Autodesk Converge explores digitized construction in Saudi Arabia

The Autodesk Converge conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh on Wednesday explored many promising new directions for digitized construction in the Kingdom.

American software company Autodesk showcased emerging technologies including generative design, augmented and virtual reality (VR), robotics and additive manufacturing (aka 3D printing), with presentations from the Red Sea Development Company, Dar Group, and Falconviz.

The conference showcased how VR and real-time technologies are bringing architectural designs to life and discussed the value of building information modeling (BIM) in the Gulf region, and reasons why some companies have been slow to adopt it.

The products and strategies discussed at the conference, experts suggested, could be utilized in many of the Kingdom’s upcoming “giga-projects,” including its planned smart city, NEOM.

Neil Brooker, a senior technical manager at Autodesk covering the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, told Arab News that the company is committed to “taking our customers to the next level of design and extending that into manufacturing and construction as well.”

“The world is changing rapidly, and more people are living in cities,” he explained. “So we need to create buildings, infrastructure, but we have to build them with a real responsibility and sensitivity toward the environment.”

Autodesk also announced the signing of a letter of intent with the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), in line with Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program. Under the agreement, Autodesk and TVTC will collaborate on the development and implementation of industry standards and best practices and create awareness around latest technologies.

Mohammad Saleh, regional manager at Autodesk, expressed his happiness at being able to get involved in the Kingdom’s development.

“Saudi Arabia is on a bold and energetic path to deliver best-in-class projects. In the recent past, it has showcased several milestones to position the Kingdom as a global hub for future technology and we are delighted to be part of this journey by empowering the imaginative minds of the Kingdom,” he said.