Alignment Composer
A web platform designed for linear infrastructure projects, emphasising chainage-based representation to help users seamlessly understand, manage, and communicate parametric relationships.
Reimagining Engineering Tools for Simplicity and Collaboration
For engineers working on linear infrastructure projects like
roads and railways, traditional tools often fall short in
two key areas:
- Complexity of Tools: Engineering software often involves steep learning curves, creating barriers for new team members and limiting collaboration across diverse skill sets.
- Ineffective Collaboration: Current tools and workflows impede seamless communication and data sharing, leading to inefficiencies, misunderstandings, and errors.
At the heart of every linear infrastructure project lies a
simple yet powerful object: an alignment — the planned path
combining straight lines and curves. Inspired by the
intuitive user experience of video editing software, we set
out to reimagine engineering tools.
The challenge was to create a platform that simplifies these
workflows, improves collaboration, and makes managing
parametric relationships easy and accessible for all users.
This project serves as a proof-of-concept aimed at improving
engineering efficiency for the client.
Video Editor x Civil Engineering... But Why?
Tasked with creating a proof-of-concept product for working with alignments, we conducted user interviews with engineers across the Pacific and Asia to understand their workflows, which helped us map the user journey and identify the key pain points that become the opportunities to add value.
Data Clarity : Engineers struggle with interpreting CSVs and long sheets, which are time-consuming and unclear.
Collaboration Issues : Versions get lost in chats or emails, leading to confusion and inefficiency.
Communication Barriers : Verbal descriptions aren’t enough to convey complex issues, especially to non-experts.
Client Presentations : Engineers need a clear, visual way to present information to clients without technical backgrounds.
A Modern Manifesto
Many existing tools still carry a dated, 90 's
aesthetic, overwhelming users with a cluttered interface
that displays all features at once. Engineers, often with
over 10 years of experience, are deeply familiar with these
tools and hesitant to change due to the effort invested in
mastering them. This project challenges that mindset,
visually proving that complex tasks can be simplified
without sacrificing functionality. Our goal is to show that
a modern, intuitive interface can make engineering workflows
easier, more efficient, and ultimately more enjoyable.
