Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
Using software to optimize foundations early
Optimizing the foundation of a distribution center saves costs and reduces CO₂ emissions.

Using software to optimize foundations early on 

Time-consuming, costly and error-prone too; determining optimal design parameters for different foundation configurations. It is a challenging job, but it can be done differently: let the Microservices of CEMS do the work. They combine geotechnical and geohydrological domain expertise with modern programming knowledge, and help build scalable, automated design processes.

CEMS is part of the CRUX Group, which also includes consultancy and engineering firm CRUX Engineering as well as expertise agency BouwRisk. "The initiative for CEMS came about more than eight years ago at a time when the topic of digitization was becoming increasingly topical within our group," says director Jacco Haasnoot. "We were measuring outside and calculating inside, and wanted to connect those two worlds in a more efficient way. At CEMS, we speak the language of the geohydrologist and geotechnician and translate that into software and automated design processes. And third parties can use that software as well."

plan1 gigapixel standard v2
Automated grouping for an optimal pile plan, thanks to Foundation Suite.

Foundation Suite 

CEMS builds so-called Microservices, called Cores, small programs that run in the cloud and perform calculations at lightning speed. "The main product is the Foundation Suite," according to Haasnoot. "This includes a number of Microservices that provide a digital service in the field of foundation design of both shallow foundations and pile foundations, as well as tension anchors, vibration prediction and the interpretation of soundings based on classification methods. In no time at all, the latter converts all your CPT data into a layer structure on which you can then perform your calculations." The advantage of Microservices, according to Camille Luichies, Sales Coordinator at CEMS, is that they are flexible and scalable to deploy. "As a result, they can be integrated into each customer's unique workflow. You see that you save a lot of time as well as arrive at a more effective foundation design."

More efficient foundation design

By using Microservices, you can calculate the scenarios at an early stage of a project, Haasnoot points out. "Previously, a VO still issued an indicative design, that is no longer an issue with our Microservices. You are at DO level with a few clicks, so you know exactly where you stand, even at an early stage of a project." He gives an example of a pile mattress that generally has a lot of piles going in. "With our Microservices, you are able to calculate the highest possible bearing capacity at each pile point level that you define. This is because the software cleverly groups the calculation results of the soundings, so that safety factors can be reduced and you make optimal use of this space in the Eurocode. We hear back from users that the Microservices allow them to make a much more efficient foundation design. There is also a world to be gained for companies that make foundations for large industrial buildings. For example, we recently had a customer who managed to save more than 100,000 euros with our calculation methodology, just on the foundation work."

Haasnoot believes engineers and structural engineers need to start thinking in data. "Everything that is calculated is reproducible and ready for the next step in a process. So that when the geotechnical engineer has done his 'trick,' the structural engineer can move forward with it. Design activities become more data streams than Pdfs that we shuffle back and forth." To include the traditionally trained engineer in the digital transition, CEMS is currently building a graphical user interface, so that there is actually no longer a barrier to getting started with the Foundation Suite.     

"*" indicates required fields

Send us a message

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Kunnen we je helpen met zoeken?

Bekijk alle resultaten