In this episode, I talk with Stijn Jansen, Chief Product Officer at VIKTOR, about automation for structural engineers and how advanced digital tools are changing the design process in the AEC industry. From building high-performance automation workflows to using AI and parametric design for structural optimization, this conversation explores how engineers can save time, increase precision, and empower creativity. Whether you manage projects or work deep in structural calculations, this episode offers actionable insights on how to embrace technology to improve your workflows without losing your unique engineering touch.
Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Stijn Jansen:
- How did your experience across aerospace, geotechnical, and structural design influence your approach to creating automation tools?
- What are the major differences between aerospace and AEC disciplines when it comes to collaboration and automation?
- What are the steps needed to build an effective automation workflow that balances speed and accuracy?
- How does VIKTOR help engineers streamline their work and improve productivity through automation?
- How can automation boost design iterations and support multidisciplinary collaboration in structural engineering?
- How should engineers think about AI and automation to ensure they complement rather than replace human judgment?
- What future trends in automation and AI are you most excited about in structural engineering and AEC?
- What advice do you have for engineers and AEC leaders looking to begin using automation in their projects?
Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Automation for Structural Engineers to Improve Design Workflows
- Experience in multiple disciplines reveals how design challenges always involve trade-offs between systems, materials, or configurations. By understanding both commonalities and unique project traits, engineers can create smarter automation tools that support more informed decisions.
- Aerospace relies heavily on standardized processes and repeatable products, but AEC is defined by unique, project-specific requirements and teams. The fragmented and parallel design nature within AEC drives the need for better integration and standardized automation workflows.
- Building automation begins with extracting logic and decision-making rules from engineers’ minds into explicit, repeatable systems. By focusing on business value and prioritizing repetitive, high-impact processes, engineers can invest smartly and see immediate productivity gains.
- VIKTOR is a web-based platform that lets engineers create custom tools that integrate geometry, analysis, and data, reducing manual input and increasing accuracy. It offers visualizations, data connections, and intuitive interfaces that make automation accessible and insightful.
- Automation makes it easy to test multiple design options quickly, saving time while supporting structural engineering creativity. Engineers gain the freedom to optimize across disciplines, meet deadlines, and deliver smarter outcomes to clients and collaborators.
- Engineers can use AI to rapidly generate deterministic design logic without giving up control over calculations. By acting as time-saving assistants and not decision-makers, AI tools help engineers speed up their work while preserving safety, accuracy, and creativity.
- The future of automation includes intelligent agents that use validated tools to solve problems on demand. Engineers will be able to scale their impact and meet growing demand using AI-powered platforms that enhance decision-making with speed and consistency.
- Start small with automation by identifying valuable tasks that can benefit from time-saving tools and investing a little time to experiment. Taking calculated risks now builds future-ready teams and opens the door to large-scale innovation and efficiency.
More Details in This Episode…
About the Guest:
Stijn Jansen
With a background in Aerospace Engineering and expertise in parametric design, knowledge-based engineering, and civil, geotechnical, structural, and offshore engineering, Stijn specializes in automating design processes to make engineering work faster, better, and more enjoyable. At VIKTOR, he works closely with customers and teams to create impactful solutions, empowering engineers to focus on solving complex challenges.
About the Host
Mathew Picardal, P.E., SE
Mathew is a licensed engineer, practicing on structural projects in California, with an undergraduate degree from Cal Poly Pomona and an M.S. in Structural Engineering from UC San Diego. He has designed and managed various types of building structures, including residential wood apartment buildings, commercial steel buildings, and concrete parking structures and towers. He also hosts the new YouTube channel “Structural Engineering Life,” through which he promotes the structural engineering profession to engineering students who are not familiar with the industry perspective.
Sources/References:
VIKTOR
SpaceX
Python
AutoCAD
ChatGPT
Connect with Stijn Jansen, on LinkedIn
AEC PM Certification
AEC PM Connect
Project Management Accelerator™
Engineering Leadership Accelerator™
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