From Structural Optimization to AI-Driven Digital Engineering

VELTION is a research hub at NTUA bridging structural optimization, additive manufacturing and machine learning to solve real-world engineering problems – from buildings and infrastructure to nanostructures and climate resilience.

>600 publications
>9,500 citations
190+ journal papers
Environmental and economic impact of structural optimization
Structural optimization unlocks massive environmental and economic benefits in the AEC industry.

About VELTION

VELTION is an Engineering Optimization & Applied Machine Learning group within the Institute of Structural Analysis and Antiseismic Research at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). The group acts as a cross-disciplinary research hub, designing and deploying optimization, AI and ML solutions in civil, mechanical and environmental engineering.

Our work spans from structural sizing and topology optimization to digital twins, nanomodelling, structural health monitoring, and AI-enabled decision support systems.

Focus Areas

  • Structural sizing, shape & topology optimization
  • AI-accelerated design and surrogate modelling
  • Nanostructures & molecular modelling
  • Structural health monitoring & digital twins
  • Additive manufacturing & 3D-printed structures
  • Climate resilience, hazards & risk assessment

Research & Application Domains

Structural Optimization

Multi-objective sizing, shape and topology optimization for buildings, bridges, towers and aerospace components, with integrated performance and cost criteria.

Topology optimized component for additive manufacturing

AI & Digital Twins

Data-driven models and digital twins for structural health monitoring, lifecycle assessment and risk-informed decision making.

SHM instrumentation and seismic performance of monitored bridge

Climate & Natural Hazards

AI-enabled early warning systems, multi-hazard vulnerability and resilience assessment frameworks for communities and critical infrastructure.

Flood detection using satellite imagery and vision transformers

Flagship Projects

VELTION participates in national and European projects, offering optimization, AI and digital engineering expertise. Each project has its own subsite under the VELTION group umbrella.

Horizon project

ADDOPTML

ADDitively Manufactured OPTimized Structures by means of Machine Learning – merging topology optimization, AM and AI for deployable and optimized metal structures.

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Horizon Europe

MOIRAI

Multi-hazard coastal resilience with AI-based early warning, REASSHORE core system and deployments in Mediterranean, North Sea and Arctic demo sites.

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IPA-ADRION 530

ARIANNA

ARIANNA is an IPA ADRION project focused on coordinated actions, pilots and knowledge transfer to strengthen regional capacity and cross-border collaboration in the Adriatic–Ionian area.

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Interreg Greece–Italy

SAFER

SAFER strengthens climate-risk prevention and disaster resilience across the Ionian Sea through cross-border collaboration, coordinated preparedness actions, and pilot activities.

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MSCA Staff Exchanges

3DCARE

Sustainable orthopaedic solutions with AI-driven design and 3D (bio)printing for patient-specific care. Includes AI optimisation, digital twins, bioprinting scaffold implants, and corrective orthoses.

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Horizon Europe (WIDERA / ERA Talents)

NESTOR

Cross-sectoral mobility and capacity building in reproductive medicine, advancing data-driven and non-invasive solutions for IVF embryo assessment, uterine health and novel NIPT technologies through international secondments and joint R&I.

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Coming soon

Your project here

New project subsites can be added by cloning the VELTION project template (projects/project-template.html) and updating content, partners and WPs.

Template ready

Software & Digital Solutions

SOCP

Structural Optimization Computing Platform integrated with SCADA Pro and CSI products (SAP2000 & ETABS), enabling value engineering workflows at scale.

AIDEA

AI-Driven Engineering Assistant: an LLM-focused copilot that orchestrates engineering workflows (problem framing, analysis/simulation, optimisation, standards-aware checklists, and auditable reports) with traceable outputs.

Read more →

TOCP & DLTOP

Topology optimization and deep-learning-accelerated design engines for rapid conceptual exploration and manufacturable layouts.

SimNano & SHM toolkits

Finite-element-inspired algorithms for nanostructures, and low-cost SHM hardware plus AI-driven signal denoising for monitored structures.

VELTION Team

VELTION brings together civil engineers, computer scientists, architects, and domain experts in medicine and biology to tackle multi-disciplinary challenges.

Prof. Nikos D. Lagaros

Head of VELTION Group – Vice Rector, NTUA

Structural optimization, AI in civil engineering, additive manufacturing, risk and resilience.

Senior Researchers

Chara Mitropoulou, Stavros Chatzieleftheriou, Spyros Damikoukas, Athanasios Stamos and others leading sub-groups in earthquake engineering, SHM, wind energy, and nanomodelling.

PhD Candidates & Collaborators

Cross-disciplinary team from civil engineering, applied sciences, medicine and computer science working on ML-driven design, wind towers, composite materials, structural monitoring and more.

Scientific & Societal Impact

VELTION’s research has demonstrated significant potential for reducing construction costs, embodied carbon, and energy use across the AEC sector, while enabling safer, more resilient infrastructure.

  • Optimization-driven cost reductions in iconic buildings and high-rise structures.
  • Lifecycle cost modelling for wind farms and structural systems.
  • AI-based flood detection and early warning for emergency response.
  • SHM-based seismic assessment protocols and digital twins for buildings.
Wind farm layout optimization and life-cycle analysis
From wind farms to coastal communities: integrating optimization, AI and climate risk analytics.

Contact & Collaboration

Interested in collaborating, hosting a pilot, or integrating optimization and AI into your engineering workflows? Get in touch with the VELTION group.

Contact Details

National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

Institute of Structural Analysis and Antiseismic Research

Phone: +30 210 772 2625

Email: nlagaros@central.ntua.gr

Web: veltion.ntua.gr