I sat down with Viktar Beliakou, the founder of Enjicalc, to discuss a new computational tool designed to streamline engineering calculations. Viktar aims to address the long-standing issues in construction-related computational tasks, providing a transparent and flexible alternative to existing software solutions.
The problem with “black box” softwareI remember how engineers used calculators, slide rules, and printed tables to calculate the dimensions of structures. When computers overtook the traditional methods, it felt like some designers lost the sense of intuitive understanding of the underlying principles.
The reliance on software sometimes made the process feel more detached from the physical reality of structures, even though the calculations became faster and more accurate.
Today, engineers predominantly rely on FEA software, which is like a black box—you don’t know what’s happening inside it. I asked Viktar whether engineers still want to go beyond what’s given. He assured me that this is the case.
Engineers sign a design and are responsible for its safety, so they want to double-check the results. With today’s closed software, that’s hard to do. That’s why Viktar developed a transparent calculation tool to spare the engineers sleepless nights.
Writing in mathematical notationViktar’s platform simplifies calculations and workflows for construction engineers. The application offers a unique interface where engineers can write formulas in a familiar mathematical notation, making it easier to verify and modify calculations without needing complex programming skills.
Enjicalc takes inspiration from traditional tools like Microsoft Excel and focuses on delivering scalability, readability, and user control. It allows engineers to see every calculation step, ensuring confidence in the outputs. It can also be described as Tekla Tedds but with the ability to modify and reuse calculations and perform advanced analytics methods.
The tool is designed to be so simple that even first-year engineering students can use it immediately. This focus on simplicity means that engineers can focus on their core work without learning to code or manage complex workflows.
Collaboration and version controlOne of Enjicalc’s breakthroughs is its incorporation of GitHub-like version control. This means engineers can easily track every change, collaborate seamlessly, and manage multiple versions of a project. This feature addresses a significant pain point in engineering workflows, where mistakes can creep in due to manual input updates or poorly tracked changes.
Engineers using Enjicalc can modify and customize templates, unlike in Tekla Tedds, where formulas are locked. This flexibility is crucial when engineers need to tailor solutions to specific project requirements, giving them more control over their designs.
Integration and the future of FEADuring our conversation, we also touched on the topic of integration with existing tools like Tekla, which is widely used in the industry.
Viktar acknowledged the potential value in integration but emphasized that Enjicalc’s long-term vision is to provide its API, allowing all other software to connect to Enjicalc’s calculations seamlessly. This opens the door for Enjicalc to serve as a service in the cloud and integrate with any FEA software.
Transparent and flexible design and analysis calculations, which can be integrated into any software, mean we will need less regional FEA software on the market. Non-programming engineers can build their calculations and seamlessly incorporate them into their favorite finite element software.
AI in Construction: A Cautious ApproachWe also discussed the role of AI in construction. Viktar clearly stated that while AI has immense potential in early-stage planning and material estimation, it should not replace human oversight in critical areas like safety and quality assurance.
For now, AI is best used as a co-pilot, assisting in repetitive tasks but not making final design decisions that require human judgment.
The road aheadEnjicalc is currently in its beta phase, and a stable version will be released by the end of October 2024.
Viktar’s vision for the platform is ambitious—he sees Enjicalc not just as a tool for calculations but as a broader platform for managing technical documentation in construction. His team is working hard to integrate templates from Eurocodes and other standards, providing a vast library of formulas that engineers can easily access and use.
For now, Enjicalc’s focus is on working with students and small engineering firms, offering a freemium model to gain traction. At the same time, they are targeting large manufacturing companies that can benefit from the platform’s transparency and efficiency.
To learn more about Enjicalc, visit www.enji.io and connect with Viktar on LinkedIn.
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