AEC TECH NEWS: Softree Optimal automates vertical alignment in corridor design

Vancouver, British Columbia — Softree Technical Systems Inc. released Softree Optimal, a new technology for automating vertical alignment in corridor design. Using sophisticated mathematical techniques, Softree Optimal automatically determines the best (lowest cost) vertical position of a road (or pipeline, railway etc.).

It considers constraints such as grades, curvature, detailed cross section configuration, and horizontal alignment. This new technology was developed in collaboration with the University of British Columbia.

"To a certain extent this technology takes the 'art' out of alignment design,” reports company principal David Mills, PEng, “It allows engineers to quantitatively compare designs. This is really a big step forward for civil designers. By removing tedious iterations, designers can focus on producing better, lower cost designs."

The released version is currently hosted in RoadEng, Softree’s engineering software, but this optimization technology is independent of design software. Softree is currently working on direct

interfaces to Civil 3D and 12d Model civil design packages. This will allow companies to take advantage of this technology without changing work flows.

More information is available at www.softree.com.