OPTUM GX makes life easier for geotechnical engineers” – we asked Andreasen & Hvidberg how
Faster designs, fewer clicks — how Andreasen & Hvidberg uses OPTUM G2 and GX to simplify complex geotechnical projects.
At Andreasen & Hvidberg in northern Denmark, getting your hands dirty is part of the job. With more than 50 years of experience and over 60,000 soil samples under their belt, the geotechnical consultancy lives up to its motto: A solid foundation to build on.
That impression is confirmed when speaking with Mia Gotfredsen – one of the company’s experienced geotechnical engineers. In most of her projects, Optum’s software plays an essential role – and the 19-storey Fredensgård development in Silkeborg is no exception.
"I use Optum a lot for finite element analyses – and for nearly all my pile projects. Simply because it’s faster and far more intuitive than other programs. It requires fewer clicks, and it’s much easier to draw in – which I see as one of its biggest advantages,” says Mia Gotfredsen, and adds:
“I often run lateral load calculations on piles to see how the internal capacity develops when exposed to moments – for instance from wind loads. And especially when it comes to combining soil bearing capacity and the pile’s structural capacity, OPTUM G2 is a great tool to check whether all the design criteria are met. I can quickly get a result that tells me if everything’s within limits.”
Hand calculations will always be conservative
Accurate soil modelling and bracing analysis — why Optum beats conservative hand calculations in complex projects.
Every geotechnical engineer knows that soil is anything but simple. That’s why, according to Mia Gotfredsen, one of the biggest strengths of Optum is its ability to model realistic soil behaviour – as opposed to traditional hand calculations, where many nuances are lost in simplified assumptions.
If I do a hand calculation, it will always be conservative. But with Optum’s soil models, I can account for variations in the soil profile and include everything in the analysis. That gives a more accurate result – without overdesign – and saves me a lot of time, probably also saving the contractor materials.
Mia Gotfredsen
Geotechnical engineer at Andreasen & Hvidberg
Elasto-plastic analysis of bracing systems is also a major part of the verification work carried out by Andreasen & Hvidberg – particularly for projects in close proximity to existing buildings, such as on the harbourfront in Aalborg. Here, many developments include several basement levels as well as high-rise elements.
“In these cases, we have to make sure the excavation doesn’t cause failure and damage nearby buildings or quay structures – and Optum is fantastic for that. The software handles both ULS failure analysis and SLS deformation checks, so it’s easy to see how nearby structures are affected – if movements occur, and how we need to dimension the retaining profiles.”
Andreasen & Hvidberg Demonstrating optum gx
Mia Gotfredsen, Andreasen & Hvidberg walk through their use of OPTUM GX in a real geotechnical project. The video highlights how the software is used in practice — from model setup to interpretation of results — with a focus on speed, precision, and usability.
Economic and sustainable design with 3D
3D Geotechnical Modelling for Sustainable and Cost-Efficient Foundation Design.
For complex projects like Fredensgård, Andreasen & Hvidberg always use 3D models to achieve a precise assessment of settlement behaviour. 3D modelling makes it possible to see how local soil layers and variations react to loading – while also optimising the design.
Our boreholes and CPTs showed some loose sand layers, and with a 3D model we could place the building precisely and monitor the effect in detail. It gives a much better overview of where settlements actually occur.
Mia Gotfredsen
Geotechnical engineer at Andreasen & Hvidberg
Even though 3D requires more data points – and therefore a more expensive geotechnical survey – the benefits are significant. When you can document exactly where the deformations occur, you avoid unnecessary safety factors and overdesign.
“That also helps reduce material use and CO₂ emissions,” she adds, noting that more and more clients are requesting documentation of both sustainability and optimisation. In that respect, Optum is a powerful tool for minimising resource use and visualising results.
“Literally just one click from 2D to 3D”
Switching from 2D to 3D in geotechnical modelling takes just one click – enabling full spatial analysis of settlements, interactions, and critical zones in a single model.
3D is still seen as heavy and time-consuming in some parts of the industry – but that perception is slowly changing. According to Mia Gotfredsen, the scepticism used to be justified – but with modern tools like Optum, it’s become much easier and faster to work in 3D.
“The great thing about OPTUM GX is that you can set up a model in 2D and then just extrude it to 3D. That gives you a quick overview of problem areas and optimisation potential – something that would otherwise require multiple cross-sections and more work in 2D,” she says.
Especially in deep excavations and dense urban areas, where loads and interactions can’t be captured in a single cross-section, it’s a big advantage to model as realistically as possible. In settlement analysis, for instance, it can be difficult to locate the critical movement without seeing the full picture – as you do in 3D.
“It’s super smart that you can create a 3D model so quickly. It’s literally just one click – and I get a full 3D model based on my 2D setup, all in the same program. Optum has already made life easier for geotechnical engineers, but this feature is a huge plus you won’t find anywhere else,” says Mia Gotfredsen.
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