Advanced and optimized design of road pavements
Inpav Design is a specialized software suite for automatic and optimized design of road pavements, developed to support engineering firms throughout the entire design process, from the concept stage to the selection of the final solution [1].
Based on advanced digital technologies and recognized calculation methodologies, Inpav Design enables a drastic reduction in design time, ensures the technical quality of the solutions, and supports well-founded decisions based on structural, economic, and constructability criteria [1].
A new paradigm in pavement design
The traditional pavement design process often relies on manual trial-and-error cycles, constrained by available time and conventional calculation tools. Inpav Design introduces a new paradigm, based on the full automation of pavement design [2], allowing the designer to focus on defining criteria and critically analyzing the solutions.
The software is capable of automatically evaluating hundreds of structural alternatives, ranking them according to user-defined criteria and identifying the most suitable solutions for the project at hand.
Key features
– Fully automated design
- Iterative generation and verification of multiple structural solutions
- Continuous mechanistic analysis of stresses and strains
- Significant reduction of manual intervention by the designer
– Integrated criteria analysis
Solutions are optimized based on three key pillars:
- Structural – thicknesses, materials, mechanical properties, and structural response
- Economic – unit material costs and costs associated with execution
- Constructability – harmonization of solutions across different sections to optimize construction
– Specialized modules
Inpav Design includes dedicated modules for:
- Traffic forecasting and calculation (including standard axles)
- Automatic processing of climatic data
- Determination of in-service temperatures within pavement layers
- Calculation of resilient moduli
- Structural verification and production of design deliverables
Versatility and modularity
The software adapts to different project types and levels of complexity, offering:
- Simple calculation mode, for quick assessments
- Structural verification mode, with independent calculation modules
- Design mode, with maximum automation of the process
It is applicable to both new road and airport pavements and rehabilitation and strengthening scenarios, being particularly focused on flexible pavements.
Scalability and high computational performance
The Inpav Design calculation engine was designed to handle large-scale projects, enabling:
- Parallel analysis of multiple sections
- High levels of accuracy
- Efficient use of multiprocessing and distributed computing environments
This approach ensures suitable performance even in complex studies or in academic and scientific contexts.
Value for the designer
By automating repetitive and calculation-intensive tasks, Inpav Design enhances the engineer’s role, freeing up time for higher value-added activities, namely:
- Technical conception
- Critical analysis of solutions
- Informed decision-making
The result is a more rigorous, efficient, and sustainable design process, aligned with current requirements for road infrastructure projects.
Inpav Design in Scientific Literature
[1] N. Verdelho Trindade, “Ferramentas digitais avançadas de projeto de pavimentos rodoviários e o seu papel na otimização do dimensionamento de estruturas correntes,” in Proc. 8º Congresso Rodoviário Português, art. 41, Centro Rodoviário Português, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://crp.pt/index.php/eventos/8o-congresso-rodoviario-portugues/
[2] N. Verdelho Trindade, “Soluções para automatização integral do dimensionamento de pavimentos rodoviários,” in Proc. 7º Congresso Rodoviário Português, art. 85, Centro Rodoviário Português, Lisbon, Portugal, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://crp.pt/index.php/eventos/7o-congresso-rodoviario-portugues/