Did you make it to Autodesk University (AU) this year? There was a great deal of buzz about infrastructure and the ways in which, in the words of Autodesk’s Theo Agelopoulos, “we can develop more sustainable and resilient infrastructure yet optimize their operations and longevity”.

But there were also some great breakout sessions on all things civil infrastructure design, engineering, and construction – many of which are now available to view online, for free!

Did you know that construction is anticipated to be the largest use case for commercial drones?

Drones can collect a site’s progress with a degree of accuracy previously unseen in the industry and reduce the amount of building site materials that end up in landfills. Furthermore, that sensor data can be turned into 3D models, maps, and volumetric measurements (which can help monitor and track costly gravel and sand inventory).

If your agency or organization is thinking of moving to BIM for your infrastructure projects you’re probably wondering where to start. The good news is you are more BIM-ready than you thought. However, that doesn’t mean you can make the move overnight, although it may take less time than you think.

Autodesk University (AU) is a great event for anyone looking to explore new innovations in digital design or brush up on their software skills. But not all public sector organizations have the budget to send their CAD teams to AU. No problem! AU has assembled a catalog of on-demand sessions that you can watch for free. You can also download the presentations, workbooks, and transcripts to keep by your side as you explore what you’ve learned.

Keeping track of all the documents involved in any construction or infrastructure project can be quite a headache. RFIs, design changes, estimates, mark-ups, approvals, and more, not forgetting the many-to-many relationships involved in the process. Sub-contractors are on and off the construction site, changes, issues, and requests are sent back and forth, new document sets are created and versions are updated.

The world drone market is anticipated to reach $127 billion in 2020, suggests PricewaterhouseCoopers. From real estate surveying and image capture to Hollywood films to hobbyists, the use cases are vast. But drones are also predicted to become a preferred tool for construction sites.

Whether you work in civil engineering, facilities management, or on infrastructure and construction projects, you understand the drivers and benefits of BIM. Yet despite this, there’s a very real chance that you’re not currently embracing BIM.

Why is that?

You’ve worked hard. The project is done and construction is complete. So, what happens to the project data? The drawings, the specifications, the OEM manuals, and all other associated data have to go somewhere.