## What is workability?

In the maritime and offshore industry, workability refers to the actual working time of a vessel for a certain operation, taking into account weather conditions such as waves, wind, currents and ice. These are called metocean (Meteorology and Oceanography) conditions and can impact the vessel’s operational hours, thus time the vessel is capable of being put into effective operation.

## The perfect vessel for each tender

During a tender, the selection of vessels and equipment is often an iterative process. That is where the Workability Tool comes in, as it enables the user to repeatedly and quickly update the workability by combining the validated metocean data and the capabilities and limitations of the operational equipment. Differences in varying equipment can be visualized within the Tool and exported in order to select the optimal vessel configuration in terms of workability. Additionally, the Tool provides the user with insights into the raw metocean data. 

The picture below shows the average weather conditions for a specific location based on data from January 1990 to December 2018, calculated by the Workability Tool. It shows the direction and force of the wind per month. This information can be used to decide when is the best time to build a wind turbine at sea, since this depends on the weather conditions. During hard wind and/or high waves, dangerous situations can be encountered that make it difficult to place a heavy turbine, for example. The visualizations show that the weather conditions are the best from May to September. In January, the conditions are the worst.

![Workability of vessels.png](/uploads/Workability_of_vessels_bda64a48ba.png)]

The VIKTOR application is one of the innovative examples of digitization within Boskalis. The Workability Tool is operational now for mulitple divisions within the organization.

Copyright: Images courtesy of Boskalis


Maritime & Offshore

large_Workability Tool enables quicker decision making - resize.jpg

medium_Workability Tool enables quicker decision making - resize.jpg

small_Workability Tool enables quicker decision making - resize.jpg

thumbnail_Workability Tool enables quicker decision making - resize.jpg

Customer_case_workability_tool_2

The Metocean Data Engineering department (MDE) within Boskalis has recently launched an internal online Workability Tool with which they aim to quickly assess workability, which is an important input for planning purposes and cost estimates.

Workability Tool enables quicker decision making

## 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?

small_White Paper Digital Transformation Engineering and construction industry.jpg

thumbnail_White Paper Digital Transformation Engineering and construction industry.jpg

WP_dark_blue

large_gravity-based foundation application.jpg

medium_gravity-based foundation application.jpg

small_gravity-based foundation application.jpg

thumbnail_gravity-based foundation application.jpg

Customer_case_centralizing_data_faster_gravity_based_foundation_analysis_2


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

## 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)

medium_Analyse offshore wind turbine installation platforms without being an expert - resize.jpg

small_Analyse offshore wind turbine installation platforms without being an expert - resize.jpg

thumbnail_Analyse offshore wind turbine installation platforms without being an expert - resize.jpg

Customer_case_analyse_offshore_wind_turbine_without_being_expert_3

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

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



large_Viktor White Paper The future of parametric design is_ COLLABORATION.jpg

medium_Viktor White Paper The future of parametric design is_ COLLABORATION.jpg

small_Viktor White Paper The future of parametric design is_ COLLABORATION.jpg

thumbnail_Viktor White Paper The future of parametric design is_ COLLABORATION.jpg

WP_white

large_parametric_steel_structure.png

medium_parametric_steel_structure.png

small_parametric_steel_structure.png

thumbnail_parametric_steel_structure.png

WP_white_2

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

## Enable customers to create their own design

Pieter Bakker, the Global Manager of Xbloc at DMC, says: “By using the VIKTOR platform we have been able to capture these tools in a  web application with which the customer can [parametrically design](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction) the basis of the breakwater himself. This immediately gives the customers a better insight into what is possible, and we can make an optimal design faster”.

To design the layout of the Xblocs they already had a script within DMC to get started with. “The script worked well, but the problem was that we couldn’t turn it into a dxf file,” explains Bakker. “Because of this we could only use it internally and not web-based, for the customer. “A web application has now been created from a Python script.” tells Bakker. The moment the customer requests a drawing via the application on the website, the scripts generate a design based on the parameters of the client and sends this back to the website as a pdf-file. “In this way we link our scripts to the VIKTOR platform and make it visible to the customer”.

The advantage of the application is that the customer can now test different parameters and basic designs himself, before an official request is made. Bakker, “This not only saves a lot of time for us, but also gives the customer an immediate insight into what would and would not be possible.

## Reduce errors

In addition, the [parametric design application](https://www.viktor.ai/parametric-design-software) ensures that the number of errors is reduced. Bakker, “Internally, when determining the optimal design, errors were not always visible in the calculation. But because of the added visualization, errors can be identified and subsequently removed before the design is sent to the customer”.

All in all, the web application ensures that the knowledge that was previously known only to DMC is now also available to the customer and easily accessible. The customer can now first try out a number of parameters before they come up with a specific request. Bakker, “The application gives the customer a lot of insight and made it easier for us to create the optimal design.”


Manufacturing

large_XBLOC.jpg

medium_XBLOC.jpg

small_XBLOC.jpg

thumbnail_XBLOC.jpg

Customer_case_optimal_breakwater_design_1

Delta Marine Consultants enabled customer to design their own breakwater protection using Xbloc 

Parametric tool for automatic and optimal breakwater design

## 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.*

Engineering & Design

large_The advantages of linking RFEM calculation software to the VIKTOR platform - resize.jpg

medium_The advantages of linking RFEM calculation software to the VIKTOR platform - resize.jpg

small_The advantages of linking RFEM calculation software to the VIKTOR platform - resize.jpg

thumbnail_The advantages of linking RFEM calculation software to the VIKTOR platform - resize.jpg

Customer_case_linking_RFEM_calculation_software_online_platform_2

Advantages of linking RFEM calculation software to an online platform

The problem with the gravity based foundation (at BAM) was that it was determined or calculated using a number of separate Excel sheets. Among other things, investigation was done on the stability during floating and sinking, the natural frequencies and the strength of the design. You can imagine that this was not done very efficiently.

## The issue of centralization

All members of the project team were working on the same design, but each within their own discipline. So everyone used their own sheets. This caused problems, because if someone changed the input parameters, each team member had to be notified, which would result in everyone updating their own sheets. Making a complete design and calculating all sheets properly therefore took 5 to 10 days. There was this idea that it could be done better, so a tool has been developed to be able to perform these analyses at the same time.

## Bringing it together

For this, all calculations made in Excel have been transferred to an application on the VIKTOR platform. The calculations have been translated into Python code, so some methods had to be changed. The end results have of course remained the same. The advantage of the VIKTOR platform compared to only Python code is the interface (where the input and output parameters are centrally controlled), data management and version control.

This ensures that everyone works with the same input parameters at the same time, without having to manually pass on and adjust them. Everyone is also working on the same version of the design, so no miscommunications or misunderstandings can arise. This is something that can easily happen with separate Excel sheets: several different versions can easily be made.

## More designs, faster!

An analysis now takes a few hours instead of a few days. That is a huge difference, which makes it possible to design faster and make more designs with the same people. A number of designs have already been made, so a new design similar to this is relatively quick. If you make a completely new or large design, it will take a little longer. But is is certainly much quicker to use the application than by the old methods.

This application is made specifically for BAM. It is entirely based on internal documents and tools of BAM. Copying this application to another company is therefore not easy.

![Analysis of gravity-based foundations on the VIKTOR web application](/uploads/gravity_based_foundation_application_59047b4c08.png)

*Analyses of gravity-based foundations in on the VIKTOR web application*

## A building block for future use

What can be re-used is the method used to create the application. Combining different disciplines is a (generic) process, which can be a useful tool for almost all companies. Having separate programs for different parts of a design creates far more misunderstandings than having all data centralized.

## Thus...

In other words, the application for the gravity based foundation ensures that all data is centrally stored and that everyone works with the same version of the design. For example, there are no misunderstandings due to changes in Excel sheets. It is now also easier to make a design together, since the inputs are centrally controlled and everything is done using the same input, so the calculations are more central and clear. “You go from a design in 5 days to a design in 4 hours.”

BAM: “From 5 days to 4 hours”, huge time savings with the gravity based foundation application made with VIKTOR!

Centralizing data for faster gravity-based foundation analysis

“It can save a lot of engineering time and money for the entire industry and helps to distribute knowledge more efficiently to our customers,” explains Jelle van de Ridder, R&D engineer at C-Job. "In the offshore sector a lot of repetitive tasks are done that need to be automated so that our engineers have time to focus on the creative processes".

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/545019231?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

## Cargo distribution tool

At C-Job they build a 3D model of a ship in NAPA. There they can perform stability and strength calculations on this ship with different amounts of oil and water ballast in the tanks. “The combination of the cargo in the tanks affects where the center of gravity is, and it affects how your ship bends.” Van de Ridder explains. Together with VIKTOR, they are building an application that tests many different load combinations and determines the strength, stability and damage stability of each combination. “In the past, an experienced lead engineer made a rough estimate and tried out 10 combinations by hand. The application can do 300 iterations within an hour. ”, Van de Ridder. With the help of the application, they can find the optimal load distribution, in which they can fill up as much crude oil as possible. “The amount of oil is ultimately the most important factor.”

## Knowledge distribution

Van de Ridder: “The biggest challenge was sharing our knowledge without losing our business proposition.” In the developed tool they were able to digitize the specific knowledge of C-Job in an application, where the client could only see the results. In practice, this means that the customers of C-Job can generate an optimal load distribution via the web-based application in an easy and cheaper way. “This is also beneficial for our engineers as they no longer have to perform this calculation manually and can concentrate on the creative part of their work.”

The results of an application are immediately visible. Jelle van de Ridder, R&D Engineer at C-Job: “Every time they changed the layout of a ship, all calculations of the load distribution had to be done again. This was done manually and can take weeks for an engineer. “now they can reduce this computation time to just a few hours.



#### Future of web-based applications

C-Job sees opportunities in more web-based applications. Van de Ridder: “Our tool now determines the optimal distribution of liquid cargo on a ship. “We also like to develop further, for example by combining the load optimizer with the crane polar plot tool. With this tool we answer the question from a ship operator: “Can I lift this load at this position, or what do I have to change to lift this load?” It can be useful to optimise a load for a particular crane operation.

The time and money it takes to develop an application is quickly recouped by the engineering time and money saved by performing manual calculations by engineers. If there is a well-defined problem statement in which a repetitive element is present, it is worth looking for automation options.

![Web application calculations of the optimal distribution of liquid cargo on a ship](/uploads/the_optimal_distribution_of_liquid_cargo_on_a_ship_6147ec713e.png)
*Visualization of the calculations of the optimal distribution of liquid cargo on the ship in the web-based application*


large_Quickly generate many optimal cargo distribution combinations - resized.jpg

medium_Quickly generate many optimal cargo distribution combinations - resized.jpg

small_Quickly generate many optimal cargo distribution combinations - resized.jpg

thumbnail_Quickly generate many optimal cargo distribution combinations - resized.jpg

Customer_case_optimal_cargo_distributions_2

In recent years, a change has taken place in the construction and infrastructure sector: automation and digitization are increasingly part of the job. This is also the case in the maritime and offshore sector.

Quickly generate many optimal cargo distribution combinations

illustrations-solutions-enable-parametric-design.svg

Quickly build and distribute user-friendly tools, customized to your project needs!

small_illustrations-solutions-building-1.png

thumbnail_illustrations-solutions-building-1.png

illustrations-solutions-building-1.png

Generate optimized designs in less time and get better insights regarding the impact and risk of your choices.

small_illustrations-solutions-building-2.png

thumbnail_illustrations-solutions-building-2.png

illustrations-solutions-building-2.png

Adjust to new plans or circumstances quickly without decreasing the quality of your design.

small_illustrations-solutions-building-3.png

thumbnail_illustrations-solutions-building-3.png

illustrations-solutions-building-3.png

Build a tool that can be used by your whole team and reused on all your future projects.

## Generate better designs in less time
Get better insights regarding the impact of your choices and generate optimized designs in less time using parametric design in the Cloud.

##### Create a total design solution
Take all requirements into account and avoid communication errors by creating parametric design models that integrate across disciplines and [connect different software packages](https://www.viktor.ai/platform#integrate-software).

##### Find the optimal design, quickly
Generate the best solution with the help of advanced optimization algorithms that calculate thousands of solutions in an instant with the power of Cloud computing.

##### Make better and more informed decisions
Directly evaluate the impact or risks of your choices. Compare multiple scenarios and make data-driven decisions using clear, understandable, and interactive visualizations.

## Be flexible to change, without errors or delays
Adjust to new plans or circumstances quickly without giving in on the quality of your design.

##### Always be prepared for change
By automating and integrating all calculations within a single parametric design tool, you are always ready to adjust to any changes without affecting your planning nor sacrificing the quality of your design.

##### Keep everyone on the same page
Your parametric design tool is [hosted in the Cloud](https://www.viktor.ai/platform#distribute-apps) where it serves as single source of truth that can be accessed by every member of the team with the right permissions. Throughout a project, the tool keeps track of all design changes made by everyone at all times.

##### Adapt your tools to all your needs
Enjoy the benefits of a flexible system that makes it easy to improve and [expand your tools according to your needs](https://www.viktor.ai/platform#powerful-app). Once you are online, you can be sure that everyone always uses the correct version of the tool and data your working with.



## Start building digital products
Get better insights regarding the impact of your choices and generate optimized designs in less time using parametric design in the Cloud.

##### Use our scalable building system
Quickly build the [perfect tool for every project](https://www.viktor.ai/platform#powerful-app). There is no reason to keep reinventing the wheel; You can use our digital blocks or create your own.

##### Share your knowledge
Create parametric design tools with a [user-friendly interface](https://www.viktor.ai/platform#user-interfaces) that make your knowledge accessible to everyone.</p>

##### Safely distribute your tools
Keep your data and intellectual property safe. [Provide anyone controlled access](https://www.viktor.ai/platform#distribute-apps) to (part of) your tools without exposing your logic. If needed, remove access remotely at any given time.

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 Parametric Design

<p>Create parametric design tools that are tailored to every individual project. Enjoy a powerful design process that leads to better designs in less time and provides flexibility to adjust to changes quickly.</p>

<p>VIKTOR empowers you to build and distribute custom-made parametric design tools that are hosted in the Cloud. Use our digital building blocks to easily build applications with user-friendly 
interfaces that provide understandable insights through interactive visualizations.</p>

<p>Take all project requirements into account and avoid communication errors by creating a total design solution that integrates across disciplines and connects different software packages. Enabling you to collaborate with clients and colleagues on a single platform.</p>

thumbnail_mark van den brink.jfif

mark van den brink.jfif

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

small_Blog_WSP_partnership_engineer_developers

thumbnail_Blog_WSP_partnership_engineer_developers

Blog_WSP_partnership_engineer_developers

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

large_Why_VIKTOR_quote_WSP_mark_van_den_Brink

medium_Why_VIKTOR_quote_WSP_mark_van_den_Brink

small_Why_VIKTOR_quote_WSP_mark_van_den_Brink

thumbnail_Why_VIKTOR_quote_WSP_mark_van_den_Brink

Why_VIKTOR_quote_WSP_mark_van_den_Brink

Digital Transformation Lead - WSP

Mark van den Brink

thumbnail_Why_VIKTOR_Quote_Heijmans_Jaap_Wierenga

Why_VIKTOR_Quote_Heijmans_Jaap_Wierenga

## 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).

[![CTA_start_building_PD_apps](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/Group_1_32a326f910.svg)](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/46/parametric-design-cloud-engineering-construction)


large_A parametric design calculation tool for dike improvement - resize.jpg

medium_A parametric design calculation tool for dike improvement - resize.jpg

small_A parametric design calculation tool for dike improvement - resize.jpg

thumbnail_A parametric design calculation tool for dike improvement - resize.jpg

Customer_case_calculations_with_cloud_computing_9

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

Customer cases