Welcome Address/General Session Keynote

Autodesk CEO Carl Bass will share the five design-related capabilities that he believes are key to solving today’s most challenging design problems. He will demonstrate how customers are using these capabilities to do things that were impossible just a short time ago.

Next, guest speaker Amory Lovins, co-founder and Chief Scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute will talk about a concept called whole system design and how it leads to better design.

Then Autodesk CTO Jeff Kowalski will show how the five-design capabilities work together to achieve whole system design. He will also demonstrate the software tools that provide you with these capabilities, so you can apply them to your projects.

Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Keynote

What if… What a great theme for AU this year!  The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is faced with numerous what-if questions: What if 3D design tools were available to everyone? What if you could accelerate permitting of new utility projects?  What if you could plan, design, and construct major transportation projects before any dirt is moved? What if all new and existing buildings had to be carbon efficient? What if sustainable design becomes a global mandate? What if you could improve the life of a building?  What if BIM was mandated onevery project you do?

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Keynote will address two or three of the most compelling what-if questions facing this industry today. These questions will be addressed using customer experiences, industry experts, and product demonstrations to share best practices for the challenges facing you and your business. Please join us on Wednesday morning for a keynote session that promises to be both educational and entertaining.

AutoCAD and Media & Entertainment Keynote and Mixer

For our AU keynote this year, the AutoCAD and Media & Entertainment teams are joining forces to bring you a completely new experience! Watch presentations from industry design leaders, see clips from James Cameron’s upcoming blockbuster movie Avatar and enjoy a mixer with your favorite product teams!

Marriott International Senior Vice President for Architecture and Construction, Karim Khalifa, will describe how a global hospitality and hotel company streamlined their design and construction process.

Academy Award®-winning producer, Jon Landau (Titanic) will discuss how James Cameron used groundbreaking technology to direct his new film Avatar (see the latest Avatar trailer). Jon's presentation will feature more than 15 minutes from Avatar, shown in Dolby 3D and 5:1 audio, ahead of the movie’s release on December 18. No cameras or recording devices allowed.

Autodesk Senior Vice Presidents Amar Hanspal and Marc Petit will offer a sneak peek technology preview and discuss the future of your favorite Autodesk tools such as AutoCAD®, Autodesk® 3ds Max® Design, and Autodesk® Showcase®.

And when we are done, have a drink on us and mingle with the guest speakers, executives, and product teams who will be there to answer your questions during the mixer. Seating capacity for this keynote and mixer is limited. Be sure to arrive early.

Education Keynote: Building an Educational Experience for
Gen Y

College students today don’t remember when computers did not exist. The Internet, cell phones, and 24 x 7 connectivity have been central to their life for as long as they can remember. But test scores reveal that math and science competency of American students remain substantially below those of students in many other countries—even some developing countries. What can be done to better engage engineering students in the learning process, unleash their creativity in design, infuse them with entrepreneurial thinking, greatly enhance their ability to communicate persuasively, and make them highly-effective team players and leaders? 

Olin College—a brand new independent 4-year engineering college—was established about 10 years ago with a gift of more than $460 million for the specific purpose of developing a new paradigm for engineering education to address these concerns. It is one answer to the question, “If you could start over in higher education, what would you do to address these concerns about the preparation of the Engineer of 2020?” This talk will provide insights from 10 years of experimentation in engineering education.

Government Keynote: What If Governments Required Models

Dynamic speaker Rodney Slater, along with Autodesk executives and a variety of Autodesk customers, will address multiple aspects of government projects including public buildings, transportation, utilities, and manufacturing.

Come and learn how government agencies are integrating model-based design and sustainability into their projects today and how you can take advantage of this change and opportunity in the future.

Manufacturing Keynote

This event provides an opportunity to learn about the latest technology, find out what’s new from Autodesk, and take a peek into the future. Join us for 90 minutes of inspiration, motivation, and entertainment, featuring a presentation from Dr.
Peter H. Diamandis, founder and chairman, X Prize Foundation; digital prototyping in action; and the first annual Manufacturing Community Achievement Awards.

Diamandis is a pioneer and leader in the commercial space arena, having created many of the leading space-related organizations that are developing the personal spaceflight industry. The X Prize Foundation awarded the US$10 million Ansari X Prize for private spaceflight, and it is now implementing prizes in a variety of arenas.