20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
AI in AEC is not a technology problem - it's a data problem. Shaan Hurley recaps the AUGICon 2026 Applied AI in AECO panel: what's working, what's amplifying the mess, and why AEC is heading toward specialized tools on shared platforms.
The constant pressure to adopt new AI tools and tech updates can enhance efficiency but cannot replace human expertise. While tools streamline tasks and identify problems, they cannot replicate the nuanced understanding that experienced professionals provide. Effective use of technology requires judgment, skill, and clear awareness of potential risks and challenges.
AU 2025: Your Thrive Guide By Shaan Hurley
Welcome to my annual Autodesk University Thrive Guide, compiled and written to help you thrive, not just survive the Autodesk Design & Make event of the year. Whether it’s your first AU or your 30th, showing up prepared makes all the difference.
AU 2025 lands in Nashville this September, bringing together thousands of professionals across AEC, D&M, M&E, and beyond. With AI front and center and 500+ sessions on the schedule, there’s a lot to take in, but also a lot of opportunity.
This guide will help you cut through the noise, prioritize what matters, and make the most of your time in Music City.
AEC software is a major investment. When it’s working well, it saves time, improves coordination, and helps deliver better projects.
But many firms end up paying for features they don’t use, managing frustrating bugs, or relying on file formats that make switching difficult.
This isn’t about blaming vendors. It’s about building stronger partnerships—so the tools you rely on deliver for your teams, and the vendors understand what success looks like on your side.
The AEC industry isn’t known for moving fast—but that’s changing. In 2025, the pace of tech adoption is picking up, driven by pressure to deliver faster, cheaper, and with fewer people.
Here’s what’s rising to the top this year—tools and workflows that are actually making a difference on real projects, not just trade show demos.
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) transforms traditional project structures by uniting owners, architects, and builders under a shared contract, promoting collaboration from day one. This model reduces surprises, optimizes budgets, fosters trust, and accelerates decision-making. Coupled with modern technology, IPD enhances communication, ultimately benefiting complex projects through aligned goals and efficient processes.
I just returned from two unforgettable weeks deep in the Peruvian Amazon with my wife Stefanie, volunteering with Be the Change Volunteers. We traveled long—flying into Iquitos, then heading 60 miles upriver into the protected Tahuayo River reserve. No roads.…
Real-world advice for making tech actually work where the work gets done. Tech can speed things up—or get in the way. It all comes down to how you use it. Here’s what works out in the field, where the signal…
Construction is risky. Weather, delays, cost overruns, safety hazards, you name it. But AI and modern tools are helping teams get ahead of problems instead of just reacting to them.
Whether you're managing a skyscraper or building a software product, the core ingredients are the same. The tools and outputs might be different, but the moving parts, the people, and the deadlines are all very familiar.
Here’s the recipe to keep your project moving without falling apart.