AEC Hackathon

**ONGOING CONSTRUCTION**

The AEC Hackathon was created in 2013 by built environment professionals who are passionate about thinking differently and hacking with technology to create solutions to their own industry challenges. This event isn’t just about tech, it’s about empowering architects, engineers, contractors, and all built environment pros with access to cutting-edge tools, technologists, and collaborative innovation.

With over 60 events worldwide, the AEC Hackathon has grown over a decade into the largest global community of thousands dedicated to open innovation for the built world. It’s a hands-on, minds-on experience where you can tech out, problem-solve, and shape the future with those that design, build, and maintain the spaces we live and work in.

At our core, we are "for the industry, by the industry" and believe in a community first approach. We deeply appreciate the professionals, companies, and all supporters who put collaboration and community impact ahead of personal gain. Together, we are driving real change in the industries we love.

A video from our community at BLOXHUB, a great overview of the magic.

GET STARTED

If you are a built environment and or tech professional, property owner, expert, student, company, conglomerate, country, alien, robot AI, or other working to improve the built environment / give super powers to its workforce, we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

Welcome to a community of passionate individuals improving the industries we love.

Get Involved

Watch past team presentations on our Youtube

Join the next event

LinkedIn Group

CHALLENGES

Here are our challenge categories for every hackathon that we sponsor. Additional supporter challenges and prizes are announced at the kickoff of each event.

BEST OVERALL PROJECT

The project that really hits the mark on execution, utility, and technical merits.

BEST SOLVES A BIG PROBLEM PROJECT

The project that solves a big problem for a built environment profession.

BEST MASHUP PROJECT

The best solution that combines an event's sponsors and community supporters’ tech.

BEST HACK FROM A PAST EVENT

Projects from previous AEC Hackathons or from the open source projects here.

BEST HACK FOR HUMANS

Projects that use built environment related data to improve the human experience in structures and cities.

BEST STARTUP PROJECT*

For teams that want to go further with their solutions and present a second time to a round of judges from the investor community.

*only at select locations

F.A.Q. – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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. 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.

3. WHAT DO I BRING?
This is a very hands-on and grassroots event. Bring your laptops, mobile phones, scanners, VR/AR HMDs, drones, 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.

4. 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.

5. HOW DO I FORM OR JOIN 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 SLACK Channel, Facebook page, and LinkedIn group.

6. ARE THERE PRIZES FOR THE HACK CATEGORIES?
We are able to provide gift cards and software prizes thanks to our sponsors!

7. WHO OWNS MY PROJECT & IP?
The team that develops the project is the owner of the project and IP. We do encourage sharing of code with others in the community or making code open source, but it is not required to participate in the event.

8. HOW DO I HAVE AN AEC HACKATHON IN MY LOCAL AREA?
If you want to organize an AEC Hackathon in your area or have one at your existing event, contact us and we will let you know how to make it happen.

9. IS THERE REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL?
No, we do not offer any reimbursement for travel expenses.

10. IS THERE A HACKATHON CODE OF CONDUCT?
Yes, see it here.

11. HOW DO I CONVINCE MY EMPLOYER TO SUPPORT MY ATTENDANCE?
Download this letter from our founder that explains the benefits of participation in an AEC Hackathon. Contact us if you need more assistance to participate!

12. DOES YOUR LOGO HAVE A MEANING?
While it has evolved over the years, our logo represents that we are an open community to any fellow set of bones that are equally as passionate about improving the built environment and its professions.