Global consulting firm STV has joined forces with Transcend, a generative design technology provider specializing in wastewater treatment facilities, to streamline project development and meet growing industry demands. The collaboration is set to enhance efficiency and flexibility in designing treatment plants, enabling STV to better support clients as they navigate the increasing complexity of water infrastructure projects.

Meeting Rising Industry Challenges

The partnership comes at a crucial time for the wastewater sector, as federal regulations, such as those on PFAS chemicals enacted in recent years, have introduced significant new compliance requirements. Chris Haney, president of STV’s water operating group, emphasizes the critical need to optimize resources, given the lack of adequate funding for all necessary projects. “PFAS regulations came in last year, and that'll drive quite a bit of work over the next several years and decades,” he explains. “Owners will need to maximize the funding they've secured.”

Generative Design for Modern Challenges

Founded in 2019, Transcend’s roots trace back to an EPC firm seeking innovative wastewater treatment design concepts. Its system leverages parametric and generative design principles rather than machine learning-driven artificial intelligence (AI). This distinction, according to Transcend Chief Customer Officer Adam Tank, ensures reliable and transparent engineering outputs. “There’s a lot of talk going around about generative AI [like ChatGPT] versus generative design, and we are the latter,” he explains.

Tank highlights the software’s ability to trace decisions back to foundational engineering principles. “Every single decision the software makes can be traced back to a textbook rule of thumb,” he says. “If you ask why there is this number of blowers or membranes, it can show you in an engineering textbook the page where the formula it used is.”

A Practical and Flexible Tool

Transcend’s system integrates site-specific factors, including water quality, effluent processing goals, and physical constraints, to create highly customized designs. Its capabilities extend to optimizing existing facilities, even in cases where as-built documentation is incomplete or outdated. “We can pull up a geolocated map and mark up the buildings, give the software parameters, and let it make smart decisions,” Tank says. This is particularly useful for facilities built decades ago that may no longer operate as initially designed.

Once scenarios are modeled, the tool facilitates broader client discussions about potential improvements or necessary capital expenditures. “We can ask if there’s room to improve or realize we are maxed out and need to switch into the CapEx side [of the discussion],” adds Tank.

Transcend’s output can be exported in widely used formats, such as AutoCAD or Revit, ensuring compatibility with existing design workflows.

Enhanced Collaboration and Innovation

For STV, Transcend’s technology aligns with its goal of compressing project timelines and increasing design efficiency. “Transcend brings a lot of value in our ability to consider a universe of options, narrow those down, and ultimately make final selections with the owner,” Haney says.

Beyond delivering 3D models, the real strength of Transcend’s tools lies in enabling high-level discussions early in the project lifecycle. “It’s very beneficial on the frontend, when the client only has an idea of what they want,” Haney notes. “With these scenarios we can create [in Transcend], the conversations can commence on bigger, broader ideas.”

This technology also empowers engineers to explore unconventional ideas that would typically fall outside the scope of traditional workflows. “We find there are wicked-smart engineers looking at traditional treatment but have a harebrained idea they think will work,” Tank says. “Traditional engineering has no time or money to try it, so they give the client what they want. Let’s run a scenario in Transcend and create the data to show it’s a valid option.”

Addressing Future Needs

As water demand continues to rise, especially in high-growth regions like Texas, innovative approaches will be essential. “Texas already has challenges meeting its water demands, and the state’s water needs are valued at $150 billion,” Haney points out, noting the additional strain posed by high-demand facilities such as data centers.

Transcend’s tools, combined with STV’s expertise, aim to equip engineers with the ability to adapt quickly and make informed decisions that optimize both existing resources and future investments. “It’s not to say we push a button and have a state-of-the-art wastewater plant delivered to us, but there are parts and pieces early on in the project that can be significantly automated and streamlined,” Haney concludes.

By combining cutting-edge technology with human ingenuity, the STV-Transcend partnership is set to drive progress in a demanding and evolving sector.