The future of

parametric design is:

COLLABORATION
Table of content

The evolution of parametric design 3-6

Collaborative parametric design: working together for better results 7 - 11

Sharing: making your tools available to others 12 - 15

Active collaboration 16 - 18

Parametric design in a billion-euro project 19 - 22

What collaborative parametric design means for you 23 - 25

2
The evolution

of parametric design

3
 What parametric design is

(and why you need it)

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 without creating a new model. Each variable you can change is
named a parameter, hence the name. When implemented correctly, a single model
includes all key elements of the project and can dynamically change along with
the requirements and knowledge gained during the project. 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 is why Jaap Wierenga, Lead Hydraulic engineer at Heijmans, decided to

create a parametric design tool to calculate dikes. He explains:

"As a designer, you spend a fraction of the time

performing calculations, which allows you to pay more
attention to the interpretation and analysis of the
results and how this affects the integral design. It is
more efficient, and you get better solutions."

Jaap Wierenga
Lead Hydraulic engineer at Heijmans

4
 Gaudí to the cloud:

how parametric design evolved

Some of the first parametric models did not involve computers but were physical
models with ropes and weights.

The famous architect Antoni Gaudí used them to make his intricate architectural
designs. By changing the rope's length or the weight's position, he could
immediately see the effects on the whole structure. With the appearance of the
first FEM packages, engineers were able to program parametric structural models.
However, the lack of computer power and the high level of expertise required to
create the models limited its use. Since then, a lot has changed: with the rise of
friendly programming languages like Python or visual programming packages like
Dynamo or Grasshopper, the adoption of parametric design has grown
exponentially.

An upside-down analogical parametric design model. Gaudí would hang strings and weights then
mirror the results to model columns and arches.

5
 Empowering engineers
Although it has become easier to create parametric design models, integrating
them well throughout your process is still challenging.

The ease of sharing the models is still limited by the lack of user-friendly
interfaces, proper distribution channels, and basic functionalities required for
cooperation. In recent years, application development platforms have contributed
to the true democratisation of parametric design. Platforms empower engineers
and other domain experts to create user-friendly web applications, distribute
them to everyone they want, and use them to work together with colleagues and
clients.

Solve challenges through collaboration

The perception we have of parametric design is changing.

We no longer see parametric design as a model to solve specific technical

problems, but rather as a new way of working, in which stakeholders collaborate
to find the best solution for a project.

"Parametric design is nothing new, but I think it is such

a hot topic now due to the accessibility. With visual
programming tools and application development
platforms, you no longer need complex software
engineering skills to start."

Rayaan Ajouz
Design automation specialist 'Building with steel'

6
Collaborative parametric design:

working together for better results

7
 Now we know what parametric design is, we will investigate some of the

challenges that the industry is currently facing, starting with integrating

software across disciplines.

Breaking the boundaries:

automation and integration

Many teams have started to automate part of their workflow and to adopt

parametric design in their process.

To reap the most benefits from the automation of their process, they are breaking

the boundaries between different software packages, so all of the various tools

and models can communicate with each other. For example, combining

spreadsheets and FEM models with Grasshopper, Dynamo, or Python scripts brings

the next level of automation to the design process. Fortunately, software vendors

recognise the need for connectivity and are making it possible to command and

connect their solutions via an API (Application Programming Interface).

Too many tools, too many languages

Connecting software brings new challenges.

To start, not everyone knows how to use these new tools, and those that lack

programming skills seem to hit a steep learning curve before reaping the benefits

of this automation. To make it worse, even if you know how to program, not all APIs

can be commanded with the same language, meaning understanding one

language may not be enough. It can also be challenging to integrate the results

from several different packages in a single model

8
 How Besix beats the learning curve

This is why Besix, Belgiums largest construction firm, started to use a platform.

There are parametric design platforms, such as VIKTOR, that provide ready-to-use

integrations with industry-leading software so that you can automate your

workflow without having to worry about software engineering or APIs.

"We gained a much better understanding of the

structure because we were able to present the solution

of different software in a single visualisation."

Kenneth Wyns

Besix's tunnel design manager

This is what Besix did for the design of a 2-kilometre tunnel for the A16 highway.

They combined two different structural packages and Excel sheets in a single

parametric model through a platform. The ready-made integrations allowed them

to connect various software packages, significantly speeding up calculations. Not

only was the design process faster, but also more insightful. The application

combines the results of different packages and tunnel section's into a single

visualisation, providing a more profound understanding of the structure.

9
Visual output of the custom application of Besix showing the combined results of two programmes:

single cross-section with bending moments (blue and red) and unity checks (yellow/green lines).
 Multidisciplinary parametric design:

reaching a new optimum

Organisations are traditionally subdivided into departments. These are usually

discipline-oriented. Typically, each department solves the problem from their own
perspective, communicating the results back and forth through reports, e-mails
and spreadsheets. This results in a labour-intensive iterative process, where each
domain improves the design stepwise, without much insight into the other
disciplines.

The frustration of the iteration

Often, the trigger to start parametric design is frustration with this process.

It requires many iterations to converge to the solution slowly. This can be very
frustrating to engineers, as it often involves boring and repetitive work. However,
automating your workflow solves only part of the problem. Many unnecessary
iterations still occur because different disciplines are not fully integrated
automatically. Communication between team members and software packages
consumes a significant amount of time and is where most errors occur. This is why
you want to integrate across disciplines.

Traditional design Multidisciplinary integration

10
 A previously impossible optimum

By also integrating different disciplines, you can have a more holistic approach

and optimise for things you could not optimise for before.

For example, in many projects, the structural and geotechnical departments are

intimately related: any significant change in one department will lead to a redesign

in the other. At Voorbij Funderingstechniek, a company providing foundations

services, the structural, geotechnical and cost calculation models are combined in

a single application. The main goal is that the application itself can generate a pile

plan optimised according to the cost and based on the soil structure and with

variable parameters such as groupings, pile tip levels and pile types.

"We provide the customer with a better service by

optimising their original piling plan; that saves them a

lot of money."

Roy van de Bilt

Engineer at Voorbij Funderingstechniek

Voorbij Funderinstechniek is installing an optimised piling plan.

11
Sharing:

making your tools available to others

12
 Another challenge is that many of the tools are difficult to share. We will discuss

how you can overcome the challenges and the opportunities that arise when you

can also share them with clients.

Share parametric design models

with your colleagues

We have all encountered it; one team member has figured out how to automate a

repetitive task. This is usually great in theory but cumbersome in practice.

It usually takes the form of a Dynamo or Grasshopper model in which nobody

dares to touch anything or a Python script project that works, but in mysterious

ways. This can make it very difficult to share these tools with co-workers.

They promise to simplify work, but they can be very intimidating to use if you have

not created them. As a result, everybody tends to make their own programme, as

this is usually faster than understanding how to use somebody else's.

How Arcadis made their Dynamo projects sharable

This is why Arcadis, an engineering consulting company with a worldwide reach,

started a pilot to turn Dynamo scripts into user-friendly web applications.

Arcadis used an application development platform to create the apps. The

platform includes everything to make user interfaces and integrate with software,

empowering engineers to transform their intricate projects into an easy-to-use

web application.

The main advantage for Arcadis is that the domain knowledge of their engineers is

made scalable. Engineers can create and share tools with colleagues and clients,

even if they are not handy with Dynamo. People need a username and password to

access the application, giving Arcadis total control over who is using it. This is quite

different from sharing scripts via mail or the network drive, where you almost lose

all control.

13

This parametric design tool in the cloud uses the logic stored in a Dynamo script.
 Using the right tool (and the correct version)
Sweco, a European leading engineering consultancy agency, created Python
scripts to enhance their process's efficiency. But this also brought some
challenges.

The Python scripts read soil test data (CPTs) and automatically generate the
D-foundations software models. Tjeerd Hermsen, BIM manager at SWECO, explains:

"Colleagues started sharing and modifying Python scripts while not all were using
the same version of the scripts and required packages.

This made them unuseful; we wasted a lot of time trying to find and fix such
problems." To avoid this problem in the future, " we created a web application that
ensures that all users work with the same version of the scripts and external
packages.

Additionally, the Excel files used as input for the calculation are centralised in the
database and do not have to go back and forth between colleagues. This means
time savings as well as a reduction in the chance of errors.", adds Tjeerd.

Infinitely sharable: offering parametric design as a service

Can you sell your knowledge directly to clients instead of doing calculations

for them?

According to IDC, 50% of G2000 enterprises will leverage domain knowledge by

selling internally developed industry-specific software and services as a
subscription by 2025.

Share your tool, protect your intellectual property

By making your parametric model web-based, you have a scalable way of giving
users access to domain knowledge without exposing your intellectual property.

In this way, you can develop new business models by providing internally created
tools to clients. A web-based application makes this type of tool infinitely sharable,
allowing you to start a new income stream with marginal investment.

14
 Help the client make decisions

You can also use these tools to reimagine communication with clients.

The sales team, or even the client themselves, can use your interface to narrow
down better what they want or are willing to pay for without taking a lot of your
time. Creating such a tool also gives tender or sales teams the freedom to operate
without requiring other teams' support, like structural engineering. They only
jump in with their expertise to help the client make the final decisions.

"We have been able to capture these tools in a web

application with which the customer can design 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."

Pieter Bakker
the Global Manager of Xbloc at DMC

Xbloc wave protection system for breakwaters and shores

15
Active collaboration

16
 Of course, it is great if you can share your parametric design model with others.
But you can take this a step further and actively collaborate on the model with
colleagues and clients.

It is best to use a web-based model to collaborate with people. These applications

are accessible from anywhere; you only need internet and a laptop. Particularly at
this moment in time, it can be a great asset to the working-from-home model. It's
a powerful tool that allows colleagues and clients to work together towards the
best solution, especially if you have a user-friendly interface.

Managing decisions

When collaborating within any team, it is essential to clarify who can make which
decisions.

Of course, this is no different when collaborating in the cloud. A user management

system enables you to give people different roles and permissions, so the right
people can make the right changes and see only given information.

Version control

But even more important can be why decisions were made and when.

If you don't want to lose time figuring out how you ended up with this design,
make sure your application has version control. This allows you to keep track of all
changes, when they were made, and by who. This virtual paper trail is also a great
asset in keeping track of what parts are finished and what is left to do.

17
 A single source of truth

It can be hard for multidisciplinary teams to find the latest version of the
information,

particularly in large projects with many design reviews. Working from outdated
data or sending the wrong Excel sheet in an e-mail are easy mistakes to make. But
they can also be expensive mistakes. When you integrate disciplines into a single
cloud application, you ensure that all your team members access the latest version
and information anytime, anywhere. Meaning your parametric design model also
acts as a single source of truth, minimising mistakes and guaranteeing that no
time and resources will be lost.

The power of the cloud

Cloud-native applications are very scalable, both in use and in computing power.

You can share your web app with as many people as needed. End-users can run
models in the cloud and see results without having software licenses installed on
their laptop, which means that virtually anyone can use the apps.

Furthermore, you can purchase computing power on demand, meaning you can
solve complex problems in less time. It is even possible to use several software
licenses in parallel to speed up calculations. For example, when the engineers of
Besix automated the design of their tunnel, they used 6x SCIA licenses in parallel
to calculate the 86 tunnel sections in a few hours. This sped up the design and
allowed for more fine-tuning.

18
Parametric design

in a billion-euro project

19
 BESIX, Belgium's largest construction company, is part of joint venture De Groene

Boog that designs and constructs a new highway connection in the North of

Rotterdam. BESIX's Engineering Department had to design a 2.2-kilometre tunnel.

Their weapon of choice? Parametric design.

The project had three major challenges to crack: ^

on Find an efficient way to do all structural calculations

of the piles and tunnel section^

Sn Construct a 3D Building Information Model (BIM)^

cn Extract 2D technical drawings from this model

The need for a parametric model

Kenneth Wyns, the tunnel's design manager, explains why parametric design was

the solution they needed:

"Much of the soil investigation could only be done late in the project. That led to

uncertainty. We were looking for more flexibility in the design process.

Additionally, there is a lot of repetition in a tunnel's design, making parametric

design attractive. The main goal was to make the design more location-specific.

This allowed us to control the risk of delays due to unforeseen circumstances."

6000
4000

foundation piles sheet piles

89
700

tunnel sections load cases

20
 A new way of working

Working with parametric design requires a change in mentality.

Kenneth says: "There is a shift in activities. You have to invest more in the

preliminary phase but get more flexibility in later phases, in which the

consequences of changes in circumstances, insights or choices are often more

radical." The positive thing is that "our designers can concentrate more on their

expertise, only the way of working changes. You spend more time making good

decisions and less time in making calculations" Kenneth adds.

No-stress design updates

Flexibility paid off, Kenneth explains: "We were only able to do the last CPTs in

June. At the beginning of July, all pile reactions were calculated, and the design of

ten tunnel sections was quickly adjusted at a relatively late stage in the process.

This demonstrates the value of parametric design in practice.

Normally, the changes would have to be done manually. That takes more time and

would certainly have meant a shift in the realisation phase and a demand for extra

capacity to update the design in a hurry."

Parametric design as an investment

The investments made in creating the parametric design models

certainly paid off.

Kenneth explains, "we were able to build all tools and earn them back inside the

project. On one side, we created a more optimal design, leading to significant

material savings. At the other, we significantly reduced the amount of time

required for the design."

The internal forces of the 89 tunnel sections are calculated with SCIA and

displayed in this overview.

21
 Small savings add up quickly

"The big gain is in processing changes quickly. We didn't save time creating and
validating the parametric design models; it took almost the same as creating
models with traditional methods."

However, processing design changes is much quicker, and this adds up: " For
example, I estimate that we saved around 70% of the time when creating 2D
drawings, which saved close to 10.000 hours of manual postprocessing over a total
of 2.000 drawings. Calculating one tunnel section took us close to two days, now
we can process and calculate most changes in 30 minutes", adds Kenneth.

Start early in the process

"The earlier in the project you create the models,

the bigger the gains" is Kenneths main recommendation.

"Try to create and validate your models as quickly as possible, and don't
underestimate how much time you need to get everything working right.
Validating the models and fixing bugs is a significant part of the work. Don't leave
this for the last minute."

Deeper insight, better design

Calculating the 89 tunnel sections takes only one night.

using the web-based parametric design tool built with the VIKTOR platform. In the
background, 6 SCIA licenses run parallel to calculate the internal forces, which are
then sent to IDEA StatiCa to calculate the reinforcement's capacity.

The VIKTOR tool gathers the results from both structural analysis packages and
overlays them in a single visual representation. Additionally, it also presents the 89
sections' results as a single visualisation, providing deeper insight for
better-informed design decisions.

“If we hadn't created the parametric design tool, we

would have designed four sections 'manually' and use
them for the whole tunnel. With the VIKTOR tool, we
analysed the 89 tunnel sections individually and also
evaluated more scenarios. This led to better insights,
less risk, and an optimal design."
22
Kenneth Wyns
Tunnel design manager at Besix
What collaborative

parametric design means for you

23
 Parametric design is a new method of designing that will revolutionise

workflows throughout all layers in a company. There are advantages for every

part of the hierarchy:

For the engineer

Parametric design is a tool that minimises boring and repetitive tasks, allowing

you more time for critical thinking and analysis. There is no need to restart all the

work from scratch in case of changes in requirements: you can change the input

parameters, run the model, and get the results you need. If you create a

user-friendly interface, you can share your tools with your colleagues and easily

use theirs.

Combined with the possibilities of the cloud, you no longer have to wait for

someone else's latest results in the mail; directly use them from the

single-source-of truth. You also don't need to have physical access to a heavy PC to

run your simulations, and you can speed them up by using licences in parallel.

For the project leader

Parametric design allows you to minimise risk be evaluating multiple scenarios

and helping to make the best decisions. Thanks to the method's flexibility, design

changes are not an issue anymore as one is always ready to react without

significant delays in the project.

By using a web-based parametric design model, you can keep track of who made

which changes and drastically reduce the chance for human error and

miscommunication within your own team, as well as with other teams or other

departments. The model is the single source of truth where everyone can find the

correct information from any location.

An application development platform can help you create project-specific tools

quickly to benefit from parametric design from an early stage the project and

create more added value for your customers.

24
 For the innovation manager

Web-based parametric design will allow you to build digital assets and improve the
design process. Through the cloud, you can ensure that new models, tools and
know-how are shared throughout the company quickly, without exposing your
intellectual property, and guarantee that everyone is always up to date on the
latest version.

A development platform can help profit from the advantages of custom software
without the need to develop software engineering skills in-house. It helps you
create an agile organisation by empowering engineers and other domain experts
to adopt new technologies and rapidly build, test, distribute, and scale new
software solutions according to their needs. This results in better solutions, high
adoption rates, and lower development costs.

For the business manager

Parametric design allows you to be more competitive in tenders and decrease risk
by having deep insight into the design you are offering. Additionally, it gives the
sales and tenders unit more independency to operate without consuming
significant engineering capacity.

By placing your models in the cloud, you can provide clients access to the tool
without exposing your intellectual property. This immediately gives the customers
a better insight into what is possible so that your help is required only when they
are in a further stage of the decision-making process.

Finally, web-based parametric design tools allow for new sources of income by
offering domain knowledge as a scalable service.

25
About VIKTOR
VIKTOR is a platform for parametric design in the cloud. It empowers engineers to create professional and
multidisciplinary parametric design tools quickly. It allows you to profit from all the advantages of custom
software in the cloud without software engineering skills in-house. VIKTOR is made for engineering:

invest time in standardising and improving your process. We take care of the rest.

Automate the boring.

Engineer the awesome!

Ready to streamline your design process? Contact us!

Contact person:

Anande Bergman

Parametric design and

structural engineering specialist at VIKTOR

[email protected]