## Automating the design process

The [parametric design](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction) tool allows J.P. van Eesteren to generate the optimal designs of residential towers: As high as possible while using as little surface as possible. Visualizations of the parametric models are shown on a standard map in which all kinds of elements, such as apartments, elevators, and staircases can be seen as well. It is easy to adjust aspects such as dimensions or to add elements like additional walls by simply changing the input for the parameters. The impact of the design changes is immediately shown on the map. 

See here how engineers at J.P. van Eesteren use the application to create the optimal design for residential towers:

<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/670120716?autoplay=1&loop=1&autopause=0"h=7298f72eb4&amp;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="J.P. van Eesteren - LinkedIn demo (1 min 25 sec)"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

> “It is a design tool that can be used to draw and calculate simultaneously. Regularly, we come up with an idea from which the architect creates a design. Naturally, this is not immediately sufficient. So we start calculating again, and again, and go on. With our application, we can combine drawings and calculations, which means we can iterate much faster and cheaper!” – Max de Vries, Project Developer at J.P. van Eesteren

## Securing rules in Python

How did they establish the parametrization of residential towers? The answer is: By securing rules. According to Max, digitizing is all about rules: “These days, there are many requirements and rules that need to be tended to. What we need is a system to secure them. When we developed our tool, we started looking for ways to incorporate all of these rules, both written and unwritten. If we were not able to program them, we were not being sharp enough.”

For each project, a residential tower is put together in the same way. Nevertheless, there is an entire design process that precedes the construction every time, and every time it ends with the same result. That is why engineers at J.P. van Eesteren figured that securing rules for the automation of this process was the most logical thing to do. Now, their work starts with a result: The design of a residential tower. What follows is the optimization of these designs.

## Unique designs

A lot of people think that standardization leads to the mass production of a lot of identical-looking residential towers. However, J.P. van Eesteren has a whole other opinion about it: 

> “Every person is unique. There is a certain structure in every body that contains a skeleton, heart, liver, and go on. These are all kept in logical places for a good reason. If we start shuffling them around, something will go wrong. The same goes for residential towers. There are certain parts of a them that are unique, the same as with a person: The length of the arms and legs, hair and eye color, these all grow differently and can be changed if needed". - Max de Vries, Project developer at J.P. van Eesteren

With their application, J.P. van Eesteren has found a way to secure certain parts (the skeleton, organs) while also having the freedom to change other aspects (height, hair and eye colour).
 
## Transparancy

For the engineers at J.P. van Eesteren who use the application, it's important that their tool is transparent. Instead of using a black box that simply tells them whether a design is feasible or not after inserting certain parameters, they want to be able to know the ‘why’ behind it all. 

> “We have specifically chosen that the person who is using the application is also the one that is really behind the steering wheel.” – Max de Vries, Project Developer at J.P. van Eesteren

Because their application is so transparent, engineers can guide the project in the right directions where and whenever needed and decide for themselves what the best alternative would be in certain situations. This way, they can first tell the architect about their rational approach, only after that he starts making it into a fancy residential tower. 

Max: “Once we combine our rational approach and their design approach, we can review whether the tower can be made into a feasible design. Because the architect doesn’t have to think about the rational approach anymore, we gain a lot of time. The building is like a body: We make sure that the organs are there and in the right place and the architect decides on the length, eye- and hair color.”

## Realistic environments

A nice addition to the application, is that J.P. van Eesteren is not only able to quickly visualize the design of their own projects but of the surrounding environment as well. First, they place a building on the map by selecting a location and defining the area. Then, they can select the surrounding buildings and visualize these as well by using data from the open-source data model [3D BAG](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/48/open-source-data-building-visualization), by the TU Delft. This way, they are able to [create realistic environments](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/48/open-source-data-building-visualization) to match their realistic-looking residential towers within the app.  

![parametric design residential tower realistic environment](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/CC_JP_van_Eesteren_3_D_Bag_fef59394d3.png)


> “Building our own parametric design tool enabled us to generate the most efficient design for the available space, and save a considerable amount of time while doing so.​" - Martijn de Rog, BIM director at J.P. van Eesteren

For example, we were able to re-calculate the design for a  residential tower that could host the same fascilities, only with two floors less!”​ - Martijn Rog, BIM Director, J.P. van Eesteren​


Find out more about [Cloud-based parametric design](https://www.viktor.ai/parametric-design-software) on the VIKTOR platform. 

[![CTA_try_for_free](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/CTA_try_for_free_6af1b46cf2.svg)](https://m.viktor.ai/free_version)

## 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





Architecture & Planning

Cloud-based parametric design tool optimizes residential towers

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Discover how real estate firm J.P. van Eesteren build their own parametric design building generator tool on VIKTOR.ai

Parametric design app for optimized building | VIKTOR.ai

Parametric design tool generates the optimal residential tower 

1. What is parametric design, and how is it evolving
2. Collaborative parametric design: working together for better results
3. How to make tools available to others
4. Active collaboration on parametric design tools
5. Parametric design in a billion-euro project
6. What collaborative parametric design means for you



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Parametric design is a design approach that uses flexible models that can be adjusted and solved quickly. The goal is to see the effect of specific choices on your design by just changing the input variables. 

The benefits are:

- **Flexibility:** Parametric design allows you to react quickly to changes at a low cost. Always generate the best solution for your project no matter the time pressure.

- **Better decisions:** Automatically calculate thousands of different solutions, get deep insight, and mitigate risks. Make better decisions and provide more added value to clients.

- **Digital Assets:** Create models and data that are reusable in new projects. Improve them over time, building up digital capital

This white paper is for engineers, architects, project leaders, and innovation and business managers. You will learn how collaborative parametric design in the cloud helps organizations get better results with real study cases such as a billion-euro infrastructure project.
 
Additionally, we talk about how you can transform Python, Dynamo and Grasshopper scripts into user-friendly web apps and significantly impact your organization performance. 

Learn how collaborative parametric design models allow you to work together for better solutions.

Download the white paper and get INSPIRED

This white paper is for engineers, project leaders, and innovation and business managers that want to learn more about what collaborative parametric design can mean for them. Discover more about this new way of working in which stakeholders collaborate to find the best solution for a project.

The Future of Parametric Design is COLLABORATION

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Parametric design, BIM intelligence, and AI-driven solutions are revolutionizing the way we design, construct, and manage built environments. Integrating this tech in one cloud-based platform for your whole team ensures a more sustainable, efficient, and optimal workflow.

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Transform your Grasshopper, Dynamo, or other custom solutions into dynamic cloud apps. With an intuitive UI, your colleagues can easily use it, while the logic is maintained safely.

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Embrace Interoperability to seamlessly integrate various tools, actualize Digital Twins for precise building maintenance, and employ early-stage design optimization for more efficient workflows.

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AI's rapid evolution presents exciting prospects for AEC, spanning building design, software operations, and document management. 

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We are building a diverse community of academic bodies, industry professionals, students, and tech leaders, who can showcase and exchange their applications. 

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#### Parametric Design
# 1. Twisting tower and environmental analysis with Grasshopper

Grasshopper serves a dual purpose: shaping architectural designs with precision and conducting vital environmental analyses. This is powered by Ladybug environmental analysis and simulation plugins within Grasshopper. Through our Grasshopper integration, we've simplified running these intricate analyses via an intuitive interface. Our demo app showcases a parametric twisting tower in an urban setting, offering insights through a Direct Sun Hour Analysis, depicting sunlight exposure in various areas over the year.

<iframe height="600px" frameborder="0" src="https://demo.viktor.ai/embed/grasshopper-sunlight-analysis" style="transform: translate(-50%); width: 90vw; max-width: 1028px; margin-left: 50%; box-shadow: rgb(136, 136, 136) 0px 0px 2px 0px;"></iframe>



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#### Parametric Design
# 2.  Parametric design tool for residential buildings

Their parametric design tool empowers Dutch engineering firm J.P. van Eesteren to craft optimal designs for residential towers, maximizing height while minimizing surface area. Visualizations of these parametric models are displayed on a standard map, presenting various elements like apartments, elevators, and staircases. Adjustments, such as dimensions or additional walls, are easily made by modifying input parameters, and the resulting design alterations are immediately reflected on the map. Explore how engineers at J.P. van Eesteren utilize this application to create the perfect design for residential towers, [here](https://vimeo.com/670120716)

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/670120716?h=7298f72eb4&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>



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#### BIM Solutions
# 1. Building Structural Design tool

Leading global consulting firm [Arcadis](https://www.arcadis.com/nl-nl?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb&utm_content=Rotterdam) embraces digital transformation, using generative design and automation tools to develop their own Building Structural Design tool on the VIKTOR platform. Automating the structure generation process in a mere 4 seconds. This tool has dramatically accelerated design and analysis, reducing the time by 90 to 100%. Engineers can now explore 100 to 500 design variants compared to the previous 2 to 3, aiding better decisions on costs and sustainability. 

<div style="padding:78.78% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/818358326?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;quality_selector=1&amp;progress_bar=1&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="Arcadis - Building Structural Design tool"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

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#### BIM Solutions

# 2. Precinct Development App

[Archithera](https://archithera.com/) discovers innovative development by automating complex aspects such as parking arrangements and unit mixes. The initial release is tailored for low- to middle-income apartment developments, with a strong focus on surface parking and standalone blocks. [Archithera's solution](https://cloud.viktor.ai/public/precinct-development-app) aims to simplify design tasks, providing vital quantitative insights while enabling designers to effortlessly shape precincts.

<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/880119946?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;quality_selector=1&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="Precinct Development App_231017"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>



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#### BIM Solutions
# 3. Revit Automation

Easily automate Revit workflows for streamlined data access within a BIM model. With a single click, you can generate Revit sheets. Select and view your Revit views without the need for manual navigation through Revit tabs. Through this automation, teams can channel their energy into innovation and tackling intricate problems:
<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/875101806?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;quality_selector=1&amp;progress_bar=1&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="00_finalRevitVIdeowithbar"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>


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#### BIM Solutions
# 4. IFC Viewer App

IFC files play a vital role in Building Information Modeling (BIM) by facilitating data exchange between various software applications. These files enable sharing and collaboration within the construction and design industry. With the IFC Viewer App, you can easily view your IFC model, allowing you to filter elements and obtain detailed perspectives for effective project management and decision-making.


<iframe height="600px" frameborder="0" src="https://demo.viktor.ai/embed/ifc-viewer" style="transform: translate(-50%); width: 90vw; max-width: 1028px; margin-left: 50%; box-shadow: rgb(136, 136, 136) 0px 0px 2px 0px;"></iframe>



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#### BIM Solutions
# 5. Early-stage design optimization with Topologic

Conceptual models, represented by BIM LOD 100, serve as the cornerstone for architects and engineers, facilitating well-informed decision-making. With the incorporation of [Topologic](https://topologic.app/), AEC professionals gain the ability to conduct thorough analyses encompassing cost estimates, energy modeling, and thermal comfort assessment. This not only allows for a more precise identification of areas for improvement during the early stages but also helps in steering clear of costly modifications later on.

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#### BIM Solutions
# 6. Tekla integration with Grasshopper in real-time

A real-time integration between Tekla and Grasshopper brings together the speed and capabilities of Grasshopper, a powerful algorithmic modeling tool, with Tekla's specialized features in structural steel detailing, analysis, fabrication reports, and material lists. This integration triggers a flow of information and design alterations between the two platforms, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in structural engineering projects. Designers can utilize Grasshopper's flexibility and rapid prototyping features, while leveraging Tekla's expertise in precise structural detailing and reporting, resulting in an optimized and streamlined workflow in structural design and construction.

<div style="padding:51.75% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/875183674?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;quality_selector=1&amp;progress_bar=1&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="videowhyviktor"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>


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#### BIM Solutions
# 7. Digital Twins

Digital twin technology can help with saving all kinds of resources, such as time and costs all the while making facility management much better. Here's a real-life example: The [Binnenhaven Bridge](https://www.viktor.ai/customer-cases/9/digital-twin-python-bridge) in Rotterdam faced a challenge during hot days when the metal would swell, causing issues in opening or closing the bridge. To tackle this, the city employed a sensor-based early warning system, strategically placing 52 sensors to monitor the temperature and expansion of the bridge. This data, available in real-time within a VIKTOR app, enables precise predictions and proactive cooling, ensuring the bridge operates smoothly even during high temperatures.

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#### Artificial Intelligence
# 1. Document searcher

AEC professionals often grapple with vast repositories of text documents, from tenders and contracts to technical reports and regulations. Manually searching documents is time-consuming, especially for essential details. The solution: integrating ChatGPT and its API into your workflow. The [Document Searcher](https://demo.viktor.ai/public/document-searcher) lets users easily find the information they are looking for by simply asking the app their question!

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/875185461?h=9f1a835a53" width="640" height="564" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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#### Artificial Intelligence
# 2. Chatbot: design by text

Tasks often involve intricate workflows across various programs. Whenever a change occurs, this calls for various parameter adjustments. With the Chatbot, users can streamline these diverse workflows into one unified app. The latest development involves user-friendly text input. This offers an alternative to manual parameter tweaking using sliders and buttons, making the process more intuitive based on text-only input!


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#### Democratization of knowledge
# Apps Gallery

At VIKTOR, we're dedicated to fostering innovation through a culture of knowledge democratization. We facilitate this collective effort by encouraging you to share your innovative applications. [The Apps Gallery](https://www.viktor.ai/apps-gallery/category/all/discipline/all/integration/all/1) is the place for all users, from academic bodies to industry professionals, students, and tech leaders, to showcase and share applications. This collaborative space allows for the exchange of ideas, expertise, and solutions, ultimately enriching the AEC landscape.




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 AEC

BIM, parametric design, AI, and democratiziation of knowledge through a cloud-based platform.

Why VIKTOR for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

All cutting-edge technologies in one platform with high interoperability 

**Cloud-based parametric design tools** foster real-time logic sharing among diverse teams. **BIM solutions** streamline design and construction processes, enabling interoperability across software without any data loss. The integration of **AI technologies** can be used to automate repetitive tasks, empowering you to use your expertise to solve challenging issues. Combining these technologies into one platform contributes to a culture of **knowledge democratization** through shared, innovative applications.


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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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## Giant potential

The idea to create the Building Structural Design tool came to life about one and a half years ago following Arcadis’ strategy to excel in the design of industrial buildings. Due to the increased request for constructions such as gigafactories, warehouses, and data centers quickly being erected all around us, Arcadis saw giant potential in the development of an application for the automation of structural building designs. 

<div style="padding:78.78% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/818358326?h=91e992e7ad&amp;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="ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4 (2)"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

</br>

## Go global!

Since technologies in different regions are essentially not much different from one another, and the knowledge about structural engineering is also similar, Arcadis decided to approach this development on a global scale. Thus, an application was created that can be used by all Arcadis regions worldwide. “Thanks to our active group of stakeholders and end users all over the world, we have been able to make the application accessible to everyone working in the realm of structural engineering within Arcadis,” says Michael van Telgen, Design Automation Specialist at Arcadis. “Structural engineers and consultants in different Arcadis regions are picking up the tooling and applying it to their work.”

## Preliminary and conceptual design

Built specifically for structural engineers and consultants, the Building Structural Design tool is intended for usage in the conceptual and preliminary stages of a design and focuses mainly on aspects like cost and sustainability. The purpose is to help engineers quickly create a design using input from the architect about a building’s dimensions. According to Igor Pecanac, Specialist Engineer at Arcadis: “Most of our work lies within the conceptual and preliminary stages of a design, so those are the areas we want to focus on. These are also the areas where most commercial tooling is lacking.” 

In the app, engineers can enter basic information about the building dimensions and sustainability requirements and try different grid options to automatically calculate required element sizes for, for example, columns, beams, and floors. Depending on their region, engineers can choose the correct design code before proceeding to determine loads and choose material types. Pecanac adds: “The app automatically generates the structure for you. This would normally be done by a structural engineer themselves. Instead, the app does this in just 4 seconds.”

![BSD tool frame design.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/BSD_tool_frame_design_c6dff359cc.png)

*Building Structural Design tool: Frame design*

</br>

![BSD tool elements design.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/BSD_tool_elements_design_841c64990d.png)

*Building Structural Design tool: Elements design*

</br>

## Sustainability and resources

 Using the tool, engineers and consultants can now design buildings and analyze them in 90 to 100% less time than before. This has an enormous impact on productivity, as engineers can now look at anywhere from 100 to 500 variants of a design whereas this number was previously only 2 to 3. The tool also allows engineers to make better and more well-informed decisions regarding costs and sustainability. This allows for more informed discussions with clients about their different options, helping them make balanced choices that lead to the most optimal cost-to-CO2 emission ratio. 

“Clients are requesting more information in less time, and engineers need to take more factors into account in the design process,” says Pecanac, “which is only possible if you have tools like this to your avail. The impact on productivity is simply enormous.”

![BSD tool calculation report.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/BSD_tool_calculation_report_069eafb274.png)

*Building Structural Design tool: Calculation report*

</br>

## Tool suite

The Building Structural Design tool is actually not one application, but a suite of multiple different apps on the VIKTOR platform, such as for the calculation of foundations, floors, and wind loads. The Building Structural Design tool is at the heart of it all with a focus on creating a general building design. The other apps can be used to further expand upon and specify information regarding the different elements inside a building. “We purposely separated these design choices from the main application,” says Pecanac. “We don’t want to overwhelm people by presenting 100 options to use at once.”

## The future of (structural) engineering

The Building Structural Design tool is just one of many developments Arcadis has been working on on the VIKTOR platform. In 2021, they started the development of their first app for the design of underwater concrete floors. By now, this tool has been used on several large projects, such as the design of the underpass and aqueduct in the N247 highway in the Netherlands. 
It is clear that automation software can be used in all kinds of engineering disciplines to increase productivity, and specifically in the field of structural engineering. “If you don’t do anything with automation in this area, you risk losing to your competitors,” says van Telgen. “New technologies like VIKTOR help democratize, standardize, and reuse a lot of knowledge to increase efficiency, productivity, and overall quality of work.”

## 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





building structural design tool thumbnail.png

Leading design, engineering, and management consulting firm Arcadis develops its own structural engineering tools to increase productivity and sustainability and save resources. Read more on VIKTOR.ai!

How Arcadis develops next gen structural engineering tools with VIKTOR

Arcadis develops next gen structural engineering tools with VIKTOR

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Specialist Engineer at Arcadis

Igor Pecanac

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## Global Design Automation

With approximately 15 billion dollars in annual revenue and a talent force of over 50,000, professional services firm [Jacobs](https://www.jacobs.com/) provides engineering, technical, professional, and construction services to clients on a global scale. Their vision is to create a smarter, more connected, and more sustainable world by challenging today and reinventing tomorrow. In line with this vision, they set up the Global Design Automation Program with the purpose of enhancing engineering processes and eliminating mundane and highly repetitive tasks. As part of the Global Design Automation Program, Global Technology Leader Marina Villanueva and colleagues started looking for technologies to maximize and increase automation. Villanueva: “That is how we found VIKTOR.”

## Web-based applications.

After discovering VIKTOR – a platform to build and share engineering applications – in early 2023, Jacobs started the development of several web apps. Currently, three of these are being used and several more are finishing up development. Examples are tools for automated highway barrier design, steel pipe connection design, a Rayleigh Wave calculator, and a Return on Investment (ROI)  calculator. Whereas most tools are designed by developers and engineers at Jacobs, the ROI calculator was designed and developed by Villanueva herself. The tool can be used to calculate the ROI  of (potential) VIKTOR apps: “Ideas for applications always require funding. This app helps developers or idea owners to get that funding, as decision-makers need to understand what the ultimate return on investment is going to be.”

![ROI app.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/ROI_app_e3380da80e.png)
*The ROI calculator app on the VIKTOR platform*

Besides calculating the return on investment for existing tools, the ROI calculator has also been used to predict ROI times for other potential ideas that will not necessarily be turned into applications. Villanueva: “It’s good to know the result of your efforts up front. If there is no return on investment, or if the ROI is too far ahead, we can focus on something else instead.” 

</br>

<iframe height="600px" frameborder="0" src="https://jacobs.eu2.viktor.ai/embed/rayleigh-wave-forward-modelling" style="
    transform: translate(-50%);
    width: 90vw;
    max-width: 1028px;
    margin-left: 50%;
    box-shadow: 0px 0 2px 0 #888;
    "></iframe>

*The Rayleigh Wave calculator. Click on 'pop out' to use the app full screen.* 

</br>

## Capturing logic

Even though Villanueva, according to herself, is no professional software developer, she does have some Python skills: “I found it very easy and fun to create my own application on the VIKTOR platform. The biggest advantage to me was that I did not have to invest much time designing the user interface myself.” Just like many engineers, Villanueva was more interested in developing the logic behind it all. “Because I could publish new versions of my application very quickly, I could release something valuable within a short amount of time and continue to polish and improve after.” 

> “The VIKTOR platform is very accessible to engineers from a developer point-of-view. There is no need to know any HTML, CS, or JavaScript. Only Python. All complexity that typically goes together with developing web applications is removed. The user interface is very intuitive and easy to use, which helps a lot with the adoption.” – Marina Villanueva, Global Technology Leader at Jacobs

## Automation on all projects

Jacobs’ rollout of VIKTOR applications started in January 2023 in the Europe region. As a global organization, Jacobs delivers engineering projects all over the world. That is why Jacobs’ strategy is to provide usage across all other regions. Villanueva: “We want to maximize our investment by enabling people from all regions to use the tools we are developing.” 
Currently, Villanueva is working with organizational change management experts on an engagement plan to increase adoption and maximize the reuse of apps. One initiative is to merge the separate development environments from the UK and Europe and implement ‘multi-region access’ to ensure people from one region can access applications made by the other. In 2 to 3 years time, Villanueva expects that engineers at Jacobs will use applications to automate processes on all projects: “My vision is that automation to deliver technical work becomes the norm, rather than the exception.”

## 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


Jacobs Automate Engineering Processes.png

Engineers at Jacobs experience a growing need to automate workflows, for example with VIKTOR. 

Jacobs automates engineering processes with VIKTOR

small_Jacobs Automate Engineering Processes.png

thumbnail_Jacobs Automate Engineering Processes.png

Global Technology Lead at Jacobs

Marina Villanueva Díaz

## Room for improvement

Max de Vries is a project developer at J.P. van Eesteren and says that within the company there is room for improvement, especially for the transfer of knowledge and information between the various departments. 

## The process analysis

De Vries: “In order to gain more insight into each other’s work processes, we carried out a process analysis together with VIKTOR.” For this, discussions were held with various specialists from the departments, namely Construction, Calculation, Project Development and Engineering. These conversations showed that the transfer of information and knowledge between departments can be optimized. De Vries: “Each department uses its own Excel model, the results from the models are shared with each other, but the underlying assumptions and conditions often remain invisible. To jointly make the right choices in the design process, it is important to make the assumptions and associated relationships visible. Repetition creates a learning process.”

### Improving the process

Using VIKTOR, the working methods of the various specialisms have been mapped, in order to subsequently improve the processes. The challenge is clear to De Vries: “Is it possible to halve the lead time of the design process of residential towers through the process of learning and repetition?”

> “I would recommend the process analysis to any company. You learn to take a good look at: what are my processes and what optimizations can I perform to them.” - Max de Vries projectdeveloper at J.P. van Eesteren

## Processing assumptions in an application

After completing the process analysis, it was decided to create a web-based application together with VIKTOR. The purpose of the application is to let all departments within J.P. van Eesteren work with one platform. This makes the assumptions and relationships in a design visible to everyone. De Vries, “The difference between the application and BIM (Building Information Model) is that we are not currently interested in the unique composition of a specific residential tower. We are looking for a fixed structure within which we can vary.” In every design many parameters recur, a residential tower always has a stairwell, roof, facade and floor. “Whether the shape of the floor is elongated or square does not matter at a certain level of abstraction, many parameters are basically the same,” explains De Vries. The application will help J.P. van Eesteren to use repetitive components in multiple projects. This also creates the opportunity to pay attention and time to the unique / deviating elements in a design. De Vries: “We actually want to divide a residential tower into separate components. Take a staircase, for example. This is often a concrete box with stairs and a number of lifts. Doesn’t it make more sense to develop 4 variants and use them again and again in projects?”

## Becoming involved as project developer at an earlier stage

With the VIKTOR application, J.P. van Eesteren and clients will soon go through the first phases of a design process much faster and [smarter](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/40/artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-engineering-construction). Clients run the greatest risks during the design phases. Accelerating the design process reduces the risk of being overtaken as a client by the changes associated with time and new market conditions. In a traditional construction engineering project, the contractor is one of the last parties involved in the project. “This is quite strange, because you cannot separate thinking and doing,” according to De Vries. “When this traditional structure is used, the builder is usually not in a leading role. This structure implies a strategy similar to walking, where the left foot follows the right foot. However construction expertise is often lacking in the design stages. The structure also suggests that during the realization phase, only what was previously thought of should be built. The reality is that during the realization phase a lot of choices have to be made, which influence earlier choices in the design phase and vice versa. ”


## About VIKTOR

The construction sector can still learn a lot by looking outside our field. De Vries, “Meanwhile, there is enough management literature to be found as to why a strong separation between thinking and doing does not produce the desired result. Coming up with complex strategic plans in boardrooms (thinking) that ultimately do not bring the desired result during implementation is quite logical. Time does not stand still, plans are often overtaken by new developments. Every adjustment (in a design or organization) also results in desired and undesired effects that cannot be predicted in advance. It makes more sense to work in parallel instead of a strict separation.”

![integration of data by VIKTOR.jpg](/uploads/integration_of_data_by_VIKTOR_e04757d990.jpg)


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Customer_case_acccelarting_design_process_make_buildings_smarter_1

J.P. van Eesteren and VIKTOR joined forces to "Make Buildings Smarter", as the answer to the housing problem of our time. 

Accelerating the design process to make buildings smarter

## 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.

large_Noise barrier.jpg

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Customer_case_algorithm_noise_barrier_design_1

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.”

![Calyps and VIKTOR platform.png](/uploads/Calyps_and_VIKTOR_platform_302aedac81.png)

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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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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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Advantages of linking RFEM calculation software to an online platform

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