The Preliminary Design Process – Challenges and Opportunities in the Water Industry

Research Interviews

As part of the research data collection phase, interviews were conducted with 26 professionals from 22 reputable organizations involved in providing client services, primarily in water and wastewater treatment engineering. There was representation from firms in 15 different states and all regions of the United States. During the interviews, participants were asked to describe the different types of projects that they work on and the various designs they perform.

Additionally, interviewees watched a Transcend Design Generator (TDG) introductory video in support of the research to discuss how advances in design automation and artificial intelligence can accelerate the digital transformation of these firms and the services they provide.

Industry Challenges

With the significant federal investments in water infrastructure expected in the coming years, a shrinking labor force, as well as costs volatility; stakeholders (i.e., engineering firms, local governments, and utilities) are finding value in forming partnerships earlier in the project planning and conceptual design phases. Population movement is another key factor affecting municipalities and water systems of all sizes.

Water and wastewater leaders interviewed as part of this project provided commentary on a variety of issues from finding and retaining process engineers to long lead times in the project planning and capital budgeting processes. Below are some of their comments:

“Staff hiring and retention is a concern for everyone, and leaders may not yet recognize how automation can help address the issue.”

“Being able to accurately project to the client ‘what is needed and why’ early in the process is critical to the success of treatment plant jobs.”

“Remote work has made the process less productive and there are fewer face-to-face meetings with clients.”

Opportunities Using Design Automation Tools

When presented with a quick video introducing the different tools within TDG, interviewees identified certain benefits and areas where the technology can be leveraged to save time during preliminary designs and ultimately unlock growth opportunities. We’ve highlighted a few initial remarks below:

“The cost estimating is an interesting feature that would save us time”

“It’s a good economic outcome without having to invest all those man-hours to develop P&IDs”

“It’s slick way for a big picture cost-benefit analysis”

Questions & Answers

Interviewees had their own questions related to the applicability and capabilities of TDG. Below are some of the questions that came up along with Transcend’s corresponding answers:

• What is the difference between the versions?

The TDG base platform features Metcalf & Eddy standards. The enterprise version of TDG allows our clients to configure the tool to integrate their specific design rules, input fields & ranges, and technologies.

• In the case of running multiple scenarios for a project, will TDG tell me which iteration I should select?

TDG will generate a comparison document, but the decision of what scenario to select is up to the engineer.

• Is TDG a replacement for SIMBA/BioWin/GPSX?

No, TDG uses an industry standard biological process simulation tool in the background for process design. Our enterprise clients have the option of using their own biological simulation of choice as the baseline for a plant design.

Conclusion

Automation tools like the Transcend Design Generator are rapidly taking over a variety of day-to-day tasks previously accomplished manually and enabling firms to improve how employees spend their time. AEC/EPC Firms that have adopted these tools are already seeing benefits in decreased internal costs and increased margins, added value to clients through optioneering, and better quality of life for their engineering teams.  

For customized market research, contact Rafael Barbosa at [email protected] or 972.266.4955. Connect with him on LinkedIn.