## Outdated process of a project plan

In the real estate it is common to make a few versions of the project plan, each with a different perspective on the problem. Top down those plans are analysed and the management team decides which one is the best and should be developed with more detail. There is hardly any room for discussion about a combination of plan A and plan B, because that is difficult to imagine how it is going to work out. But neighter plan A nor B is the optimal solution, it can be somewhere in-between. Or even something completely different. With the help of available data about the housing market and a tool which is able to process this data and apply this to the problem, optimal solutions can be found.

## Data Science will dominate the real estate industry

According to Joost van der Zon of OPENRED, it is not about the question whether the real estate industry will use data, algorithms and [artificial intelligence](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/40/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-engineering-construction), but rather when will all the decisions be based on these. In other sectors digitization is already adopted or is making its appearance with amazing results. It is time for the real estate sector to follow that trend and if a company does not adopt the usage of data, it will no longer exist anymore in 10 years, van der Zon predicts. “The most successful companies in real estate are led by directors who dare to believe in applying data and analyses.”

## Benefits of the OPENRED application

To be the frontleader, OPENRED created an application. In this tool they support project developers with data, models and algorithms to make better residential project plans. Van der Zon explains: “With the OPENRED application you can find the optimal balance between returns, risks and market fit, with the result that you earn more and make better plans, faster.”

### Investing in innovation

At OPENRED they started with working on the tactical decisions process at insurance companies, retailers and the government. And for four years they are also working in real estate. Van der Zon: “We noticed that during the real estate crisis nobody was investing in innovation. Now they got money to do this again, although they have no idea how and therefor jump on all the hypes like BIM, blockchain or drones. But those are not effective, data science is what they really need!”

## Distribution of knowledge to customers

OPENRED already had their own algorithms, calculations and insights to be used for their customers. To make this faster and easier, they were searching for a web-based platform with a good user interface. That’s where they found a match with VIKTOR. “VIKTOR makes it possible for our customers to use our complex models, algorithms and data source without them noticing. They only need to set the correct input parameters and the result is clearly displayed in the practical user interface.” Van der Zon explains: “With the OPENRED application they have made their knowledge and service proposition scalable and accessible to all their customers.”



![The Houzr application in action](/uploads/Houzr_application_GIF_be6c8fe315.gif)


Architecture & Planning

Environmental

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OPENRED is here to change the traditional decision-making process in real estate by making data analysis and data science available so that more accurate predictions are made and real estate developer can optimize their decisions.

OPENRED - Artificial intelligence for the real estate sector

1. An introduction to Artificial Intelligence
2. Artificial Intelligence vs Machine Learning
3. AI and ML in organizations
4. Building a Machine Learning application
5. About VIKTOR

artificial intelligence AI machine learning ML engineering construction

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artificial intelligence machine learning engineering construction

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Have you ever wondered how you can use AI to automate engineering processes? This white paper is for all engineers, managers, or directors that want to know more about applying AI-methods, such as machine learning, in their organization. 

Find out more about the different types of AI and how you can use them to improve and automate (engineering) processes within your organization. You will also see some examples of real AI apps used by organizations in the industry and learn what it takes to build a machine learning application yourself. 

Keep scrolling to download the white paper.

Find how you can use AI automate engineering processes in your organization.

Download the White Paper and get INSPIRED

Have you ever wondered how you can use AI to automate engineering processes? This white paper is for all engineers, managers, or directors that want to know more about applying AI-methods, such as machine learning, in their organization. 

Artificial Intelligence: Engineering and Construction

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Boost your engineering workflow with safe and smart implementation of AI-powered tools.

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Engineers across the industry use AI in combination with VIKTOR automations for better results in less time.

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Industry leaders use VIKTOR to build AI models for data analysis, yielding invaluable insights crucial for informed decision-making.

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VIKTOR takes highest measures to keep your data safe and compliant with regulations. ISO-certified and synced with Azure AI.

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Most AI libraries operate with Python, just like the VIKTOR platform. This makes a valuable combination for engineers to build their own AI-integrated web apps, fast.

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#### AI-powered automation
# Find and access information from (engineering) documents

Engineering professionals are frequently tasked with diving into enormous sets of documents in search of crucial details. Whether it’s tenders, contracts, technical reports, or rules and regulations, the volume of information is huge. Time is typically limited. But what happens when crucial knowledge from previous projects is lost to time and memory?

With the [Doc Searcher](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/124/search-engineering-documents-with-viktor-chat-gpt), you can upload documents for any (engineering) project, ask your questions, and get the right response (including source) within seconds. All in a safe and secure way. 

<iframe width="100%" height="600" style="box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px #E0E0E0; border: none;" src="https://demo.viktor.ai/embed/document-searcher"></iframe>


 

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#### AI-powered automation
# McDermott's AI assistant

At global engineering and construction firm McDermott, AI is top-of-mind. [InfoWiz](https://www.viktor.ai/customer-cases/48/mcdermott-ai-assistant) is McDermott's AI assistant, designed to help engineers save time and effort on their projects. InfoWiz consists of three modules (Interactive Document Query, Corporate Documents, and Virtual Assistant) and uses a Large Language Model (LLM) to retrieve the correct answers, including sources, to any question about uploaded documents. 

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#### AI-powered automation
# Image recognition to identify mistakes

Two other AI developments at McDermott are the [ReCo tools](https://www.viktor.ai/customer-cases/46/mcdermott-saves-valuable-engineering-hours), which employ image recognition to identify errors in Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) and isometrics (ISOs). 

“Process and piping engineers often perform a lot of manual work that we can easily avoid by using an application instead. Checks can take up to tens of hours per project. ReCo tool does the same in a few seconds, with a processing speed of 100 P&IDs in just 3 minutes.” - Mina Al-alimadad, AI Projects Manager & Academia Partnership Lead at McDermott.

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/820813377?h=53f8d28cd3&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/820813377">McDermott ReCo Tool</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user75777479">VIKTOR platform</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

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#### Data analysis for decision-making
# AI for the real estate sector

In the real estate’s tactical decision branch, it is all about the big money, the numbers, the location, and the allocation. However, when it comes to making decisions, gut feeling still plays a major role. OPENRED changed this by making data science and AI available through their [application](https://www.viktor.ai/customer-cases/11/artificial-intelligence-digital-transformation-real-estate), so that more accurate predictions are made and real estate developers can optimize their decisions.

![Houzr.gif](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/Houzr_e41169316e.gif)



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#### Data analysis for decision-making
# Predict pile drive times with machine learning

Voorbij Funderingstechniek has leveraged the VIKTOR platform to create multiple modules, enhancing various construction processes. These include tasks like (re)designing pile foundations and, in this instance, [predicting pile driving times using machine learning](https://www.viktor.ai/customer-cases/38/machine-learning-predict-pile-drive-time).

We present an [open-source version](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/63/pile-drive-prediction-with-machine-learning) of this application that you can use to predict pile driving times based on the entered GEF files by applying one of the two machine learning models. The app automatically generates visualizations of the entered GEF files for inspecting the soil structure, classified using the Robertson method. In addition, the app generates force estimation plots as well as a map view of CPT locations.

<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/690862336?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Sample app Pile Drive Prediction with Machine Learning"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>



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#### Security & compliance
# ISO, Azure AI, and multi-regional hosting


VIKTOR upholds the ISO27001 certification, signifying robust information security management systems. Furthermore, we integrate with Microsoft's Azure AI, guaranteeing the confidentiality of your data, with the assurance that it won't be utilized to train other AI models. Additionally, we enable [multi-regional hosting](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/119/viktor-multiregional-hosting-scales-engineering-webapps) of your data so it fits the regulation of your geographical location.



#### Python compatibility
# HACKTOR: your AI assistant for app development 

With a VIKTOR AI assistant in your toolset, developing your own VIKTOR app becomes easier than ever. Prompt your app idea, and HACKTOR provides you with the code to build it.

HACKTOR also learns from your feedback to improve his performance, so feel free to give him some tips!

<iframe width="100%" height="600" style="box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px #E0E0E0; border: none;" src="https://demo.viktor.ai/embed/hacktor-app-builder"></iframe>

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#### Python compatibility
# Documentation searcher: find and access information fast

With the VIKTOR Documentation Searcher, you can retrieve information from our SDK, libraries, documentation, and the community forum. Just pose your questions, and the assistant will fetch the right information from these sources, making app development faster than ever!

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Our experts can help you find the right opportunities, set realistic goals, and meet deadlines.

Effortlessly integrate with industry-leading software, the Python Ecosystem, and modern development tools.

Why VIKTOR for AI

Boost your engineering workflow with safe and smart AI implementation

Implement AI in your engineering workflow

Integrating AI in your engineering workflow not only improves results and saves time, but it also ensures you stay ahead of the curve. The most important thing to look for when implementing AI in your projects is safety. In a secure working environment, ISO-certified and synced with Azure AI, engineers and other domain experts can make informed decisions through data-driven analysis, facilitating project planning, and enabling swift information retrieval from extensive documents using semantic search without risking intellectual property. 

Second most important follows ease of integration. Just like the VIKTOR platform, the majority of AI libraries operate with Python. Compatibility simplifies the incorporation of AI in your app and makes for a user-friendly environment for new developers to build tools. 



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## InfoWiz: 3x AI

McDermott's projects always involve large amounts of data and text. Infowiz is intended to help find and access relevant information more quickly and easily. 

InfoWiz is comprised of three different modules, each with a specific function and purpose. Behind the scenes, the solution is powered by the Microsoft Azure AI LLM technology, ensuring the data remains secure and private.


### Module 1: Interactive Document Query

Maximizing ‘AI as a self-service’, this module enables engineers to access and analyze any documents with ease. Users can upload documents and ask question in natural language: such as “Extract weight and dimensions of the equipment”, “List the applicable standards”, etc. The system will provide relevant answers based on the content of the documents. This module can be used to summarize, extract, enrich and transform documents as needed. Users can quickly get the most out of their documents and gain valuable insights. In addition, 
The module offers automatic translation from and to specific languages to best serve international projects.  

### Module 2: Corporate Documents

In this module, a selection of corporate documents has been preloaded in the application. This includes documents from McDermott’s global engineering library, such as standards, best practices, manuals, and guides that are commonly used for project execution. Queries retrieve accurate information from the database, ensuring answers are based on McDermott trusted sources. 
For instance, "What is the best type of cable to use to connect operating buildings?". The application responds: "[...]Redundant fiber-optic cables [...]" and provides a reference to the document where the answer come from.

The application uses semantic search, which allows users to run queries in their own words, without having to match exactly the original text. This is different from a traditional search engine that depends on keywords and phrases. 

McDermott's engineers save time finding the information they need faster and can deliver more value to customers.

### Module 3: Virtual Assistant

If you ever used ChatGPT before, you know how this works. The main difference here is that the data processed remains safe and private, with all interactions kept within McDermott. 

Users can engage in human-like interactions with the virtual assistant. This can be used for a large variety of tasks such as parsing engineering standards, brainstorming new ideas or fixing a spreadsheet report. Answers to these questions are not based on internal data from McDermott but come from the LLM itself. In all modules, data is never stored, however users have the option to export the questions and answers to their device. 

## Efficiency across disciplines

Behind every application is a brilliant idea. As an Information and Data Management Specialist with an interest in AI, Maxime Moulin wanted to use the LLM technology to improve processes and break down the silos between different engineering disciplines. Fast forward six months and the idea turned into an application that is currently being used by a select group of digital pioneers at McDermott (read: project managers, department managers, engineers). Moulin: “This is the essence of digital transformation: leverage technology to do things differently and be more efficient”. 

## Partnership

Moulin praises “the innovative AI team at McDermott and the power of the VIKTOR platform that makes the InfoWiz development possible.” This is proven by the fact that there are already quite a few AI applications developed at McDermott, such as the ReCo tool for patterns recognition, several deep learning and prediction tools, and now applications that use natural language abilities and generative AI, like InfoWiz. 
“VIKTOR is more than just a platform for agile product development, they are also a partner to McDermott. They support us with our technological needs, and we contribute to their service development. On top of that, we received excellent support and have been brainstorming together, exchanging ideas, and even sharing code. One more key aspect is that VIKTOR is a web-based platform, allowing McDermott’s users to access it easily from our offices globally, whether in Netherlands, India, Malaysia, or the USA.”



</br> 

## What’s next? 

After the initial launch, requests to further customize InfoWiz started coming in fast, with myriad of potential use cases. For now, the AI team is planning to add more documents from the corporate management system to the knowledge base. Next, they will investigate integrating with other McDermott’s applications, so that users can access project-specific information.

## About VIKTOR
You've just read one of the many use cases of the VIKTOR platform. I hope you found it an interesting read! However, there is much more to the VIKTOR platform than only this specific case. Let me tell you more about us:

VIKTOR is a low-code application development platform that empowers engineers and other domain experts to revolutionize their workflow by effortlessly creating user-friendly web applications with nothing more than Python. The VIKTOR platform consists of the following pillars:

1. The VIKTOR SDK: Application development is time-consuming and not the core business of many engineers, but web applications are truly an amazing asset. With the VIKTOR SDK, you can build your own Python-based web apps. The SDK takes care of the back-end, front-end, and hosting, so you can easily transform your Python scripts into any web app and start automating the boring.

2. The Workers: VIKTOR allows for seamless integration with other third-party software packages, such as Revit, Dynamo, ETABS, Grasshopper, and many more. The VIKTOR workers allow you to easily connect your app to these software packages by pushing and pulling data to and from them, eliminating the boring manual work. This way, you can create a whole new level of interoperability, all within a single app, making your VIKTOR app the single point of truth.

3. The Company environment: VIKTOR comes with a company environment, giving you the ability to provide access to users within and outside your company to use your apps. The company environment is a hub where all developed apps are stored and can be used, much like a library. To top that, end-users do not need to install any third-party tools that integrate with a VIKTOR app to be able to use them. The user management system lets you fine-tune user rights within applications (which have their own user management and database), while also providing valuable insights into app usage. This enables you to measure the adoption of the digital tools developed.

You can build any application you can imagine on the VIKTOR platform. Automating the boring tasks with ease, so engineers can fully focus on their engineering work again.

If this sounds interesting to you or your company, let's have a chat, you can reach me via: swolters@viktor.ai



AI assistent helps engineers manage data

the InfoWiz app uses LLMs and is designed to save tim and effort on engineering projects!

McDermott’s AI assistant helps engineers find and access information quickly

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Information and Data Management Specialist at McDermott

Maxime Moulin

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Factual Decision Maker at Veneficus

Joost van der Zon

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## Features of version 1.0

Voorbij created a web-based [parametric design application](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction) on the VIKTOR platform to optimize the (re)design process of pile foundations, which helped their clients save a lot of time and money. 

![figure 1.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/figure_1_49c8585c84.png)

*Map view of soil investigation*

Before, Voorbij optimized pile foundations based on their experience, by grouping CPTs, and including soil variances in a smarter way. 

![figure 2.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/figure_2_0de8bde2ac.png)

*Soil interpretation of CPTs*

Now, they use their application on the VIKTOR platform to speed up this time-consuming manual process. Their application allows for the automated grouping of CPTs based on a given set of rules and generates optimized pile plans according to aspects such as cost, soil structure, grouping, pile tip levels, and pile types. The app also provides Voorbij with rich visualizations of results for quick interpretations. 

![figure 3.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/figure_3_1908f64262.png)

*Visualization of calculation results*

Using their own calculation core, Voorbij is able to indicate upper and lower limits of pile tip levels, easily generate designs, see interactive load-bearing charts, and visualize piles in combinations with the CPTs based off one that information in their application.


## From 1.0 to 3.0 real fast

Now, Voorbij has added some new features to their application. 

### Load carrying capacity

In the first version, Voorbij was only able to calculate on pressure loaded piles. With the new version, they are also able to calculate on pull loaded piles. These are very common in large projects and construction pit projects, which means Voorbij can take on these projects from now on as well. 

> “With the application, we can now consider the whole construction pit integrally.”  - Mark Remijnse, Head Sales at Voorbij Funderingstechniek

### Cost calculation

Initially, optimization was done by reducing material. As of more recent, the application also allows for calculations and linking of actuals costs to provide engineers with a clearer picture of expenses and early on the project already guide the design in the right direction based on budget. 

### Work execution

Also, a somewhat more logistical feature has been added, which is the improvement of work execution. The optimization of a project was previously done separately from the actual construction. Now, the execution and construction parts of the project have been added to the application as well. For the work execution part especially are some preparations required that have been added to the application now:

- **Smart grouping of elements:** Which allows for the optimal design of foundations. Since the soil that a construction project is build on often has a lot of differences in structure, piles vary a lot in size, such as length, diameter, and/or reinforcement. By clever grouping of these piles (putting the right pile in the right place), you can logistically save a lot of time and reduce chance of errors.

- **Bulk orders:** If you want to order material, it is most beneficial to order in large numbers with low variety, based on the [smart](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/40/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-engineering-construction) grouping you did before to avoid and reduce unnecessary costs.


![figure 4.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/figure_4_ed64713811.png)

*Visualization of combined pile rebar cages*

Read more about version 1.0 [here](https://www.viktor.ai/customer-cases/7/digital-transformation-python-pile-foundations)

### Increased calculation capacity

In the early version of the application, Voorbij was already able to use their application to do batch calculations of CPTs. Back in version 1, they could run an analysis of about 150 CPTs at the same time. With the latest version however, they are able to calculate up to 1000 CPTS simultaneously, increasing the calculation capacity.

## An environmentally friendly application

The addition of new features was not only beneficial for Voorbij and their clients, it also brought some environmental advantages along. 

### Less crane days

With the release of the latest version of their application, Voorbij was able to reduce days of crane usage by 40 in one case. This meant 40 days of proximality 250 litres of fuel less, which is good for 10.000 litres reduction of (CO2) emissions.

### Less concrete

Additionally, the new features allowed for the creation of a design that required about 6.000 to 6.500 m3 less concrete, resulting in Voorbij using 26.500 m3 concrete for their design were another company calculated about 33.000 m3 concrete for their design. Every m3 of concrete consists of 350kg cement, meaning every 3 m3 of concrete is about 1.000 kg cement, which makes up for about 2.275 tons kg less cement. This also equals 2.275 tons less CO2 emissions. For this design, that would be over about 2.000 tons CO2 emissions less! On top of that, it also reduces transport of approximately 500 truck movements of ready-made mixed concrete.

## From developer to advisor

Before working with automation applications, when taking on a project Voorbij would receive a definitive design that they had to make into an execution design, meaning they could only adjust some details. Since they started using their applications, they are pulled into the process from an early stage on, mostly somewhere between preliminary design and definitive design. In this stage, there is still a lot of room for advisement, improvement, and optimization.
 
According to Voorbij, their engineers are the ones who are now talking to the constructors, which works very well, as they understand each other best. 

> “Before, we were mostly doing calculations. Now we are able to put a lot of effort on advising. You can use your cleverness and really add value to a project this way.” – Wiebren Koers, Geotechnical Advisor at Voorbij Funderingstechniek

> “Thanks to our applications, our engineers are now only doing 4 up to 8 hours per design calculation instead of 20 to 40 hours per design. This, I think, is still too much however, since they can add the most value by sharing their knowledge!” – Mark Remijnse, Head Sales at Voorbij Funderingstechniek

## The BASE FT tool

Voorbij has been working hard on collecting all their project data and creating a database for the purposes of comparing their data and applying Machine Learning techniques to improve and predict future on future projects. 

The BASE FT tool consists of three pointers, which are the applications, their machines, and a database. Currently, there are three applications, but Voorbij is aiming to expand BASE FT’s network and incorporate more external applications from other companies as well.

> “It is important that BASE FT can be used to link other applications and disciplines to your processes” – Mark Remijnse, Head Sales at Voorbij Funderingstechniek

Furthermore, the machines that are part of BASE FT constantly track data when used on a project, this data is gathered and saved in the BASE FT database, where they use data engineering to optimize and better generate future designs.

## More to come

Besides expanding BASE FT’s network, Voorbij wants to work on improving their current applications as well. For example, by adding a nitrogen module to the pile application. They also want to start using the data from BASE FT’s database to predict the course of a building project, analyse execution data, and improve their designs. 

Read more about how they do this [here](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/40/python-artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-automation-application-development).

And see how you can [build your own parametric design applications here](https://www.viktor.ai/parametric-design-software).

## About VIKTOR

You've just read one of the many use cases of the VIKTOR platform. I hope you found it an interesting read! However, there is much more to the VIKTOR platform than only this specific case. Let me tell you more about us:

VIKTOR is a low-code application development platform that empowers engineers and other domain experts to revolutionize their workflow by effortlessly creating user-friendly web applications with nothing more than Python. The VIKTOR platform consists of the following pillars:

1. The VIKTOR SDK: Application development is time-consuming and not the core business of many engineers, but web applications are truly an amazing asset. With the VIKTOR SDK, you can build your own Python-based web apps. The SDK takes care of the back-end, front-end, and hosting, so you can easily transform your Python scripts into any web app and start automating the boring.
 
2. The Workers: VIKTOR allows for seamless integration with other third-party software packages, such as Revit, Dynamo, ETABS, Grasshopper, and many more. The VIKTOR workers allow you to easily connect your app to these software packages by pushing and pulling data to and from them, eliminating the boring manual work. This way, you can create a whole new level of interoperability, all within a single app, making your VIKTOR app the single point of truth.
 
3. The Company environment: VIKTOR comes with a company environment, giving you the ability to provide access to users within and outside your company to use your apps. The company environment is a hub where all developed apps are stored and can be used, much like a library. To top that, end-users do not need to install any third-party tools that integrate with a VIKTOR app to be able to use them. The user management system lets you fine-tune user rights within applications (which have their own user management and database), while also providing valuable insights into app usage. This enables you to measure the adoption of the digital tools developed.

You can build any application you can imagine on the VIKTOR platform. Automating the boring tasks with ease, so engineers can fully focus on their engineering work again.
 
If this sounds interesting to you or your company, let's have a chat, you can reach me via: swolters@viktor.ai





Customer_case_parametric_design_tool_fast_generation_optimal_design_1

Discover how engineers at Voorbij FT build a web app to automate and optimize design of pile foundations on VIKTOR.ai

Web app for optimal pile foundation design | VIKTOR.ai

Optimal pile foundation design saves tons of CO2

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Head Sales at Voorbij Funderingstechniek

Mark Remijnse

## Optimal project planning

The application is going to change the project development sector in the housing market branch forever. “Within years, there will no longer be a project that will be developed without OPENRED” Joost van der Zon, founder of OPENRED, claims. The application makes use of thousands of available datapoints in the housing market and uses them to create the optimal project planning with higher returns, less risk and a better market fit. This can be done by all their customers, even if they have no knowledge of data at all. The application does it all for them.

## How to get the optimal result

To get the optimal result from the OPENRED application, the following process should be followed:

### Initial information

First of all, some initial information must be set up to create an environment that best represents your reality for the project. These are things like cost profiles, the type of houses to be built, the height of the houses, etc. This is only happens once, and when this information is applied in the application, it will be used in all calculations. The project properties ultimately have an enormous influence on the eventual optimal result.

###  Location determination
Secondly, the location of the project must be set. The destination of the project somewhere in the Netherlands must be clear. For this location, the regulatory framework of, usually the municipality, can be entered, so that the application can make the project plan accordingly. In this regulatory framework, you can think of things such as maximum building height, certain number of houses, meeting parking standards, number of meters for green spaces / pieces of road / other facilities, etc.

### Algorithm instructions

When all of this set, instructions should be set about the units the algorithm can test. For example, only ground dwellings, only stacked dwellings or whether the user must adhere to certain numbers. The app will apply those settings in conjunction with the regulatory framework to run all possibilities for this location based on its internal database.

### Booting solutions

During this time you can make yourself a cup of coffee, the application will find many solutions, which are sorted to the goal you want to achieve. For example, if the return is most important to you, or is the goal rather to get a good market fit. You can then choose your optimal solution and get the perfect project plan from OPENRED.

### Executing multiple scenarios

To anticipate possible changes in the environment, the app has the feature to execute multiple scenarios. Suppose that the municipality can be convinced that an elementary school can be built along with the project. This will increase the value of your homes. In that case you want it to be included in the calculations. Another example: if there are restaurants and bars nearby or if something is going to happen to the accessibility of the development. All of this has an impact on the value, and the optimal housing configuration can be different. Extending a metro line, for example, has an impact on a given part of the Netherlands, which makes it is better to build apartments rather than ground-level dwellings But how many and in what ratio; the OPENRED application tells you.

## Quick integration with VIKTOR
OPENRED has worked for over a year on the algorithms, models and calculations for the application. With VIKTOR, they were able to incorporate all this into a web-based application within four weeks. They chose for this to be able to create their application in detail without a large knowledge base in the field of UI and platform design. Those gaps in knowledge are solved by the practical design of the VIKTOR platform. Now the application is available to all the customers of OPENRED in a web-based, user-friendly interface.

![Analysing scenarios with the Houzr application.jpg](/uploads/Analysing_scenarios_with_the_Houzr_application_a39d926e74.jpg)

*Analyzing scnarions with the OPENRED application*

The Houzr application in cooperation with VIKTOR

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In the real estate sector, especially the housing market, many decisions are still made based on gut feeling instead of data. 

The OPENRED application creates the optimal project plan within minutes

## Get the white paper

**INDEX**

1. Construction companies and digital transformation
2. Technology trends for a different approach
3. Technology trends in the construction industry
4. A new technology trend for the construction industry
5. Low code for the construction industry
6. The VIKTOR platform
7. What does it cost?
8. How to start
9. What's next?

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What are the current trends in digital transformation and how do they affect the engineering and construction industry? 

This white paper is for every engineer, manager, director, or anyone else that wants to learn more about (new) technology trends that help boost digital transformation in engineering and construction, such as BIM, parametric or generative design, and low-code and no-code. 

Discover how web applications can help you find the best solution fast, get the best insights, capture knowledge into assets, and make work more joyful! 






Learn about trends in digital transformation and how they affect the engineering and construction industry.

This white paper is for every engineer, manager, director, or anyone else that wants to learn more about (new) technology trends that help boost digital transformation in engineering and construction, such as BIM, parametric or generative design, and low-code and no-code. 

Digital Transformation: Engineering and Construction Industry

## Increasing design efficiency

However, providing an adjusted design after each road or artwork change costs a lot of work. About two years ago, WTOP decided to investigate where most of the time was spent in the process of designing, and where this could be done more efficiently. This showed that in a number of these processes, many hours were spent on repetitive and unimaginative work. In addition, it turned out that arranging and creating a smooth line with these barriers is a complicated process and time-consuming. Jaap van de Werfhorst, owner of WTOP infra, decided that this process should be automated.

## Automating the process

The work of manually placing elements along the road based on a maximum angular rotation and, if it turns out not to fit, to start this process all over again, had to find an alternative solution. WTOP infrastructure was in contact with VIKTOR to see how various processes could be better linked to each other, and the above mentioned problem was discussed with the question wheher using VIKTOR would be fruitful. At VIKTOR they came up with the proposal to do this with a self-written algorithm. Van de Werfhorst: “Initially, there was still uncertainty whether the algorithm could also handle complex projects. If it could carry out the 80% easiest projects, it would not be of much use to us, because it is precisely in the difficult 20% where the most profit lies.”

## An application for complex projects

“After several brainstorming sessions, we were confident that the application could also handle complex projects,” explains Van de Werfhorst. In the application you can define your grid, the bounds of the design, the horizontal and vertical alignment, the maximum angular rotations between the elements, variables related to defining the angular rotations, other constraints such as cables and pipes, artworks, etc. and where you wants to apply your fitting elements. All these parts can be entered in both x, y and z directions. Based on all this input, the algorithm determines the optimal line of the noise barrier. In a visual representation, the application shows by means of colors whether the barrier can be made with the specified conditions. If it turns out that this does not work, the application indicates where the problems are, so that the conditions can be adjusted at those specific locations if desired. This can be done by increasing the angular rotation between the elements, which may then create elements that meet the requirements or by giving the barrier some more space by adjusting the bounds of the design. The great thing is that the program examines and calculates hundreds of thousands of possibilities within a few minutes. The application also generates a list of coordinates in x, y and z direction of the design. This list of coordinates is imported into Excel by WTOP infra, after which all elements that meet the requirements are generated by dynamo and placed in a 3D model. In addition, dynamo in combination with excel creates a quantity list with the main dimensions per element. As a result, the consequences of design choices are immediately visible in both a 3D model and quantities.

## What can be gained? 

Due to this extensive automation, instead of spending much work on unimaginative tasks, the time can now be spent on solving details and interfaces. The advantage is that various choices can be made clear at a detailed level quickly in the tender phase, which also makes it easier to estimate the risks. Since all parts and placements are generated from a single coordinate list, including the production drawings and layout drawings, it is also possible to act quickly during the design process and execution, and failure costs due to changes can be minimized.

Van de Werfhorst: “The step that we have taken together with VIKTOR ensures that we are at the beginning of a development that can be carried out much further by linking this to schedules, cost estimates, etc.” The application and links made with analysis- and drawing programs are useful not only for noise barriers, but also for everything in which prefabricated (3D) elements are placed on or along an alignment, which is currently also being implemented.

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For complex projects, it is important to deliver designs in complete 3D, so that they can be incorporated into BIM. But this process takes a lot of time. 

An algorithm that makes noise barrier design much faster

## Custom truss constructions

The truss constructions at large music stages become bigger and more complex. Festivals want to have their own unique stage, with a custom truss construction. These constructions are very expensive if they have to be custom made, or you have to deal with a limited set of standard shapes with existing products. 

![Truss construction design in the analyze one](/uploads/Truss_constructions_in_the_analyze_one_3bfe986172.jpg)


### Software and building blocks

FrameFlux is offering an affordable option for creating your custom construction. Yufe Wong, cofounder of Frameflux: “We invented an adjustable, reusable building block, with which you can create any shape structure you want, with the same level of form-freedom as a snake!” Besides the physical product they also developed in-house [parametric design](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction) and analysis software tools to rapidly design these custom shapes and analyse them. “You can perform a structural feasibility check in seconds on an unlimited set of forms, including the conventional shapes.” This removes a barrier to the use of the truss, since it would be difficult to engineer and design some of the complex structural shapes that become feasible.

![Truss construction design](/uploads/Truss_construction_design_56c25ff136.jpg)


## Hitting the market

After demonstrating the software tools to customers and receiving a lot of enthusiasm, FrameFlux wanted to take the next step. After an elaborate vendor selection, FrameFlux partnered with VIKTOR for their experience and integration with Grasshopper and Python, along with a user-friendly interface to suit the needs. Since March 2020, the two companies have been collaborating to deliver this software product, named Antalyze One. This application allows integration with SCAD Re-Event, a popular 3D CAD program for the Dutch event industry. Now a super-fast workflow for design of standard truss beams is realized: users can create a design in SCAD Re-Event, export the data to the web-based VIKTOR platform, and then instantly run a Grasshopper-powered structural feasibility check. It is also possible to make changes in VIKTOR and re-import these back into SCAD Re-Event. VIKTOR’s fine grain data management systems, for user information and technical data, allow for such automation when coupled with Grasshopper. In future, integrations with other CAD programs will be possible.

![Data mangement systems for truss constructions](/uploads/Data_management_system_8043c8a027.png)


## A user-friendly interface

“With VIKTOR we’ve got a friendly user interface and a good integration with our existing Grasshopper model, instead of starting over again.” In the web-application an event designer can also upload their design and other relevant inputs whenever and wherever they want. As before, this information is sent to the Grasshopper model in which the analysis is done. The results of this analyses are sent back to the web-application and visualized for the event designer.

![Visualizations of truss construction designs](/uploads/Truss_construction_visualizations_deb241cb3c.jpg)


## The 'Antalyze Two'?
The decision to automate this process is an easy one according to Yufe “A designer can now create, develop and get a structural feasibility check on their preliminary designs of loaded straight beams without hours of spreadsheet work or consultation.” There are already plans for a potential ‘Antalyze Two’, which will be able to process a much greater variety of structural shapes. “Especially for custom-made constructions it could take weeks before a design was analysed by a consultant. With our software and the web-application made on the VIKTOR platform, a check could be run on squares, circles and snake-like structures… in only a matter of seconds!”

Interested in developing web-applications as well? Check out our [parametric design solutions](https://www.viktor.ai/parametric-design-software)!

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It is now possible to analyse structures with a user-friendly web application quicker than ever before!

Analyse any truss construction design within seconds

## Designing a sustainable future

Stefan Schoenmakers, design leader Civil Realisation Substructure of the Theemsweg route at Wagemaker explains that the Calandbrug will have reached its technical lifespan in 10 years. It was built around 1970 and provides road and freight traffic. By removing freight traffic, the lifespan is extended and at the same time the with new rail viaduct, the train traffic does not experience interference of opening and closing the bridge for shipping. The new route is designed for the next 100 years. “We have to look and think far ahead, because mobility issues may change over this period of time. This makes it a very interesting project”.

## Many parts to a mega project

Wagemaker designs almost all the foundations for this project. Wagemaker is part of SaVe, a construction consortium consisting of Besix, Dura Vermeer and Mobilis that is responsible for the design and realisation. “We work with a design team of 12 people at Wagemaker, where my job as design manager is to ensure that our product, drawings and calculations are finished on time and distributed within the organisation of SaVe. We look at implementation, manufacturability, optimisations, alignments with the road design team, with provisions for lighting, making certain parts prefab, and much more. Our constructors and modellers work on all these things simultaneously”, says Schoenmakers. A mega project.

## Complexity and diversity

Not only the size is a challenge; the route is 4 km in length, but also the complexity. “You come across different types of soil situations. In some places the foundation is in water, in other places you have to build across an existing lock, or you have to deal with a very poor soil structure, or a soil structure in which inserting piles is a challenge. It is very diverse.”, says Schoenmakers. In addition, we are dealing with the fact that almost every location is very specific regarding the number of cables and pipes in the ground. Wagemaker looked for an effective way of analysing the foundation supports. “In principle we have 100 support points, some of which are identical, but the situation is different due to the soil composition. Initially, we wanted to make a certain design choice based on a comparison between support points that are similar and then calculate only one”, which is not optimal. Due to previous collaboration on another project, they ended up at VIKTOR. “We worked on the TenneT project, of Heijmans. You were involved in that project as well, and we then saw what was possible and we also want to stimulate development. So we said right away, we are going to do it together with VIKTOR!”.

## The role of the VIKTOR platform

With VIKTOR, the substructure of the route has been parametrically designed and calculated. This was done, among other things, by means of integrations with geotechnical and structural calculation software such as the finite element program SCIA. Schoenmakers: “By using your tool, we were able to generate parametric models with corresponding load cases for all supports and foundations. This made it easy to analyse internal force distributions, pile reactions and other calculation results. We ultimately opted for 5 to 6 basic foundations. They were all defined in the database of the tool and we could attach foundation characteristics, such as soil properties. Actually, this is in reverse order to the normal process, enabling us to much better determine where optimisations are present”.

Using the tool resulted in making the design process and reporting more efficient. The VIKTOR platform has been very valuable not only in the field of calculations, but also towards the client and testing authorities: “This has enabled us to demonstrate that we have been able to design and analyse all support points properly,” says Schoenmakers.

## Wagemaker focuses on digitisation

Wagemaker clearly focuses on the digitisation of engineering; A few years ago, a Virtual Design department was established to keep up with the developments. Of the 8 people there are 2 dedicated programmers employed. “If we can save time on projects by doing things [smarter](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/40/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-engineering-construction), we have more time for complex projects where we cannot automate or parametrise anything. You became an engineer for the complex thinking involved, thereby empowering people. You don’t want to do the same thing 10 times. It may be nice the first time, and second time as well, but then it stops. It is very time consuming and if you have to do the same thing 10 times over, the chance of errors will also increase”. VIKTOR has provided a clear solution for this. Wagemaker recently participated in a few technical sessions at VIKTOR, in which three engineers are now learning to develop their own tool in the VIKTOR platform. Not participating in this development is not an option for Wagemaker. “We try to stay ahead, because the moment you can do something that someone else cannot do, it strengthens our market position.”

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The Theemsweg route is a new railway viaduct, which allows uninterrupted train traffic on the first part of the Betuwelijn, without having to stop for ships. A challenging project for VIKTOR and Wagemaker, who is responsible for the engineering of the substructure of the route!

Parametric models to design the structure of the Theemsweg route

## No replacement, but renovation!

The developed system makes it possible to place a new pipe in the old pipe without excavating the street. Thanks to the coupling supplied by CODURE, the system can be directly connected to the rest of the network. Each coupling is specifically designed and made for the project. With the help of VIKTOR, an application has been developed that, in addition to the dimensions and structural calculations, also generates the code to control the CNC machines and keeps track of the quality control.

## Easy coupling with CODURE

Anande Bergman, Chief Technology Officer at CODURE, explains: “CODURE has developed a patented coupling specifically to repair pressure lines using Cured-in-Place-Pipes (CIPP).” CIPP is a method to repair existing underground pipes without having to excavate the whole street: a new pipe within the old pipe. A fiberglass sleeve is placed and cured within the old pipe that has a coupling at each end. The coupling has a special inner surface that ensures adhesion to the sleeve during curing, so the sleeve and coupling form a whole. Thanks to the coupling piece, the CIPP sleeves can easily be connected to the rest of the network.

## Different coupling designs

Unfortunately, existing pipelines are not the same everywhere and the required couplings are often unique. We are talking about old pipes with varying sizes that do not correspond to the current standards. The pressure on the pipe also differs per situation. As a result, every project is slightly different and a new coupling must be designed every time. Bergman: “It is a time-consuming task to design a coupling piece every time in a traditional way. Due to the complexity of the product, we always have to do this, even to just create a simple quotation. ”

## An automated application to the rescue 

That is why an application has been created together with VIKTOR to be able to perform those calculations automatically. “Before using VIKTOR, one of our engineers had to do a strength calculation for each coupling design. We did this with FEM, because thick-walled glass fiber products are complex to calculate. That took a few hours per design”, says Bergman. With the help of the application, a complete design can now be made quickly and easily. This not only saves time, but also money. “Even small orders are now commercially attractive.”


![codure.PNG](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/codure_1cb13314b4.PNG)



## The possibilities of centralized and automated data

“The application can do much more,” says Bergman. Quotes, drawings and data sheets with all relevant information can be generated for each coupling design. This is not done via manual calculations or individual Excel models, but rather all data is collected and generated centrally and automatically in the application. Due to the central storage of the designs, no previous versions are lost. Bergman: “It is important that we can quickly compare multiple options, so that we can always discuss with the customer and offer the best solution. So it’s also great that we can easily view older designs and track why certain changes were made to the project and by whom. ”

> “With the help of the application, a complete design can now be made quickly and easily. This not only saves time, but also money. ” - Anande Bergman CTO of CODURE

## From design to product

CODURE not only makes the designs, but is also responsible for the production of the couplings and their quality control. CODURE has developed special CNC machines for production to be able to make the coupling pieces. The final design is converted in the application into a G-code with which these machines can be controlled. Bergman explains: “Now we no longer have to translate a geometry into the instructions for the machine, now we can produce the desired coupling with the click of a button.” Production is thus greatly simplified and accelerated, and the probability of errors is much smaller.

## Quality control

After the production of a coupling, quality checks must be done. Due to its use in drinking water pipes, CODURE must adhere to strict regulations. Quality control is also supported in this application. Amongst other things, the following information is tracked per coupling piece: which materials have been used, who has worked on it, whether all sizes are correct and whether all quality requirements have been met. “Everything is stored in a well-organised way and it is easy to trace what happened to that specific coupling piece,” says Bergman.

## Advantages of the application

The entire process, from initial design and quotation to actual production and quality control, is thus centralised in one application. This not only saves CODURE a lot of time in designing, calculating, entering and updating everything that is involved in making a coupling piece; but it also ensures that processes are simplified and the risk of errors is reduced. By automating the entire process, CODURE is left with time that they can now use to improve and optimize the product.

Bergman: “It is simple. Anyone can use the application. All the knowledge behind the design, which was previously only in the hands of the specialists, has now been made accessible to the entire organisation. ” So in addition to the centralisation of data and time savings, CODURE can store and always use their knowledge.

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Replacement or renovation of deteriorated pipes is required to provide clean drinking water. CODURE and their partners have now developed a new system that allows for simple renovation!

CODURE: Automated design and production of FRP flanges

## Automation in the offshore sector

While a lot of automation is already taking place in the automotive and aviation sector, the offshore sector is still lagging behind. According to Maas Hoogeveen, Technology Director at Mocean Offshore and developer of Calypso, this is because the offshore industry is a highly conservative market. “Everybody works on their own projects and has their own reasons for sticking to the old principles. But we are working on applications with automated calculations that will reduce the time and money spent on a project.”

### No more manual tasks

In the jack-up industry, there are still many repetitive tasks performed by engineers. This is partially due to the complexity of the frameworks laid down in ISO 19905. However, it is not commercially viable for the experts to fully perform the extensive calculations manually; they have to use conservative shortcuts. Hoogeveen: “We use algorithms and parametric models, so that shortcuts no longer need to be used and calculations can be done faster and more specific.”

>“The best way to share knowledge is by making it available through a web application.” - Maas Hoogeveen

## Looking for the right digital tools

Maas has spoken with many market parties about making his application available online via a web interface. “It would be a costly enterprise to even create a Minimal Viable Product. Then I came into contact with VIKTOR, which was a great fit. The interface was exactly what I envisioned. It meets the wishes of various stakeholders. A sales manager, for instance, may want to use Calypso as a means of communication with which he or she can generate clear images, whereas an engineer may want to perform in-depth calculations and optimize the use of a platform. Calypso’s interface caters to many different users, which is made possible by the versatility of the powerful VIKTOR platform. Another big advantage is that the costs are much lower.”

> “The web application was developed within 40 hours. The iterations that have been done were also implemented quickly. This offers enormous opportunities because time and budget are the bottleneck.”

## What is Calypso?

### Site-specific assessment

Calypso is a tool for performing site-specific assessments on any jack-up platform. This determines whether you can install wind turbines with a light or a heavy platform. The tool can be used even before you start a tender. Maas Hoogeveen explains: “We specialize in analysis of jack-ups. The knowledge and calculation methods contained in Calypso are an implementation of the jack-up engineering standard ISO 19905-1:2016. With this application, every engineer can perform a site-specific assessment (SSA).”

Check out how you can analyze offshore wind turbine installation platforms without being expert with Calypso and VIKTOR:

<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/584895866?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Calypso-Tutorial-Jack-up-SSA"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

### Automated calculations

In addition, the calculations are automated, but an engineer can still look deep inside the system to check all steps and calculations. “This is what we call the glass box paradigm, as opposed to the black box”, Hoogeveen explains.

### Capitalizing knowledge and skill

The main objective of Calypso is to capitalize upon knowledge and skills regarding jack-up engineering by making these available to the offshore industry. Running it as a VIKTOR application is a great way to achieve this: “VIKTOR matched perfectly with our vision of what the interface should be. The way parameters are set and how the model is directly visualised is how we imagined it,” Hoogeveen explains. The web-based application can be used independently by clients, so they can make calculations on their own data and problems.

![Web-based VIKTOR Calypso application.png](/uploads/Web_based_VIKTOR_Calypso_application_3bdaa727dc.png)

## Fast development is not impossible!

The development of a web interface to an application doesn’t have to take months, it can be realized in just a week. Maas Hoogeveen: “We developed a headless application, containing the algorithms and parametric models. With this basis and the assistance of VIKTOR developers we build the Calypso application in only 40 hours. The extensive possibilities of the VIKTOR platform are inspiring. With their help, Calypso is as accessible and user-friendly as we imagined.”

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With Calypso you can analyse offshore wind turbine installation platforms without being a jack-up engineering expert!

Everyone can analyse offshore wind turbine installation platforms

## Why Dynamo?

People from different disciplines use all kinds of different software programs. Where structural designers make extensive use of BIM and CAD software, such as Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD, road designers use Autodesk Civil3D and Bentley MX Road. The skilled designers amongst us automate their workflows in these packages using Dynamo: By creating Dynamo scripts, manual actions can be automated in structural design software, which saves designers lots of time.

Dura Vermeer’s engineers and technical modellers are amongst these skilled engineers that are highly acquainted with those software packages and use Dynamo intensively in their design process. Their experience, expertise, and the concept of visual programming enable them to quickly develop models with Dynamo. However, some needs are yet to be covered: The exchange of data and versioning of that data remains challenging.

## Why VIKTOR?

Also, although Dynamo is a very handy tool, it has a learning curve: Often only a specialist knows how it works, making other disciplines dependent on the time and resources of these specialized individuals. That’s where VIKTOR comes into play. VIKTOR is a web application development platform for engineers and has a large variety of digital building blocks (like digital LEGO), such as integrations with structural design software. VIKTOR’s web applications provide a central database with version control on the data and offers an intuitive user interface where other disciplines can easily use encapsulated expert knowledge. This is also known as: Democratization of Knowledge.

But the question remains: How do you leverage Dura Vermeer’s existing expertise in Dynamo and VIKTOR’s distribution and data control? The answer: By building an integration between the two! VIKTOR and Dura Vermeer collaborated and developed a Dynamo-VIKTOR node package: Nodes where data can be fetched and pushed from Dynamo to VIKTOR.

## Single Source of Truth

In Dura Vermeer's current design process, the exchange of parameters between the different disciplines often takes place via mail or quick hand-drawn sketches. However, this is not foolproof and can become increasingly risky when many versions and alterations are made. By developing a VIKTOR web application that automatically integrates with different design software, Dura Vermeer no longer requires manual output exchanges. Of course, active communication between the different professionals is still needed, but less normative.

### Creating Dynamo scripts

The Dynamo-VIKTOR node package consists of several nodes (in Dynamo terms, a node is a visual representation of methods/functions with only input and output). When properly placed, the nodes can perform a task such as establishing a connection between Dynamo and VIKTOR. The following figure shows a representation that makes it possible to acquire the input parameters of an entity from VIKTOR to Dynamo. Other configurations of these nodes can create alternative tasks, such as getting results, getting files and even pushing data to VIKTOR.

![The Dynamo-VIKTOR node package](/uploads/Dynamo_VIKTOR_node_package_3359b129c6.png)

By connecting these strings of nodes to other Dynamo nodes, actions and even designs can be automated using the design software. These series of nodes is called a Dynamo script. Once the script is executed, multiple tasks that can be used in Revit will be performed. Since Dynamo is not only supported in Revit, scripts can also be developed for AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Inventor, etc.

### Using the Dynamo-VIKTOR node package

The video shows the same Dynamo-VIKTOR node package used in both Revit and Civil 3D. The video shows how the cross-section is manipulated using the parameters given in VIKTOR. No external exchange file is necessary, resulting in a live connection between all disciplines (in this case the structural engineer, road designer and structural modeller) which is basically practicing the single source of truth principle.

<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/584816499?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="DV_Dynamo-VIKTOR_nodes_ViktorUBak_v3(1)"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

## Connecting software and knowledge

The collaboration between VIKTOR and Dura Vermeer has made a huge difference regarding the way software is deployed. Not only are software packages connected, but also the knowledge of the professionals. Both parties ended up speaking the same digital language, even though their knowledge backgrounds are so different.

In only one sprint (a two-week development period) the live connection between VIKTOR and the structural design software was explored and finally established. Further development will most likely yield many more functionalities and applications, as all kind of design software can tap into this single source of truth.

## A reusable package for future automation efforts

The Dynamo-VIKTOR node package is a very general utility to exchange data between VIKTOR and Dynamo. It can be linked to any VIKTOR app for which credentials are available and any Dynamo script. That is why this is a digital building block that Dura Vermeer can reuse in their future automation efforts as well. In the long term, VIKTOR can continue to provide digital building blocks that Dura Vermeer can use to realize their vision of becoming the best digital contractor in the Netherlands.

If you are interested or have are any questions or remarks about this development, do not hesitate to contact us at: pmadlener@viktor.ai.


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The design and construction of objects requires many disciplines that all use different software programs to come together. By integrating software like Dynamo and Civil 3D with the VITKOR platform, data can easily be exchanged and automatically generated. 

A single source of truth for Dynamo and Civil 3D

## Collecting everything in one place

Roland Snelders has been involved in the development of the concrete slab reinforcement application for Heijmans. “We could read the internal moments from a SCIA file and these were collected in the report, usually in a table. Then those moments could be entered in Excel and the reinforcement was determined and tested in an iterative process. That calculation was therefore copied to the report. ” This way of working could be done more efficiently. It would be easy if copying numbers is no longer necessary, because everything is collected in one place.

### No more copy + paste

That's exactly what the application they created does. Snelders: “From SCIA we can now export an XML file and read it into the application on the VIKTOR platform. The Excel sheet is also linked to this. After selecting the concrete cross-section data and various reinforcement options, I get a picture with colors that indicate where the reinforcement should be.” This ensures that you go directly from the SCIA file with a once-off data entry to a visualisation of the results that come from the Excel sheet, without having to copy anything.

### Centralizing data

The Excel sheet has not been completely transferred into the application, but rather has been linked to it. This has the advantage that it does not have to be recreated, which would then have to be validated. In addition, all manufacturers know how to make a calculation in Excel, you can still continue to do that. “The application ensures that everyone now works with the same Excel sheet, since it can only be opened centrally,” says Snelders. This significantly reduces the risk of errors.

## General use of the application

The application can be used in any construction that contains a slab, for example a floor, a wall, a roof or a bridge. “Initially, only rectangular slabs could be calculated and analysed, which was a major limitation,” says Snelders, “This has now been improved to allow for all types of slab shapes to be calculated.” The application is made by developers of VIKTOR, because Heijmans did not yet have the required knowledge to do it themselves.

![Excel and SCIA connected.png](/uploads/Excel_and_SCIA_connected_c24d123297.png)


## Partial automation for now

This is the beginning in terms of automation. "For the time being it is not going to be possible to calculate entire constructions completely, because there is a lot of variation in every project." Snelders explains, "But it is very useful to have components of that construction automatically calculated." There is less variation in the components themselves, so they can be calculated perfectly with an application. This allows the structural engineer to have more time for the more complex and challenging aspects of his/her work.

## More space left for challenging work

Snelders: “The application makes work more fun. I do not find completing an Excel sheet challenging work. ” When filling in cells and copying data, a structural engineer adds little knowledge to the process. Where they do add knowledge is during the schematisation of the construction and the making of a calculation model, in order to subsequently arrive at an optimal and practical choice of reinforcement. "That work still remains, we have mainly automated the repetitive calculations."

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Customer_case_automating_calculation_process_linking_excel_SCIA_1

In construction, calculations are often done in Excel sheets that need a lot of developing. Because Heijmans has linked these sheets to SCIA on the VIKTOR platform, automating parts of the process.

Automating the calculation process by linking Excel sheets to SCIA

## More time to solve complex problems

Previously, many calculations for fender systems were done with rules of thumb. This is no longer possible, due to the stricter new standards. The calculations now have to be done in more detail, which creates a lot of extra work for the engineers. Calculating all options manually one by one is laborious, so it was decided to automate these calculations. Louis: “The calculation of constructions will be increasingly automated. The time gained from this can then be used to solve complex problems.”

### Computers are taking over repetitive calculating 

Peltenburg explains: “Repetitive elements are very suitable for programming, and so can be calculated using an application.” With repetitive elements, the same calculation must always be performed, something that an application on the computer can do much faster than a structural engineer by hand. “Once the repetition is found in a construction, letting a computer do that calculation allows one to save a lot of time,” says Peltenburg.

## An application for automation

### An interface between REFM and VIKTOR
MH Poly uses the calculation software RFEM to calculate the fender systems. Louis was very interested in creating an application for fender systems and asked Peltenburg to work on this together. The application they created contains an interface between the RFEM software and the VIKTOR platform. Peltenburg: “We offer an API to all our customers, on which applications can be made. This was the first time that it has been taken on in a professional manner.”

### Possibilities in a changing sector

In the fall, the application will be presented on the MSc Engineering customer day. “We want to show our customers that the sector is changing and what possibilities there are in terms of automation.” Peltenburg says. Louis, “This application is a pilot to see how it goes, but it is my intention to collaborate more if everything goes well.” You can still register for the customer day via this link.

“The biggest advantage of using VIKTOR is to initiate a change in thinking amongst engineers. There is still a lot of traditional thinking, which has to change to a way that makes better use of ICT developments in the field of engineering”, says Louis. Peltenburg adds, “The nice thing is that you don’t know what will happen in the future. There are so many options it can be used for:  [artificial intelligence](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/40/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-engineering-construction), [Parametric Design](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction), Machine Learning.”

![Integrating REFM analysis systems with the VIKTOR platform](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/Dlubal_and_VIKTOR_1a12a7cef7.jpg)


*MH Poly is an engineering company that has been using the computational analysis software RFEM from Dlubal for years. This software is provided by MSc Engineering. Emiel Peltenburg is a specialist at MSc Engineering and distributor of the software RFEM and IDEA StatiCa.*

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