## Enhancing quality, lowering risk

The applications used at Van den Herik currently serve to enhance the quality and efficiency for tenders and projects. It not only gives them a competitive advantage when applying to a new project, but it also lowers the risk of making wrong cost estimations. So far, they have successfully used their applications on several projects. For example, the tools for waterway routes and water info analysis are being used for almost all tenders. 

## General and project-specific tools

Besides apps for waterway routes and water info analysis, Van den Herik has one more general tool for determining the type of geotextile that should be used on the soil. Two other project-specific tools are for analyzing sensor data and predicting dredging work.

### Optimizing waterway routes

This application is also referred to as Van den Herik’s Google Maps for waterways. The app is used to determine the fastest route from point A to point B, which boats are allowed to navigate a certain route, and what the most optimal route is when more locations (e.g. 20) should be visited.
“This is a great example of how we automate the boring! Sometimes, we must dredge in 30 locations and dump in 20 possible locations based on soil type and quality. With 600 possible routes, it can become quite complex and laborious to manually determine what the optimal routes are. This tool lets you optimize this process in minutes, saving cost along the way as you use far less fuel.”

![vd Herik (maps).png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/vd_Herik_maps_4ee52232af.png)
*Screenshot of Herik Maps, the application to calculate waterway routes*

</br>

### Water info analysis

Using the Rijkswaterstaat Waterinfo website, Van den Herik retrieves historical data on water levels and currents across the Netherlands. This data is important for the firm, for example, to determine expected workability in certain time windows. However, requesting data from the past 10 years generates enormous .csv files with tens of millions of lines of data. Especially when requesting multiple measuring points. That is why Roga developed an application that connects to Rijkswaterstaat’s API to retrieve these files within minutes, rather than hours, that are ready to be analyzed. The app also filters the data and allows users to create plots and graphs on the course of water levels and currents, which was not possible before using Excel. 

### Geotextile 

Oftentimes underwater constructions need soil protection afterwards to ensure the soil remains as it is. For this, a wide variety of different ‘geotextiles’ and alternatives can be used. Previously, to decide which geotextile was suited the design department at Van den Herik used spreadsheets. However, these can be quite complicated. Especially, for people with less knowledge of the topic. Instead, with the geotextile application, work planners can fill in a list of all environmental factors and the app will provide a suggestion of which geotextile is most suited within five minutes, including a template for a design report that can be submitted to the client.

</br>

### Dredging at Zeesluis IJmuiden

Currently, Van den Herik is working on a large maintenance project at Zeesluis IJmuiden where they are responsible for maintaining the right soil levels for the upcoming 20 years. They are developing an application that will predict how the underwater soil will develop. This is done using bi-weekly measurement data on which machine learning will be applied to discover trends and create links to environmental factors, such as water heights and weather conditions. This way, they can predict when and how often dredgers must be sent to the location. Van Den Herik intends to apply the lessons they learned in using machine learning to assist in dredging operations and, more generally, in optimizing dredging strategies for other projects in the future.

![vd Herik (dredging) resize.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/vd_Herik_dredging_resize_b7b4fbb69e.png)
*Screenshot from the Dredgin Predictions application used to predict soil developments at Zeesluis IJmuiden*

</br>


## Not a software developer

Despite the great number of tools being developed at Van den Herik, they do not define themselves as a software development organization “And we never will become one”, adds Roga. “However, we can leverage our means to create software that enables us to deliver more quality. Something we had never foreseen to be possible in the first place.” 

> “In conversations with VIKTOR, we appeared to be a great match. Short lines, fast fixes, and feedback gets processed quickly. Everything is based on parameters, which makes creating apps much easier. But the code you write is not linked to the platform and can be repurposed at any time.” – Lloyd Roga, GIS specialist at Van den Herik.

## More engineering tools

Besides their own custom collection of web apps, Van den Herik also uses several pre-existing VIKTOR tools. For example, [GeoTools](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/14/web-application-python-geotechnics): a set of tools that helps save time and make geotechnical data more insightful, the [BRO app](https://demo.viktor.ai/public/bro-app) to assess the soil in combination with their own Geotextile app, the [CPT interpreter](https://demo.viktor.ai/public/cpt-interpreter) to view .gef files in graphs and GIS maps, and the [Document Searcher](https://www.viktor.ai/blog/124/search-engineering-documents-with-viktor-chat-gpt) to find and access any information in (engineering) documents. The last is used on every project; all documents are uploaded so everyone involved can easily search through contract details, fast. 

![vd Herik 2 - resize.png](https://cms.viktor.ai/uploads/vd_Herik_2_resize_f71f7f8259.png)
*Van den Herik ships Charlock and Christophorus dredging at Zeesluis IJmuiden*

</br>

Maritime & Offshore

Civil

Geotechnical

Water

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Hydraulic engineers at Van den Herik use digital technologies to develop software that empowers them to automate and optimize daily work processes and deliver high-quality projects.

Hydraulic engineering meets digital innovation at Van den Herik

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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



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

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

<div style="padding:78.78% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/818358326?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;quality_selector=1&amp;progress_bar=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Arcadis - Building Structural Design tool"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

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#### BIM Solutions

# 2. Precinct Development App

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

<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/880119946?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;quality_selector=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Precinct Development App_231017"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>



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#### BIM Solutions
# 3. Revit Automation

Easily automate Revit workflows for streamlined data access within a BIM model. With a single click, you can generate Revit sheets. Select and view your Revit views without the need for manual navigation through Revit tabs. Through this automation, teams can channel their energy into innovation and tackling intricate problems:
<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/875101806?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;quality_selector=1&amp;progress_bar=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="00_finalRevitVIdeowithbar"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>


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

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


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



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

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

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

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

<div style="padding:51.75% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/875183674?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;quality_selector=1&amp;progress_bar=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="videowhyviktor"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>


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#### BIM Solutions
# 7. Digital Twins

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

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#### Artificial Intelligence
# 1. Document searcher

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

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

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

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


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#### Democratization of knowledge
# Apps Gallery

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




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

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

Why VIKTOR for AEC

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

Why VIKTOR for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

All cutting-edge technologies in one platform with high interoperability 

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


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## InfoWiz: 3x AI

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

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


### Module 1: Interactive Document Query

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

### Module 2: Corporate Documents

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

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

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

### Module 3: Virtual Assistant

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

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

## Efficiency across disciplines

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

## Partnership

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



</br> 

## What’s next? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



AI assistent helps engineers manage data

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

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

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Information and Data Management Specialist at McDermott

Maxime Moulin

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## Giant potential

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

<div style="padding:78.78% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/818358326?h=91e992e7ad&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4 (2)"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

</br>

## Go global!

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

## Preliminary and conceptual design

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

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

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

*Building Structural Design tool: Frame design*

</br>

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

*Building Structural Design tool: Elements design*

</br>

## Sustainability and resources

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

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

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

*Building Structural Design tool: Calculation report*

</br>

## Tool suite

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

## The future of (structural) engineering

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

## About VIKTOR

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

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

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

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





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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

Arcadis develops next gen structural engineering tools with VIKTOR

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Specialist Engineer at Arcadis

Igor Pecanac

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## Global Design Automation

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

## Web-based applications.

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

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

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

</br>

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

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

</br>

## Capturing logic

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

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

## Automation on all projects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Jacobs automates engineering processes with VIKTOR

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Global Technology Lead at Jacobs

Marina Villanueva Díaz

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.”

Structural

Excel

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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

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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WP_white

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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

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The most versatile way to create web apps from your Excel sheets

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Transform your Excel spreadsheets into interactive web applications without any coding involved

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Create your own Excel apps to automate calculations, communicate with external machines through macros, and more!

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Use your Excel sheets in combination with other design or engineers software, such as CAD or RFEM.

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Always work with the latest version, so your whole team can be sure to use the correct data at all times.

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You determine who gets to view and edit which parts of the project, so your IP is 100% secure. 

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VIKTOR empowers you to manage your team effectively with features like app variables, developer tokens, credentials, and app tags.

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## Excel to VIKTOR app Converter

Transform your Excel spreadsheet into a web app with a user-friendly converter. Simply upload your formatted Excel file, review the inputs, and then download the ready-to-use app code. 



<div style="padding:57.28% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/908206596?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="publishing_apps_EDITED_2"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

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## Automating crane foundation design in a web app

VINCI used VIKTOR to compute crane foundation designs in just **15 minutes**, a task that typically takes **3 to 5 days**
The automation of crane foundation design calculations is a simple but exhaustive and repetitive process: large amounts of data are required that must all be processed through multiple third-party software packages, such as Excel and Autodesk Robot. At VINCI, they have dozens of engineers that work on designing up to 225 cranes in France every year. Because the design calculations are very similar but specific for every crane each time, this task is very well suited for [automation](https://www.viktor.ai/customer-cases/43/how-vinci-yearly-saves-300-days-calculating-crane-foundation-designs).


<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/805460142?h=35f0fa1693&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/805460142">VINCI - Crane foundation app</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user75777479">VIKTOR platform</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>


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## Automating calculations by linking Excel sheets to SCIA

Many Excel sheets are used in construction to do calculations. A lot of time and energy has gone into developing the sheets, especially to get them verified and validated afterwards. Heijmans has linked their Excel sheet with reinforcement calculations for concrete cross-sections to SCIA in an application on the VIKTOR platform for the reinforcement of slabs. For example, fewer numbers now have to be copied, so that one can work more efficiently, and the risk of error is reduced.

[VIKTOR | Automating the calculation process by linking Excel sheets to SCIA](https://www.viktor.ai/customer-cases/18/web-application-automation-python-Excel-SCIA)


Why VIKTOR for Spreadsheets

Turn any spreadsheet into a customized web app

**Spreadsheets are widely used in engineering, but they can become inefficient and confusing when dealing with multiple versions and access permissions. A centralized platform for engineering data management can address these challenges, providing a single source of truth and streamlined collaboration.**

Customer cases

Hydraulic engineering meets digital innovation at Van den Herik

Centralizing data for faster gravity-based foundation analysis

Customer cases

Hydraulic engineering meets digital innovation at Van den Herik

Centralizing data for faster gravity-based foundation analysis

Blog

White Papers & Guides