Tomorrow (Thursday), the CityEngine User Meeting 2025 goes live at 5 p.m. Central European Time (8 a.m. Pacific / 11 a.m. Eastern). It’s a free online event for professionals and enthusiasts working with CityEngine and related tools. The session is hosted by the same organiser behind the IceArt events, known for bringing together a precise mix of artists, designers, and developers. Attendance is free but registration is required via GoToWebinar.
Devin Lavigne, Partner, Houseal Lavigne, X: @devlavigne
A Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP), Lavigne is cofounder of Houseal Lavigne, known for its GIS-driven 3D planning projects. He integrates ArcGIS, CityEngine, SketchUp, Unreal Engine, and Omniverse to visualise urban data. He has led more than 200 plans worldwide and received the APA National Excellence Award, Esri’s Most Innovative Partner Award, and five Esri SAG Awards. Lavigne regularly presents at Esri UC and the Geodesign Summit, focusing on pragmatic, production-ready digital-twin workflows.
Dr. Leilei Duan, 3D Technical Consultant, Esri
Duan holds a PhD in Design, Construction, and Planning from the University of Florida and previously taught at the Spatial Sciences Institute at USC. At Esri, she advises clients on advanced 3D spatial solutions and emerging applications for CityEngine and ArcGIS Urban.
Romain Janil, Founder & CEO, romainjanil.com X: @RomainJanil
Janil is a designer specialising in 3D environment production across realtime, offline, and hybrid workflows — including simulation, games, and VFX. Known for procedural innovation and strong visual sensibility, he bridges the design and technical domains, making procedural design accessible to production artists.
Silvia Casas, Senior Product Manager, Esri
Casas manages ArcGIS Urban and CityEngine product development. With degrees in urban planning and architecture, she joined Esri in 2004 and has since led multiple 3D city and planning initiatives. She coordinates user requirements and development priorities for both ArcGIS Urban and CityEngine, translating feedback into stable production features. Expect insights from her on current roadmap directions and the practical challenges of balancing R&D and user stability.
Simon Haegler, Principal Software Developer, Esri
Haegler is a core developer at Esri R&D Zurich and one of the technical architects behind CityEngine. Trained in electrical engineering, he specialises in procedural 3D city modelling for media and AEC workflows. His work bridges the tool’s procedural engine with modern rendering and pipeline integration.
Haegler often presents detailed looks at CGA rule systems and interoperability between CityEngine and realtime tools.
For City Planners, TDs, and VFX Generalists Alike
CityEngine sits at the intersection of visual effects, realtime visualisation, and urban simulation. Whether used in city planning, game environments, or film previsualisation, its rule-based modelling workflow continues to attract a technically minded audience. The organisers describe the event as “fun”, a welcome rarity for a tool better known for geometry than parties. Expect a few seasoned users to show tips, scripts, and workflows not usually found in documentation.
Why It Matters
For production artists already relying on procedural assets, this event is a chance to catch up directly with the tool’s developers and early adopters. With contributors from both academia and production, it bridges the gap between R&D and daily use.
