk last year on flood resiliency in the face of climate change, or Andy Smith of Anglian Water who spoke about resiliency and sustainability in water.

Besides customer presentations, Autodesk’s water infrastructure team is ready to provide a comprehensive overview of our strategic roadmap at AU this year. For the first time, we are offering a public roadmap session for all in-person AU attendees. This session will inform you about our latest product updates and future development vision.

Water Leadership track: What to add to your schedule

Learning track: hear from top experts in the water industry

AU offers incredible growth opportunities. With 600+ sessions, classes, hands-on labs, customer case studies, and more, AU will enable you to up-level your skills and understanding of emerging technologies and sustainable practices.

This year, we are offering the most water learning content than ever before with more than 30 sessions specifically tailored to water engineers, designers, operators, and planners. Here are some of the ones we’re especially excited about:

• CI2213 | Info360 Asset Data-Driven Sewer Planning: Aqua America’s Integrated Planning for Sewer Systems: This customer case study from GHD is a must-attend for anyone interested in the efficient management of aging infrastructure. Attendees will get a first-hand account of Aqua America’s challenges and solutions in managing more than 50 wastewater systems in Pennsylvania. The session will spotlight the integration of Autodesk Info360 Asset and Esri ArcGIS Online cloud platforms to efficiently handle substantial volumes of inspection and condition assessment data. It will also highlight tools for prioritizing high-risk assets, determining rehabilitation approaches, and establishing capital improvement budgets.
• CES1629 | Drainage Design Diaries: From Data Drips to Flexible Reporting with InfoDrainage: This technical session will offer a deep dive into how complex drainage data can be converted into dynamic, actionable reports using InfoDrainage, thus enhancing decision-making and ensuring regulatory compliance. Attendees will learn how InfoDrainage can integrate diverse data types from various projects, enabling the creation of customized reports that meet specific stakeholder and regulatory requirements.

Learning track: What to add to your schedule

Connect with industry professionals to shape the future of your work

AU is not just about learning. It’s also a vibrant community event that connects people. Attending AU in-person provides a unique opportunity to meet and interact with professionals, experts, and industry leaders from around the globe. Every year, we consistently see these interactions lead to fruitful discussions, collaboration opportunities, and even long-term professional relationships.

AU attendees range from architects to engineers, builders, manufacturers, video game designers, movie makers, and all kinds of smart, creative people. This is an opportunity to share ideas, experiences, and challenges with a diverse crowd of designers and makers who can provide new perspectives and insights, adding immense value to your professional growth.

Some AU attendees have been coming to the event for well over a decade. Don’t know anyone? If you see someone wearing a lanyard (or 10) from past years, they are one of the superconnectors – introduce yourself! (Ask them about those lanyards… you just made a friend.)

So come meet our team at the AECO Exhibition Hall, join a community meet-up, or look out for other water professionals at the AU-hosted social events throughout the week. We can’t wait to connect with you and have some fun doing it.

Making friends: What to add to your schedule

We’ll see you in San Diego!

Session listings are live on the Autodesk University site now and class enrollment starts in August, so register now! More information on pricing and travel is on the AU site.

Need help convincing your manager? Use these tools to make your case.