An improved method for designing the route of a transport element, such as
a tube, is provided. The method preferably designs the route
automatically and, by utilizing path constraints in the design of the
route, as opposed to during a post design check, ensures that the
resulting route complies with the various path constraints. In addition,
the method of the present invention may establish a selection criterion
to evaluate a plurality of feasible routes of the transport element that
each comply with the path constraints such that a preferred or optimal
route may be designed.