As we gear up for AU 2024, one of the most exciting developments on the horizon is the expansion of OpenUSD (Universal Scene Description) into new industries, particularly Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO). This year’s event promises to showcase how OpenUSD is transforming workflows and fostering interoperability far beyond its roots in visual effects.
OpenUSD: Expanding Horizons in AECO
Originally developed by Pixar for film production, OpenUSD has proven its versatility and is now making significant inroads into AECO. The potential use cases are vast and transformative:
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
OpenUSD’s ability to handle complex 3D data and metadata makes it ideal for BIM applications, representing building components, their relationships, and associated information in a standardized format.
Collaborative Design
Architects, engineers, and other stakeholders can seamlessly share and iterate on complex 3D models, regardless of the software tools they use. OpenUSD’s composable nature facilitates easier collaboration and data exchange between various teams and software platforms.
Visualization and Design Review
OpenUSD enables enhanced client presentations and stakeholder communication with high-fidelity, real-time 3D visualizations. Its strong rendering capabilities enable detailed architectural designs and construction plans to be easily shared and understood.
Digital Twins
OpenUSD facilitates the creation of comprehensive, interactive representations of buildings and infrastructure for better planning, maintenance, and operations. Its ability to handle time-based data and variants makes it particularly suited for digital twin applications.
Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR)
As AR and VR technologies become more prevalent in architecture and construction, OpenUSD’s compatibility with these technologies is proving invaluable for immersive design reviews and on-site visualizations.
Integration With CAD and GIS
OpenUSD developers and industry partners are making ongoing efforts to bridge OpenUSD with traditional CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and GIS (Geographic Information System) data. These initiatives are making OpenUSD increasingly relevant for urban planning and large-scale construction projects.
Data Integration
OpenUSD enables professionals to combine diverse datasets — from BIM models to GIS information — into a unified, scalable format, improving data management and analysis across projects.
AOUSD AECO Interest Group: Driving Adoption and Innovation
While the potential applications of OpenUSD in AECO are vast and promising, realizing this potential requires coordinated effort and industry-wide collaboration. This is where the newly formed AOUSD AECO Interest Group comes into play, representing a significant step forward in the Alliance for OpenUSD’s (AOUSD) mission to expand the reach and capabilities of OpenUSD.
The AOUSD AECO Interest Group, co-chaired by Angel Velez of Autodesk and Sean Snyders of Trimble, has been established to systematically examine and promote the adoption of OpenUSD in the AECO sector. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between OpenUSD’s current capabilities and the specific needs of the AECO industry.
The Interest Group will focus on assessing OpenUSD’s potential in AECO, providing adoption recommendations, and evaluating its relationship with existing standards like IFC. By identifying and prioritizing requirements for OpenUSD adoption in AECO, the group will guide future development efforts. Additionally, it will offer valuable insights to both OpenUSD developers and AECO professionals, fostering a mutual understanding that will accelerate innovation and adoption across the industry.
By addressing these key areas, the AOUSD AECO Interest Group will play a crucial role in shaping how OpenUSD evolves to meet the needs of the AECO sector. This collaborative effort underscores the industry’s commitment to harnessing OpenUSD’s potential for revolutionizing AECO workflows, and sets the stage for exciting developments in the coming years.
Recommended Sessions at AU 2024
Tuesday, October 15
Unifying and Optimizing AECO Workflows with OpenUSD | NVIDIA, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) | Join ZHA to discover their journey of adopting OpenUSD to build an interoperable Spatial Technology Stack. Learn how this approach enables immersive digital twins, enhances spatial experiences, and increases efficiencies in design and review cycles. Explore how no-code platforms and APIs are revolutionizing architectural design from 4:30–5:30 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, October 15.
What’s Cool in VRED 2025: A Comprehensive Review of the Past Year’s Exciting Developments | Autodesk | Dive into the significant enhancements and new features of VRED 2025, including UI redesign, open standards integration (IFC, OpenUSD, MaterialX, MDL), and improved hardware support. Get an overview of key updates shaping VRED 2025 from 1:30–2:30 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, October 15.
Thursday, October 17
CIMIC brings your largest ACC AEC models into Unity and Esri ArcGIS | Autodesk, IDD Tech | Learn how CIMIC is federating large 3D architectural models from ACC into Unity using open source tools and formats. Discover best practices for maintaining versioning and coloring when integrating 3D models into game engines from 9:00–10:00 a.m. PDT on Thursday, October 17.
OpenUSD: The Path to Interoperability in VFX and Beyond | Autodesk, Ansys, Bright Machines, DigitalFish, Pixar | Join a panel of technical visionaries as they explore OpenUSD’s role in fostering open data exchange across industries. Learn about OpenUSD’s adoption in media, entertainment, AECO, automotive, and manufacturing from 12:00–1:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday, October 17.
Additionally, OpenUSD will be featured prominently in the Media & Entertainment booth on the expo floor and in the M&E industry keynote from 3:00—3:45 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, October 16.
The Future Is Open
As we look ahead to AU 2024, the potential of OpenUSD in AECO is more exciting than ever. For a deeper dive into Autodesk’s vision for OpenUSD across industries, including AECO, don’t miss our latest “Meet the Visionary” blog featuring Susanna Holt, Vice President of Strategic Technologies at Autodesk. Susanna shares her perspective on how OpenUSD is transforming workflows, enhancing collaboration, and driving innovation not just in media and entertainment, but in architecture, engineering, and beyond.
Get Involved
To explore the full range of OpenUSD sessions visit AOUSD’s AU 2024 event page. Great news for our global community: digital attendance for AU 2024 is completely free! This is an excellent opportunity to engage with OpenUSD content and connect with industry experts from anywhere in the world.
If your company is interested in joining the Alliance for OpenUSD, sign up to become a member. Follow AOUSD on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube, and get support from our community of artists, designers, and developers in our forum.
