The Autodesk Platform Services (formerly known as Forge) team hosted our third annual Hackathon the week of September 19-23, as part of Autodesk University 2022. While AU was back in person for the first time since 2019, the Hackathon remained virtual to allow attendees from all over the globe to join and hack together the solutions they've always dreamed of creating. Teams all across the world were able to compete, and as a result we got to see some pretty amazing solutions. This year we had over 130 individuals participating, across 40+ teams over 10 time zones. These teams banded together to code apps using Autodesk Platform Services across 6 challenges, graded on the following criteria:
- Innovation: Show us an application that does something no one has seen before! The more creative, the more points you get
- Elegance: How easy is it to use your app? Is it intuitive? Does it offer a stellar user experience?
- Business problem solved: Does your solution have real world benefits? Can you deploy it live for people to use and solve their real world business problems?
- Progress made during the week: The more you can accomplish during the actual hackathon week, the higher you score with the judges
- Depth of Forge use: How many Forge APIs and services were you able to leverage? The more you combine, and the more advanced use of the platform, the more points you can score here
- Wow factor: Is your app jaw-dropping?
The Slack channels saw no shortage of use this year! More than 50 engineers who work on Autodesk Platform Services were on deck to answer our hackers' questions and help them get their apps up and running. One thing that's stayed consistent throughout the years is that the solutions just get better and more creative! As always, our hackers could either build applications that solved an industry problem in a creative way, or just use the massive capabilities of Autodesk Platform Services to create something fun.
Our 3 judges had the difficult task of choosing winners once the hackathon ended. Each team brought something special to their work, but unfortunately not everyone could be a winner. 6 well-deserving winners (as well as a number of runner-ups) were chosen, and announced at the 2022 Hackathon Showcase. You can watch the full ceremony below.
First, let's start with our Runners up!
Piromancy
For the love of the 3D game!
Piromancy created a maze using the Autodesk Viewer, where the object was to avoid heatspots on the floor and collect as many Cloud Credits as they could before time ran out. Congratulations on being a runner up, Team Piromancy!
Bimcosto
Show me the Data!
Bimcosto's solution integrated many pieces of underlying data into their building model to create a streamlined experience. Architectural, cost information, carbon footprint, and more.
Instituto Maua de Tecnologia
I feel the need, the need for Digital Twin
The Instituto Maua de Tecnologia team created a digital twin of the library at their university, where they wired sensors throughout the building to keep track of humidity, temperature, and light in different parts of the building.
Ricaun
Task automation is a state of mind 
Ricaun created a design automation application that validates elements and objects from a given Revit file in the backend, making sure they are placed correctly within the document.
I have BIM
There is no place like ACC
Last year's Best of the Best winner I have BIM created an application that integrated WhatsApp with project information from Autodesk Construction Cloud.
Team Zeta
Hack the planet!
Team Zeta created a disaster simulation within the Autodesk Viewer, where the player had to make some hard choices to preserve the fate of humanity.
All Runners Up will receive a LARQ water bottle in addition to a cool hoodie to represent their participation in this year's hackathon.
And the winners are...
Forge Fighters
For the love of the 3D game!
Our winner here stunned us with their use of the three.js library to build a game we didn't want to stop playing! They took a concept that might not be as fun usually (fire safety drills) and were able to make it more web-friendly and approachable. The Forge Fighters created a 2D and 3D rendering of an office building on fire, where the player had to avoid certain obstacles to escape.
Forge Fighters also won the People's Choice Award at the Developer Session at Autodesk University 2022! You can check out the full session at the link below.
The Forge Fighters will each receive a brand new Nintendo Switch™ OLED to continue and enable their love of gaming.
TPF Engenharia
Show me the Data!
The teams that scored bonus points here were able to integrate and enrich data into models for an added, extremely useful design element. TPF Engenharia created a platform for showing the physical progress of a construction site to facilitate management and reduce paper consumption while provide real-time information to customers.
TPF Engenharia will each receive an Oura® Smart Ring to keep track of their health data in addition to their model data.
Equicad
I feel the need, the need for Digital Twin
Equicad created a 3D model that shows how parts of a manufactured component can come together from different sources, whether it was built in house or purchased. The model lets a customer track, comment, and view the progress of those parts and equipment across the lifecycle of a project.
Equicad will receive a Kodak® Luma 150 projector to view the progress of manufacturing parts and equipment from anywhere on the go!
AECOM
Task automation is a state of mind
AECOM also created a design automation application for a Revit model, but they took it a step further and added the ability to simplify the Revit model by deleting select elements and grouping elements by asset. This is a huge need in a Revit space that is plagued by massive files and documents.
AECOM will each receive a DAS Keyboard® 4Q and Logitech® Programmable mouse, so they can continue automating any routine tasks in their daily lives.
Nite Technologies
There is no place like ACC
Nite Technologies integrated Telegram with Issues to derive quick insights.
Nite Technologies will receive a Hypervolt™ 2 to relax after a long day at the job site.
HackOverflow
Hack the planet!
HackOverflow created a tool called "Where's my carbon?", that inputs multiple Revit models to determine what their carbon and solar footprints would be on the environment.
HackOverflow will each receive a BlueAir® Purifier to continue their contributions to creating a more sustainable world by removing pollutants in their own personal environments.
To view each demo, make sure you check out the 2022 Hackathon Showcase and congratulate the winners!
Congratulations everyone! We're looking forward to seeing the exciting solutions you come up with next year!