Architecture, Engineering and Construction Hackathon March 14-16

A weekend-long hackathon designed specifically for the architecture, engineering and construction industry will take place at Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park, California between March 14 and 16, 2014. The event, appropriately named the AEC Hackathon, is a non-profit affair intended to provide an laid-back environment for creative brainstorming. 

"The AEC community faces fresh new problems that urgently need brilliant minds to solve them," said the event organizers. "How are you changing the world?"

The AEC hackathon invites AEC professionals (facilities manager, GIS specialists, public utilities people and anyone who deals with the built environment) to come and present problems in need of solutions. Tech developers and UI/UX designers are encouraged to come and help solve the problems posed by AEC professionals. Registration costs for individual participants vary, ranging from $20 – $100, depending on the registration category.

"Frequently Asked Questions" from the AEC Hackathon Website:

1. What is a hackathon?

Hackathons have long been staple events in the Technology Industry since the late 1990s. A Hackathon is an intense event that brings together computer programmers like software developers, graphic designers and user interface specialists along with industry process experts and professionals to identify issues and create software solutions, usually within a weekend.

2. What do I bring?

This is a very hands-on and grassroots event. Bring your laptops, mobile phones, Kinects, Oculus Rifts, Leap Motions, wearable computing devices, to whatever inspires you but above all, your energy and your brain! Don't worry if you forget something, there will be tons of stuff to do.

3. What is the goal of the hackathon?

We want to create an environment that embraces new ideas and technology solutions for the AEC Industry. 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.

4. How do I form a team and why?

We hope teams at the hackathon will form around problems expressed by participating AEC professionals or the provided hack categories. We do encourage participants to start forming teams before the event. If you would like to start a team or are looking for a team to join, be sure to attend the Friday evening mixer or make an announcement at the opening ceremony of the event on Saturday. You can also propose or join a team via our Meetup Community, Facebook page, and LinkedIn group.

5. Are there prizes for hack categories?

This time we are able to provide cash and software prizes thanks to our sponsors!

Visit the AEC Hackathon website for more information or to register for the event.