Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TADIL and DITEL (TADIL and DITEL)

Teaser

TADIL is an ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE software applied to the automatic development of tracings of linear infrastructures. TADIL stands for Techniques for the Automatic Design of New Linear Infrastructures.The currently available modules are targeted at the study of...

Summary

TADIL is an ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE software applied to the automatic development of tracings of linear infrastructures. TADIL stands for Techniques for the Automatic Design of New Linear Infrastructures.
The currently available modules are targeted at the study of infrastructures of roads and / or highways, (Tadil-Road), and at the study of railway lines, (Tadil-Railway).
DITEL, is a complementary software applied to the three-dimensional design of tunnels and linear structures, (viaducts), and bridges. DITEL stands for Intelligent Design of Tunnels and Linear Structures. It is also based on Artificial Intelligence.
TADIL allows obtaining in a very fast way the tracing of infrastructure alternatives, providing the definition of the axis in plant and profile according to regulations, the cross sections with its measurement, the earthwork plant, expropriations, the balance sheet of lands, the budget, the public or private feasibility and the subjective evaluation of alternatives.
TADIL has been created as a module of Autocad making use of available tools in this software.
In the following link you can get more information about TADIL and DITEL.
• http://actisa.net/tadil/
The copyright of the software was obtained in august 2013, record: GR-343-13.
The launch of software TADIL was in December 2014.

The development of an environmental module has been considered of maximum importance for the market entry in several countries, taking into account that the process for an environmental evaluation takes too much time. The generation of an environmental module would enable the process, making possible a reduction of the time for the approval of the informative study.
TADIL-Environment will include a module to compute green house emissions. The computation will be done for the civil works, future traffic and traffic before construction. For the evaluation of environmental affections a heuristic algorithm based on the use of neural network techniques will be developed, taking into account the preferences and criteria of the user. The result of the evaluation will be editable by the user if he considers appropriate making any modification of the evaluation provided by TADIL.
At the same time the software must be able to calculate axis according to several national regulations. Therefore algorithms must be modified to allow the incorporation of different requirements and even at the same time the generation by the user of specific regulations.
TADIL-Environment jointly with DITEL complements TADIL-Road and TADIL-Railway making possible the complete development of an informative study in a very easy way.
Nowadays, when a government wants to construct a linear infrastructure, it has to take measures and decisions very quickly, lacking of knowledge about general investment or technical and economic feasibility. Sometimes informative studies are tendered as a prior phase before the complete project. However these informative studies have a very high cost for administrations. Sometimes it reaches 300.000,00 € and, when the project is related to motorways or similar infrastructures, the fees could be larger than 500.000,00 €.
With software TADIL, we can amazingly get a complete informative study in three or four hours, for which a whole group of technicians or experts could take more than ten or twelve months.
According to this, we can conclude in a convincing way, that there will be a clear demand for TADIL and DITEL and for consultancy services developed with these tools when the products are introduced into the selected markets.

Objective of the feasibility study and business plan

The main objective of the feasibility study is to define a clear price policy for software TADIL and for consultancy services developed using this tool, the markets and the potential recipients.
The first price was set in 5.000,00 € per license, according to the first offers done along 2015. After selling the first licenses, ACTISA contracted a right price policy study. The conclusion was that the price of the software should be higher than 200.000,00 € per license, and the selected customers should be government and public organizations responsible for the management in the construction of new linear infrastructure, or alternatively consultancy companies with exclusivity in the sale in the region where they operate. This report concluded that the application of this software should lead to a great saving in infrastructure investment, (in many cases more than the 40%). Countries planning an improvement in their infrastructures should be the clearest recipients, as for instance, Poland, Russia and China. On the other hand, the analysis indicated that it would be recommendable to stop the commercial campaign for selling licences, and start offering the development of low cost consultancy services based on the use of TADIL and DITEL software. A special offer for consultancy services to develop informative studies was set in 18.000 € per each 30 km of linear infrastructure, instead of 300.000 € as average budget for a procurement to develop a similar informative study, and lasting one week instead of one year or more. However, the study highlighted the need in deepening in the selection of potential customers and some minor adaptations according to regulations in each selected market.
So, the first objective for the feasibility is the definition of prices and potential clients. User and their needs and their interest in TADIL and DITEL, compared to current solutions available in the market are described as follows:
- Customers for selling licenses: Government, public organizations, concessionary companies, (few clients). High price.
Public administrations in charge of the development of new infrastructures will be able to develop studies of new linear infrastructures reducing costs in consultancy services but what is of most interest is an important saving in investment in new linear infrastructures.
- Customers for consultancy services based on the use of TADIL and DITEL: Engineering consultancies and public organizations, (many clients). Low price. Public administrations will be able to contract informative studies having results in a very short time. At the time consultancy companies developing informative studies will be able to reduce inner costs for developing consultancy services. We should take into account that current available tools in the market require manual tracing of linear infrastructures.
On the other hand, the market dimension of the software should be clearly defined. Nowadays, there are some countries in Europe that are going to receive billions euro as European funds (Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, etc.).
The application of software TADIL should lead to a great safe in infrastructures investments.
Currently, ACTISA has signed an agreement with the Chinese company CEPC, located in Qingdao, China. This company is now working in the application of TADIL and DITEL in the Chinese market. A feasibility study is required to determine needs for the adaptation of algorithms to the Chinese regulations and knowledge of potential institutions and customers.
We plan to develop the same action in Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Chile and Morocco in a short term. Adaptations to these markets and knowledge of institutions and clients will be also a need.
So, the feasibility study should deepen in the knowledge of national regulations and potential institutions as customers. The representative commission, as a percentage of the price, is a clear objective of the feasibility study. For the Chinese market, sales commission has been set in 25% of total turnover derived from licenses selling or consultancy services. However this rate must be analyzed in other markets.

Work performed

Week 1:
1. We have got the regulations for highways and motorways layout in China from our representative CEPC. We have started the analysis of these regulations and we have drafted a specific report about the needs for adaptation of TADIL Software.
2. We have reached an agreement with Alexandru Capatina as coacher. We have met by Skype and have planned next actions. He will visit our facilities in Granada in the month of July and we will visit Romania in the month of September. He is going to analysis the Romanian market to select the best representative and to facilitate our Romanian market study. Information about the Romanian infrastructure Plan has been provided by Alexandru. He also provided the link to the Romanian Regulation for highways, motorways and railway lines. We have started the analysis of this information.
3. We have got from the Chilean Company ExportNet the Chilean regulation for highways and motorways. This company is preparing a first draft of the Chilean market study. We are planning a travel to Chile during this summer.
4. We have arranged a visit to Morocco in the month of July. We have contacted Nuria EL Fassi, (President of the Businesswoman Association in Morocco). She is going to help us with the analysis of the market study in Morocco. According to the recommendations provided we will visit the country once the Ramadan finishes. We also celebrated a presentation to several Moroccan companies in Seville.
5. We have selected Joanna Holy to represent our software in Poland. She is going to help us to prepare the market analysis in Poland. She is going to prepare information related to the Polish Regulation for road in Poland.
6. We have met the multinational company Sacyr in Madrid. This company wants to apply this software in Colombia, where they are going to build 4 highways with a length between 100 and 150 kms.
7. Finally we have edited the software Code to enable the analysis of software adaptation.
Week 2:
1. ACTISA is awarded as the best Innovative Infrastructures and Service Company in Spain in the Sixth Edition of the National Sacyr Awards, due to the development of the TADIL, DITEL and VVOS Software.
2. We are working in the analysis of Chinese Regulations.
3. We have started the analysis of the Chilean regulations for highways and motorways.

Week 3:
1. We have finished the analysis of the Chilean market. A list of potential customers has been drafted. A potential representative has been selected. A visit to Chile is being planned.
2. We are still working in the analysis of the Chilean Regulations for highways and motorways.
3. ACTISA has finished the analysis of the Chinese regulation for highways and motorways. A technical report about the adaptation of algorithms is being drafted.
4. We have started the analysis of the Moroccan Regulations for highways and motorways.

Week 4:
1. We have contacted the Bulgarian Ministry of Civil Works to get national regulations for highways and motorways.
2. Analysis of the Moroccan and Chilean Regulations.

Week 5:
1. We have finished the analysis of the Chilean Regulations. A technical report is being drafted.
2. We have met Juan Jose Morente. Expert in the civil engineering sector in Poland. He has provided several interesting contacts in Poland.
3. Working in the analysis of the Moroccan Regulations.

Week 6:
1. We have started the analysis of the Romanian Regulations for roads and highways.
2. We are finishing the analysis of the Chinese Market.

Week 7:
1. We have celebrated a Skype meeting with CEPC in China. An agreement with the company HINT has been proposed as they are the leader in the Chinese Market in software for road drafting.
2. We have finished the analysis of Romanian Regulations. A report is being drafted.

Week 8:
1. Coaching activities with Alexandru Capatina in Granada.
2. The analysis of the Romanian market is finished.
3. We have contacted with potential representatives in Romania.
4. The policy for TADIL and DITEL prices has been defined with the support of the Romanian Coacher Alexandru Capatina.

Week 9:
1. Partnership agreement between the company ACTISA and INASER to apply TADIL for the Informative Study TOLEDO-OCAÑA according to the tender process announced by the Ministry of Public Works in Spain.
2. Study of Moroccan Regulations.

Week 10:
1. Application of TADIL for the Informative Study TOLEDO-OCAÑA. The existing project had a budget of € 340 M. The Spanish Government decided not to approve the project and to launch a new informative study to find a cheaper solution. With TADIL we have drafted 50 alternatives. The best solution had a budget of € 207 M. This solution was shorter and the speed project was faster. Hence, we can conclude that the solution was technically better and cheaper.
2. Study of Moroccan Regulations.

Week 11:
1. We have finished the analysis of Moroccan Regulations. A report is being drafted.
2. We have contacted ICEX for assistance in the study of the Bulgarian and Polish Market. A specific report has been drafted to support their assistance.

Week 12:
1. Meeting with Alberto Cruz, civil Engineer at the national institution, Vegplanlegger, in charge of the development of new roads, motorways and highways in Norway. He has advised that we should include a 3d module to enable the visualization of linear infrastructure in 3d with textures.
2. ICEX in Varsovia has sent regulations for drafting roads in Poland. We have started the analysis of Polish regulations.

Week 13:
1. Study of Polish Regulations.
2. We have contracted the assistance of the Chilean Company Exportnet to prepare a presentation in the month of January, 2017. This company has recommended the preparation of a specific demo version to distribute among potential customers.
3. We have started the preparation of a demo version. The architecture has been defined by avoiding the use of external Digital Terrain Models, (DTM). Only three DTM will be available.

Week 14:
1. Definition of the business agenda for our visit next week in Morocco.
2. Study of Polish Regulations.
3. Working in the codification of the demo version.

Week 15:
1. Meetings in Tetouan, (Morocco):
a. Several meetings with Nuria El Fassi. Definition of the business plan in Morocco. Definition of all phases:
i. Presentation in Tetuán the 10TH December, 2016.
ii. Presentation in Tánger the 11TH December, 2016.
iii. Presentation in Casablanca the 21TH December, 2016.
iv. Attendees:
1. Technicians working at regional agencies in charge of the development of linear infrastructures.
2. Civil engineers.
3. Professionals working at consultancy companies.
4. Local and regional authorities.
v. Search of digital cartography in Morocco to enable the development of a presentation with a specific linear infrastructure in this country.
vi. Analysis of the National Infrastructure Plan.
b. Meeting with the Chamber of Commerce in Tetouan.
i. Acceptance for the organization of a first presentation in Morocco.
ii. Selection of attendees.
iii. Search or potential representatives.

Week 16:
1. Working in the codification of the demo version.
2. Study of the design of the demo version software package.
3. We have finished the analysis of the Moroccan market.

Week 17:
1. We have finished the analysis of Polish Regulations. A report is being drafted.
2. We have started the development of tests of the demo version.

Week 18:
1. Definition of the business agenda for our visit next week in Bucharest, (Romania).
2. ICEX has sent the report about the analysis of the Polish Market.

Week 19:
1. We have finished the analysis of the Polish Market.
2. Meeting in Romania with our coacher Alexandru Capatina. We have carried out the following meetings:
a. Laurantiu Pavelescu, General Manager at the company Capital Vision.
b. Neculai Ghimbovschi, General Managar at the company Cadexpert Net.
Finally we have decided to select Cadexpert Net to represent our software TADIL in Romania.
3. We have started the validation of the demo version.
4. We have contacted with a company in Bulgaria and the have sent the national regulations for roads in Bulgaria.

Week 20:
1. We are carrying out the analysis of the Bulgarian regulations.
2. We have received a report from ICEX about the Bulgarian market.
3. We have finished the validation of the demo version.

Week 21:
1. We have finished the study of the Bulgarian market. A report has been drafted.
2. We have started the business plan.

Week 22:
1. We have completed the study of road regulations in Bulgaria.
2. Drafting the business plan.
3. A general algorithms to allow automatic adaptation of software TADIL to all regulations is been drafted.

Week 23
1. ACTISA signs an agreement with the multinational company SACYR to apply the software TADIL to several linear infrastructures.
2. A general algorithms to allow automatic adaptation of software TADIL to all regulations is been drafted.
3. Drafting the business plan.

Week 24
1. New demo versions for Autocad 2017 are being coded.
2. Agreement with several companies to survey elements for TADIL package: box, pen drive and box edition.
3. Analysis of web adaptation. Study of the generation of a customer database.
4. The algorithm to allow automatic adaptation to any regulation has been finished and validated.
5. Drafting the business plan.

Week 25
6. The new demo versions for Autocad 2017 has been tested and validated.
7. ACTISA develops a course in SACYR, Madrid, to teach the use of the software TADIL. This course is addressed to identify main improvements for the tool in order to be useful for construction companies.
8. Analysis of web adaptation. Study of the generation of a customer database.
9. Drafting the business plan.

Week 26
1. Drafting the business plan.
2. Preparation of travel to CHILE to present software TADIL in the last week of November 2016.

Week 27
1. Presentation in Chile of TADIL for 7 companies and the Ministry of Public Works and the Institute of Engineers. 2 companies expressed their desire to acquire the software.
2. Finalization of the market study, feasibility study and business plan.

Final results

The TADIL software is very interesting for:
- Administrations or public companies with responsibility in the infrastructures investments studies.
- Private companies at the infrastructures exploitation level.
- Consulting companies who assist technically to the last ones.
The application of software TADIL should address to an important saving in infrastructure investment, taking into account that the study of multiple alternatives and the feasibility study can be done in a very easy way. This is the main advantage of TADIL software.
The software has already been applied to several cases and it demostrate that it is possible to define new solutions with savings that reach more than the 40%.
On the other hand TADIL allows a better integration of linear infrastructures in the territory, projecting more respectful solutions with the environment.
Nowadays, there are numerous computer tools for infrastructure design but only manual interaction is available. No automatic technique is implemented and the process for a complete study takes long time. TADIL is the first software based on artificial intelligence techniques in the field of civil engineering.