## 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. 

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## 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*

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

*Building Structural Design tool: Elements design*

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## 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*

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## 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.”


Engineering & Design

Buildings & Real Estate

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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

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

The tool is easy to use, with a low threshold, and can work with the corporation's own available data (SHAERE) and the nationally recognized calculation method (NTA8800). Additionally, it provides insight into the plans' insulation standards, in relation to the Standard and Target Values, which are increasingly crucial for industry representative [AEDES](https://aedes.nl/verduurzaming/standaard-en-streefwaarden), such as in the updated sustainability benchmark.

## Route to CO2 neutrality

Originating from the AEDES Roadmap in 2017, W/E advisors performed a calculation of scenarios for the route to CO2 neutrality with the Alliance at the inventory level. As a result, the need arose to bring the strategic plans to the tactical level, from coarse to fine. To address this issue, W/E consultants created the VariantComparator to provide an accessible estimate of the measures that are effective for specific complexes. Currently, the tool is widely used by an increasing number of parties.

## Chain partners take initiative

The chain partners often initiate the use of VariantComparator. Previous experience gained from using this tool for the Alliantie and within the partnership "De Vernieuwde Stad" led [Logchies](https://www.logchies.nl/) to organize the same collaboration with W/E for and with Stadgenoot. As Dick Schotvanger of Logchies says, "The Variant Comparator helps the program team to concretize plans and make well-founded choices. Based on Vabi data, we gain insight within one to two minutes into the extent to which the improvement steps have an impact on the CO2 reduction of the client's property." 

A similar collaboration has arisen with [Wits Noord B.V.](https://www.wits.nl/wits-bedrijf/wits-noord), a maintenance partner at the Elkien corporation, among others. They proactively support corporations with whom they are maintenance and implementation partners on sustainability details. The VariantComparator is also a suitable tool from this perspective.
If you require additional information about the VariantComparator, please contact our advisor [Boudewijn Elsinga](https://www.w-e.nl/medewerker/boudewijn-elsinga/).


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 This tool enables a complex comparison of the impact of various measures on CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and investment costs. 

Web app helps select optimal energy packages for housing stock

VariantComparator assists in selecting optimal energy packages for housing stock

## 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.

Download the White Paper and get INSPIRED

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

## 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)

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 

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Unleash the power of BIM with VIKTOR - the intelligent platform that streamlines your workflow and maximizes your efficiency. With web-based apps to interoperate different software integrations and utilize the BIM innovations.

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Utilize various software integrations, let different software speak to each other without data-loss

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VIKTOR helps in BIM 7th dimension of facility management, by controlling Digital twins and harvesting data from sensors.

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 VIKTOR empowers BIM professionals to optimize their designs in the early stages, taking into account financial, environmental, and design analysis factors

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Engineers are meant for awesome tasks only. All repetitive and boring tasks should be automated. VIKTOR has been used by engineers in automating reporting, calculation and generative design optimization.

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# Interoperability


VIKTOR enables all users to thoroughly exploit the whole BIM ecosystem. Therefore, VIKTOR empowers users to harness the full potential of the BIM ecosystem, building upon the principles of parametric design. By promoting interoperability and seamless data exchange across various platforms, VIKTOR ensures that all users can effectively leverage the BIM ecosystem's capabilities. Python plays a vital role in achieving this goal by providing a common medium for data translation and minimizing data loss. VIKTOR can integrate data with various platforms individually and channel the data between them, making it possible to integrate with any software that allows for external integration.

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# Digital Twins

VIKTOR provides BIM professionals with the ability to create a digital twin of a physical building, which can be used for simulation, analysis, and optimization. With data integration from various sources such as sensors, BIM models, and IoT devices, VIKTOR enables the creation of a virtual replica of the building and its operations, allowing for efficient building maintenance and management. By providing a platform for hosting information from sensors and automatic failure detection, VIKTOR offers an alternative to periodical maintenance visits, increasing the overall effectiveness and accuracy of the maintenance process.

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# Early-stage Design Optimization

To ensure effective BIM management right from the start, early-stage design optimization is critical. BIM LOD 100 plays a crucial role in this by offering a framework for developing detailed building models, enabling architects, engineers, and construction professionals to streamline workflows and make informed decisions. With the integration of powerful Python packages like Topologic, and Ladybug Tools, AEC professionals can analyze cost estimates, energy modeling, and thermal comfort analysis, facilitating the identification of areas for improvement from the early stages! eventually, guaranteeing successful project outcomes.

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# Automation


VIKTOR is a powerful platform for BIM professionals that offers automation capabilities to streamline workflows. With VIKTOR, BIM data can be automatically extracted and analyzed, allowing for early-stage design optimization and informed decision-making. The platform's automation features also eliminate the need for manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors, saving time and most importantly exploring a vast amount of generated solutions in a few clicks. By leveraging VIKTOR's automation capabilities, AEC professionals can focus on more complex tasks and drive innovation in their projects.

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 BIM

VIKTOR’s software solutions are designed to support BIM methods, providing engineers and other domain experts with an array of benefits that help streamline the design process, reduce waste, and cut down on costs. 

BIM & VIKTOR: Unlock your full engineering potential

[Building Information Modeling (BIM)](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/100/how-BIM-innovations-transform-AEC) has redefined the way professionals in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry approach the design, construction, and management of buildings and infrastructure. VIKTOR’s software solutions are designed to support BIM methods, providing engineers and other domain experts with an array of benefits that help streamline the design process, reduce waste, and cut down on costs. 

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Original article: [VIKTOR en WSP werken samen aan applicatieontwikkeling](https://www.wsp.com/nl-NL/nieuws/2022/WSP-en-VIKTOR-werken-samen-aan-applicatieontwikkeling/)

[WSP](https://www.wsp.com/nl-NL) starts building Cloud-based Python applications with VIKTOR, the [web-based development platform for engineering applications](https://www.viktor.ai/platform). WSP started using the VIKTOR platform back in 2021 with two successful Prove of Concept’s (PoC’s), in which within two shorts sprints (four weeks) two applications were already developed.

## Partnership WSP - VIKTOR 

This successful approach is now continued through a partnership that has been signed by both parties as of this week. 

> “Our goal for this year is to provide our colleagues with easy-to-use Python applications. Additionally, we want to professionalize our application development. The reason for this partnership with VIKTOR is because their platform enables our engineers to develop Python applications themselves and distribute them amongst colleagues in a secure manner. These colleagues don't need to have any programming experience to use the applications. Before, it took our coding engineers lots of time per colleague to whom the application had to be made available. Now, the VIKTOR platform enables us to do this all at once. So far, this has already been very promising and that is why we are now continuing at high pace!” - Mark van den Brink, Digital Transformation Lead at WSP

## First two applications finished

The applications that were developed within the first sprints are the ‘cross-section tool’ and the ‘remmingwerken tool’ (with the purpose of slowing down ships whenever they approach e.g. a bridge). Both tools can be used within WSP by colleagues without any programming knowledge, enabling them to benefit from the programming experience of their colleagues that do have programming experience, without constantly requiring their interference. 

### Cross-sections

> “The cross-section tool allows our engineers to easily define a large set of perpendicular lines along a line object (dike trajectory, railroad, go on), after which cross-sections of the ground level are generated by connecting with the AHN-web service. Additionally, the user has the possibility to upload grid files that function as data source. Examples of this are the extraction of hydraulic head from ground water models to calculate the hydraulic gradient on a dyke or to determine the local soil build-up by extracting 3D underground information.” - Martijn Kriebel, Flood Risk Consultant at WSP

![UI of Cloud-based Python Cross-section tool](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/Blog_WSP_partnership_cross_section_tool_888a9cde77.jpg)

*Interface of the cross-section tool*

### Remmingwerken

> “De remmingwerken tool allows our constructors to easily perform an iterative calculation of the energy intake of fenders in a 3D-environment. By automating the iterative non-linear analysis, a higher accuracy and time-gain can be achieved. Through a graphic web app, different software such as SCIA engineer and Excel work together to come to an answer. After the calculations, the results are presented in an interactive graph.” - Wichard Bron, Constructor Infra at WSP

![Visual UI Cloud-based Python Remmingwerken-tool](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/Blog_WSP_partnership_Remmingwerken_tool_2c15164caa.jpg)

*Visualization from the Remmingwerken tool*





Application development engineering Python

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Discover how engineers at WSP use VIKTOR to develop their own Cloud apps for colleagues without programming experience.

WSP engineers build apps to automate processes with VIKTOR

WSP builds engineering apps for colleagues without Python experience

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Transformation lead at WSP

Mark van den Brink

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## Dike design tool Wilma: a new, digital way of designing

The Wilma dike design tool, created on the VIKTOR platform, is a renewed design environment for the geotechnical consultant. The tool was developed by the Graaf Reinaldalliantie to be used on the Gorinchem-Waardenburg (GoWa) dike reinforcement project.

The innovation consists of the combination of cleverness and insights of the designer and the infinite computing power of the computer on the VIKTOR platform. For the Wilma tool, design software for the various design mechanisms (D-series and PLAXIS) is integrally linked and data is centrally managed in accordance with the BIM philosophy. Because of this, changes in starting points or other information can be made transparant very quickly, allowing the design to adapt quickly as well. This provides a certain flexibility in the design process that has proven itself to be very beneficial within this project. 

## A challenging reinforcement

The Graaf Reinaldalliantie was established to strengthen the river dike between Gorinchem and Waardenburg. The alliance consists of the Water Board Rivierland and the contractor consortium ‘Waalensemble’ consisting of Heijmans, GMB and de Vries & van de Wiel. Royal HaskoningDHV is associated with the alliance as an advisory party as well. 

This dike improvement project is approximately 23 kilometers long and is particularly complex in terms of tasks related to reinforcement. Not least because of the highly heterogeneous soil structure, which was created in the past on the north side of the Waal by the many old river channels and fillings, the diversity of soil layers and the filling in at the site of old dike breaches. The dike body itself also varies in structure due to the construction of the dike over the centuries and the reinforcements and relocations of the past decades. In order for this dike section to meet current safety standards, several improvement measures are needed that, together with the built environment, the soil conditions, and the transition to undrained modeling, make it a very challenging project.

## Taking initiative

In the tendering phase of the Gorinchem-Waardenburg dike reinforcement project, Waalensemble took the initiative to perform the design calculations in a smarter, more efficient way, based on the positive experiences from previous Heijmans projects (Wilhelminakanaal, Wintrack) where repetitive design issues in particular were efficiently automated. In these examples, design software (D-Series, SCIA, Excel) is linked by means of assumptions and existing equations, resulting in an automated process. This principle has been adopted by the Gorinchem-Waardenburg dike improvement project, further elaborated and further professionalised through the availability of the VIKTOR platform, among other things. The Viktor platform makes it possible to link design software in a much easier way and with extra functionality than was previously possible in the aforementioned Heijmans projects. During the project, the functionality of the dike design tool was expanded in various versions with settlement and failure mechanisms such as macro stability, piping and overtopping, which can be calculated simultaneously per cross section, for both embankments and dike relocations. An example of a schematic of a profile is shown in the picture below.

![An example of a cross section schematized by Wilma with a crown displacement and inward embankment in a D-GeoStability calculation.](/uploads/Cross_section_schematized_by_Wilma_8ed53a86da.png)

*An example of a cross section schematized by Wilma with a crown displacement and inward embankment in a D-GeoStability calculation.*

### The first development

The first development motif arises from the request to support the designer in achieving a higher quality of the stability calculations. The application of the undrained CSSM model requires a schematisation with boundary tensions and a course of the effective tension due to changed water levels and previous loads. Within the functionality of the then available D-GeoStability version 18, this required a far-reaching division of the soil layers with additional stress calculations by the designer. The first version of Wilma has been developed to achieve an accurate calculation of the stresses and to develop an efficient method to include these results in the D-GeoStability model.

### The second development

After a successful application of the first version, the second development started almost immediately. The functionality has been extended to centrally manage the input and output of the various design software. This is in line with the BIM method for quality assurance and version management. In a design analysis, the geotechnical properties per soil layer and the derived parameters that are determined by means of a calculation method, always originate from Wilma and are independent of other design calculations. The old and the new process diagram, where the [parametric design tool](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction) is central, is shown here:

![Traditional vs Parametric vs Generative designwilma design process (1).svg](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/Traditional_vs_Parametric_vs_Generative_designwilma_design_process_1_dcdd3d64a0.svg)

*Traditional design process versus new design process with Wilma.*

From this central position, Wilma compiles the input files and sends them to the existing design software, such as the D-series or Plaxis. The results from the design software are then collected and presented via the [parametric design tool](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction). By automating the data flow in the design process, the effort for the designer has shifted from drawing up calculation files to supervising the quality assurance of the calculations and assessing the results.

[![CTA_start_using_PD](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/solutions_page_banner_4_f474c9c318.svg)](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction)


## A new design methodology
The greatest gains, however, come from a different design method. The traditional design method is based on the manual input of cross sections by a consultant, which forces planning to make choices about how many cross sections can be calculated. In a complex project such as this dike improvement, this quickly means that major simplifications are needed to realise a design within time and money. One calculation that is normative for hundreds of meters of dike is common. As a result, the design is over-dimensioned, which in principle is not wrong from a safety point of view, but does lead to strict and heavy measures that affect the environment and are therefore not always desirable from stakeholders.

### An automated way
A new automated way of calculating means that it will be possible to calculate a very large number of cross sections, instead of one standard profile. In theory, a transverse profile can be calculated with possible variants for each dike stretch where a different situation arises. This is shown schematically in figure 3, where each block represents a new situation.

![The schematic choice for a standard profile (red) or several representative profiles (yellow)](/uploads/the_schematic_choice_for_a_standard_profile_red_or_several_representative_profiles_yellow_1acc3b2033.png)

*The schematic choice for a standard profile (red) or several representative profiles (yellow)*

The ability to design a large number of profiles provides the following benefits:

1. The consultant needs considerably less time to calculate cross sections, which means more time for interpreting and analysing results and translating them into the design. This leads to great efficiency.
2. There is the possibility to perform sensitivity analyses in a simple manner with all kinds of starting points, so that a better insight is obtained which parameter influences the calculation result. This makes it possible to conduct targeted additional research quickly.
3. The calculations were adapted and carried out very quickly. While changes in the traditional design process can have major consequences for the interfaces of the design, this is no longer a problem due to all the connections built up in Wilma. Adjustments to the design or starting points can now be directly calculated for the entire route.

### Qualitatively better design
All this results in a qualitatively better design, whereby freedom is created in choosing a design solution based on the calculation results. It is therefore no longer necessary to funnel the output data in advance to compose a benchmark profile, because making the assessment is more extensive than designing an additional profile. In addition, the thinking for weighing up the various possible normative aspects is retained in the result of an additional design profile. The figure below shows this as an example through sketches and illustrations, in which the dike sections are the product of a normative cross section and the white line represents a possible design profile that, as is to be expected, more closely follows the soil structure found. Because the design profile of the white line has actually been calculated, it is possible to choose a more average design profile that fits better in the landscape. The robustness of the design is known at that time.

![The division into dike sections with a schematic representation of the design assignment.png](/uploads/The_division_into_dike_sections_with_a_schematic_representation_of_the_design_assignment_7ac20fa4a5.png)

*The division into dike sections with a schematic representation of the design assignment*

### Inclusion of additional soil research
An additional positive effect is that carrying out additional soil research now pays off because it can be processed more easily in the built-up subsurface model. With the traditional design method, additional soil investigation is often intended as a risk mitigation to verify the subsurface model. This advantage remains, however, with the design method with Wilma, the additional research is immediately included in the calculations and the design is adjusted.

## Quality assurance

### Processing results
Quality assurance of the design calculations is not formally included in Wilma. The role of the parametric design tool is to compile and start the calculations and to process the results. These design calculations are always performed with the original (and therefore validated) design software. For example, a stability calculation is performed in D-GeoStability, after which the files are also available, in such a way that it looks like a colleague has supplied the calculations. Each calculation is delivered separately from the tool and manually checked by the designer. This workflow of the calculation files also makes it possible to deliver and view the design without having Wilma.

### Centralized storage
The quality assurance of the design calculations has deliberately been left with the designer. However, the parametric design tool makes it easier for the designer to perform the checks. Firstly, because the process of illustrating through schematics, calculating and checking is almost continuous because the lead time for a design calculation is next to nothing. In addition, Wilma can compile overviews of the required control points. All basic principles and relationships important for the design can be checked because the results are stored centrally and are available to everyone.

An example of a simple check is a graphical representation of the stresses in the soil layers or the assignment of the rise height to soil layers. Such a control screen is shown in figure 5. The calculated values ​​are presented for each black-marked point in the design profile. The applied calculation values ​​can be checked at a glance because the assumptions and equations have been consistently and unambiguously applied by Wilma on the basis of the predefined protocol. There are no quality differences due to the preparation of cross sections by several consultants.

![Customer_case_calculations_with_cloud_computing_5](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/A_control_screen_in_Wilma_for_the_determination_of_the_boundary_voltages_7a07277148.png)


### Background testing
In order to properly verify Wilma’s work processes, various tests have been built into the Viktor platform during the development of the tool. This checks in the background whether the routines carried out by Wilma always run in accordance with the geotechnical specification. These tests roughly consist of three categories:

1. Rules of thumb; the obvious design rules are checked. Because Wilma applies standard rules, contradictions can arise, as a result of which the schematization steps are correct in accordance with the “design rules”, but the schematization as a whole is geotechnically incorrect. An example of such a test is the descending height to the hinterland.
2. Realistic modeling with fully elaborated schematics of calculations and links. When going through these tests, the routines must always give the same results.
3. Edge cases with exceptional cases to test the routines of the schematisation. During these tests, unrealistic situations are presented from a geotechnical and hydraulic engineering point of view. This ensures that the routines and rules of thumb are robust and that new exceptions are noticed.

By continuously testing with both realistic modeling that is expected within the project, and with edge cases, the behavior of the tool becomes predictable, so that the quality control focuses on exceptions. These exceptions in turn complement the design routines. The systematic elaboration of these exceptions in a design rule results in a more substantiated design methodology and the percentage of exceptional cases is further reduced. This continuous development of the parametric design tool with the insertion of exceptional cases has resulted in the design capacity increasing quadratically. This increase is based on the difference between the number of design profiles per consultant in the exploration phase and the plan elaboration phase.

## The next step
The tool is currently being further developed for more geotechnical functionalities and applications throughout the design process. The possible future expansion of the functionality of the tool can be sought in expanding the tool in the field of computing in the cloud, but also in adding IoT data from sensor technology in dikes. Both seem far away for now, but will sooner or later enrich the world of the civil industry.

See how you can [develop your own parametric design tools](https://www.viktor.ai/parametric-design-software).

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Heijmans: “The luxury of having a tool that takes over 80% of the work, quickly becomes your standard”

Dike design automation tool leads to better solutions

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Design Leader at Heijmans

Jaap Wierenga

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Martijn Rog JP.jpg

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BIM Director at J.P. van Eesteren

Martijn Rog

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Designer Engineer in Arcadis

Igor Pecanac

## 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 Veneficus, 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 Houzr application

To be the frontleader, Veneficus created the Houzr 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 Houzr 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 Veneficus 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

Veneficus 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 Houzr 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)


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Veneficus 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.

Veneficus - 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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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.

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

## 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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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

## Optimal project planning

The Houzr 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 Houzr” Joost van der Zon, founder of Veneficus, claims. The Houzr 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 Houzr 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. Houzr 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 Houzr 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 Houzr.

### Executing multiple scenarios

To anticipate possible changes in the environment, Houzr 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 Houzr application tells you.

## Quick integration with VIKTOR
Veneficus has worked for over a year on the algorithms, models and calculations for the Houzr 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 Houzr application is available to all the customers of Veneficus 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 Houzr 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. 

Customer cases

The Houzr application creates the optimal project plan within minutes

How Arcadis develops next gen structural engineering tools with VIKTOR

VariantComparator assists in selecting optimal energy packages for housing stock

Parametric design tool generates the optimal residential tower

Veneficus - Artificial intelligence for the real estate sector

Accelerating the design process to make buildings smarter

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