Geotechnical Analysis for Infrastructure Projects
By integrating Optum into their workflow, Sweco’s geotechnical team saves hours on modelling and verification — time they can now use to focus on optimising design.
They say all roads lead to Rome. At Sweco, some of them also lead to Optum – namely the motorways and railway lines that Anders Poulsen and his geotechnical colleagues have designed using Optum’s finite element software.
As one of Europe’s largest architecture and engineering consultancies, Sweco’s 22,000 specialists handle complex infrastructure projects across the continent. With Optum, their engineers can calculate faster – freeing up more time to process results and, more importantly, to create the best possible solutions for their clients.
Faster Than PLAXIS: How Sweco Accelerates Geotechnical Analysis with Optum
Optum’s geotechnical software accelerates modelling and failure analysis for infrastructure design — making it easier for Sweco to complete reliable foundation and slope assessments faster.
Anders, based at Sweco’s office in Silkeborg, Denmark, is pleased that Optum has become part of their engineering toolbox – and so are many of the recently graduated engineers who already encountered the software during their studies.
Optum does many of the same things as PLAXIS – but it’s quicker to build models and perform failure analyses.
Calculation times are generally just faster in Optum, whether we’re working on retaining walls, foundation design or slope stability analysis. Those are the areas where we use the software the most.
Anders Poulsen
Ingeniør, Sweco
Saving Time Is the Greatest Benefit
According to Anders, the biggest advantage of using Optum is the speed – both in terms of modelling and calculation.
“The software makes it easier and faster to achieve accurate results – and that’s crucial when project deadlines are tight. It gives us more time to analyse results and optimise the design,” he explains.
Another strength is the support, which Anders describes as both fast and helpful: “We always get quick answers if we have questions – and that’s pretty important.”
“We always get quick answers if we have questions – and that’s pretty important.”
Sweco has already used Optum on several large-scale infrastructure projects – including the expansion of the E45 motorway between Aarhus and Vejle, and the electrification of several railway sections. Here, the software has been used to verify bridges, foundations, and other structural elements.
And this kind of verification is a key part of the job:
We often use the software to document that a structure can withstand the loads it’s exposed to. That could be an excavation near a bridge, heavy traffic close to a building, or construction work behind a retaining wall. And here, too, Optum delivers fast and accurate results.
Anders Poulsen
Ingeniør, Sweco
A Changing Geotechnical Landscape
“Construction projects are becoming more complex. We’re building bigger and taller, and timelines are tighter – so there isn’t always time for lengthy investigations. That increases the need for efficient digital tools. Software like Optum is well suited for that – especially with automation via Python,” he says.
He also highlights climate change as a growing factor. More frequent cloudbursts, rising groundwater levels, and changing soil conditions pose new demands on both design and calculation.
At the same time, there’s increasing pressure to optimise materials – not just for cost reasons, but also for sustainability:
“If we can save on materials, clients save money and reduce CO₂. The economic incentive is usually the strongest, but the climate impact is becoming more important. That’s why it’s essential that we design as efficiently as possible.”
Want to see how Optum can accelerate your next infrastructure project?
Contact our team to explore faster, more efficient geotechnical analysis workflows.
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