Calling built environment tech innovators: the AEC Hackathon is coming to town

Get involved in designing the future as Innovate UK supports a weekend of ideas and collaboration between tech developers and infrastructure designers in London on 17-19 July, 2015.

Antony Oliver
29 June 2015

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Architecture, engineering, construction professionals have a unique opportunity next month to collaborate directly with technology developers for a weekend of intensive problem solving which hopes to find the software solutions that will shape our built environment future.

The “AEC Hackathon London” (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) springboards off the growth in Building Information Modelling and the rapid take up of smart technology in the built environment and intends to give those designing, building, and maintaining infrastructure unique access to cutting edge technologies. 

“Our world faces fresh new problems that urgently need brilliant minds to solve them and this is the community that is improving how our world is designed, built, and operated,”AEC Hackathon.

The event is supported by Innovate UK, the government backed ideas support centre, and will be held at the brand-new Urban Innovation Centre in the heart of London’s Design Quarter over the weekend of 17-19 July. 

The Hackathon concept comes out of the Technology Industry which, since the late 1990s, has been using these intensive forums to brings together software developers, graphic designers and user interface specialists with industry process experts and professionals to identify issues and create software solutions, usually within a weekend.

The London AEC event is one of a number being held around the world which, says the organisers, have now built a community of innovators across all elements of the built environment.

“Our world faces fresh new problems that urgently need brilliant minds to solve them and this is the community that is improving how our world is designed, built, and operated,” says organiser AEC Hackathon.

To be part of the event visit the AEC Hackathon London website at www.aechackathon.com/aec-hackathon-2-4-london/

“We want to create an environment that embraces new ideas and technology solutions for the AEC Industry,” it adds. “A place where technology designers and developers can come to help the industry, and a safe zone for AEC R&D teams to geek out without having to worry about failure or affecting a company’s bottom line. We know it takes longer than a weekend to build great solutions, but this is ample time to form teams of good people and begin creating great solutions.

Teams are expected to form around the problems expressed by participating AEC professionals or by the categories provided.

However teams are encouraged to form before the event – either by attending Friday evening social, via an announcement at the start of the event on Saturday in advance via the Hackathon’s forum, Meetup Community, Facebook page, and LinkedIn group.

To be part of the event visit the AEC Hackathon London website at www.aechackathon.com/aec-hackathon-2-4-london/

Who should attend?

• AEC Professionals – This also includes Facilities Managers, GIS Specialists, Public Utilities, Policy Makers, and everyone that deals with the built environment. Come with your industry experience and the problems you want to solve.
• Tech Developers – We need tech ninjas, makers, game programmers, and rebels that code. Come to hack with new hardware and tech all in the name of doing something crazy and fantastic–and helpful.
• UI/UX Designers – We need people like you to make everything look beautiful, work intuitively, and create a stellar user experience. Great applications require great design.

Schedule:

Friday

• 18:30 Registration
• 19:30 Hackathon Kickoff
• 19:45 Lightning Rounds
• 20:00 Team Formations
• 22:00 Adjourn

Saturday

• 8:00 Registration / Breakfast
• 9:00 Hackathon begins & Morning announcements
• 10:00 AEC & Tech Sessions Start
• 13:00 Lunch
• 19:00 Dinner
• 23:00 Adjourn

Sunday

• 8:00 Doors Open / Breakfast
• 12:00 Lunch
• 13:00 Hacking Concludes / Team Presentations
• 16:00 Judging
• 16:45 Closing announcements
• 18:00 Doors Close