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<\/p>\nAnd just like that, 2017 has come to a close. Sure enough, it was another year of transformation, exploration, and integration, with technology reshaping our processes and creating new possibilities. And for the people who work in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, design, manufacturing, and media, it was another year of challenge and change\u2014but also incredible opportunity.<\/p>\n
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In other words, the only thing that isn\u2019t changing is that things are changing fast. Adaptation is what we do, and learning is part of the job.<\/p>\n
As we get ready for what 2018 brings, here are a few of the topics and trends that made us go \u201chmmmm…\u201d last year.<\/p>\n
Getting by with a Little Help from Our Machines: The Evolution of Automation<\/strong><\/p>\n Since the dawn of the industrial age, automation has been changing what\u2019s possible for humans to do and make. But here\u2019s the thing: the machine age is far from over. In fact, most experts agree we\u2019re just heading into another, perhaps more profound era when automation can augment more of our functions, in both big and small ways, enabling us to do more, go further, make better, and use less. From robots that are becoming perceptive, aware, and intelligent to software that\u2019s not just helping us create, but actually becoming creative, there was incredible progress in the realm of automation in 2017.<\/p>\n At AU 2017 in Las Vegas, automation was featured throughout the Exhibit Hall and it was the focus in hundreds of classrooms. Plus, it was the main topic of Autodesk CEO Andrew Anagnost\u2019s Opening Keynote<\/a> (if you didn\u2019t catch it, it\u2019s worth a watch.)<\/p>\n What became clear was that an increasing number of the tasks people do today will be handled by automation in the decades to come, enabling each of us to focus on tasks where we can add more and greater value.<\/p>\n Data in the Middle: The Importance of Information<\/strong><\/p>\n In days of old, there were the things we made, and there was the data about them. And you generally had to make the things before extracting much data.<\/p>\n No longer, friend. From products to structures, we have more and more data at our fingertips long before things are built. And by keeping data central to the design\/make process, we can shorten cycle times, simplify collaboration, increase efficiency, and improve outcomes.<\/p>\n Autodesk showed its commitment to keeping your data at the center of everything you do through our new partnership with Esri<\/a>, the leading maker of geographic information system (GIS) software. Together, we\u2019ll be building a bridge between BIM and GIS mapping technologies and enabling data sharing. As Andrew Anagnost put it, \u201cIt will enable teams to connect the data of what<\/em>\u2014the models you create\u2014with the data of where<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n And in 2017, Autodesk also announced the extension of AnyCAD to Fusion 360<\/a> to unlock a new level of interoperability in the Product Design & Manufacturing Collection. AnyCAD radically simplifies the design process by allowing virtually any CAD data, regardless of source, to be associatively integrated into designs without the need for file translation. This enables seamless collaboration between systems, letting designers stay focused on product innovation, not data translation. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n Come Together: The Convergence of Industries<\/strong><\/p>\n Architecture and manufacturing used to be 2 separate worlds. Today, these formerly disparate industries are converging, as builders borrow from manufacturing and makers adopt technologies gaining traction in construction. Companies like ConXtech<\/a> and Van Wijnen<\/a> are finding ways to make construction more modular and repeatable, like industrial assembly lines, using standardized parts to speed up project timelines and significantly reduce waste.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/autodesk-university\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/65\/2018\/01\/1-1024x683.jpg\")
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