## The old method: expensive and unideal 

The current process is often still based on experience and reasoning. Solutions that have proven themselves in previous projects are often chosen; the solutions for the critical sections are extrapolated. That makes sense. Calculating a section takes a lot of time. However, this method lacks a numerical substantiation for the chosen solution. Real insight into the ideal design is lacking and that can cost a lot of money. The gross extrapolation can result in surplus work and material costs, as well as lead to incorrect assumptions and increasing failure costs.

### Cost optimization through parameterization

It is therefore better to find an optimum with global parameters, such as costs. To determine the approach of solving the problem, an application is needed that can vary parameters on an interdisciplinary level, based on pile types, number of piles, pile lengths versus applied reinforcement, floor thickness, and so on. By linking the structural and geotechnical models to the cost model and combining all these parameters, the cost optimum can be found. A user can then determine the domains within which the application can independently vary these parameters and on the basis of which outcome optima must be found (think of costs, planning or risks). Because there are often several options close to each other, a user can also generate multiple optimized versions and weigh them up.

## Creating an application for parameterization

### Application development

The tuning of parameters and the definition of the process were the starting point for the engineers of Lievense and developers of MOCS. Lievense is involved as an expert and user, while MOCS makes the web-based parametric model and ensures that the process is automated to the right level. Three areas of expertise have been brought together from Lievense: structural, geotechnical and cost-technical. In this way, a multidisciplinary optimization can be performed.

### Application workflow

Within the online application, the user specifies per project the pile types available with the different unit prices. The projects can then be designed within a project. For a design section, a user can upload the GEF files associated with the probes created within a section (GEF is a standardized exchange format for the storage and transfer of geotechnical data). The applications provides a suggestion for a soil layout interpretation, which a geotechnical consultant can adapt.

### Modelling

The modeling of a section starts with a global SCIA model without piles. This prevents manual input of data that is already fixed and that is already available in another source. This SCIA file is uploaded by the user via drag & drop. In VIKTOR, the user can design a pile plan in two ways. “Simple”: the user gives a desired number of posts in the x and y directions. “Detailed”: the user can add rows / columns of piles, centre-to-centre distance from the previous row / column. Other parameters that the structural engineer can manage include reinforcement covers, concrete strength classes, and other design choices.

### Multidisciplinary calculations

It is possible to calculate the specified situation automatically in its entirety with a click of a button. All programs (in this case SCIA, D-Foundations and multiple Excel sheets) are run in the background and no human actions are required to perform the entire multidisciplinary calculation. The load capacity of the pile configuration follows from D-foundations and the required load capacity from SCIA. The section forces are also read from SCIA by the VIKTOR application. Via a linked Excel sheet, VIKTOR can convert this into a required amount of reinforcement. All calculated properties together determine the cost of a design. The results of all calculations are displayed in VIKTOR.

## The results are clear!

Since this part of the process is now fully automated, VIKTOR can also generate and calculate a large number of different pile plans. Because all parameters influence each other, it is not always clear which choice is ultimately the cheapest. Lievense is mainly interested in the mutual connections. These are plotted in VIKTOR in an overview. This allows the manufacturer to make solid choices with the help of his knowledge and expertise. As a control functionality and to keep a good overview of the generated designs, Lievense can download files from created D-foundations and SCIA analyses and view them “locally”.

## The final outcome

Only two sprints were needed to develop the full application. Primarily, the result is insight into the influence of the different parameters, the sensitivity of the parameters to each other and an “optimal” solution direction. It is possible to consider more variants in a shorter period of time compared to before, which provides the numerical substantiation of the chosen “optimal” solution. This can bring a lot of value. Initially in money, but with other models this could also be in terms of risks, construction time, feasibility or other KPIs

Engineering & Design

Infrastructure & Construction

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The parameterization of parts of underpass designing is a very attractive option, for it optimalizes and speeds up the process significantly.

Optimal and quick underpass design thanks to parameterization of processes

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 [tunnel](https://www.cowi.com/solutions/infrastructure/northern-europe-largest-construction-project) is 18 kilometres long and will consist of a four-lane motorway and two electrified railway lines. This new tunnel will reduce travel time for from more than an hour by ferry to 10 minutes by car and 7 minutes by train. Besides reducing travel time, the tunnel will also lead to a [reduction in traffic emissions](https://femern.com/sustainability/the-fehmarnbelt-tunnel-will-be-built-sustainably/). This is due to the transfer of freight from road to rail and the fact that some lorries will take a shorter route as they will no longer have to cross Storebælt, Denmark, which will result in an overall decrease in CO2 emissions. 

In cooperation with COWI a [parametric design application](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction) will be developed to optimise the design of the tunnel. The tunnel consists of 79 tunnel elements, each 217 metres long. Each element has slightly different loads and soil conditions, so the optimal required steel reinforcement in the concrete is different. The total amount of steel used in the tunnel is equivalent to about 50 Eiffel Towers and each tunnel element weighs 73,000 tonnes. 

The VIKTOR platform will be used to development the [parametric design application](https://www.viktor.ai/parametric-design-software) which will be used to design the tunnel, which will help COWI find the optimal design in an automated way, so they can engineer the awesome! 

 
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Discover how parametric design is used in an application to automate and optimize the design of the world's longest immersed tunnel on VIKTOR.ai

Automated design of world's longest tunnel | VIKTOR.ai

Automating the design of the longest immersed tunnel in the world 

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Automating the design of the longest immersed tunnel in the world

Optimal and quick underpass design thanks to parameterization of processes

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