We propose an iterative algorithm for the Virtual Topology Design (VTD) in optical networks. The algorithm eliminates lighter traffic lightpaths and rearranges the traffic through the remaining lightpaths. This tries to preserve the open capacity for the accommodation of future unknown demands. The results suggest that it is feasible to preserve enough open capacity to avoid blocking of future requests in networks with scarce resources, this is, maximize the traffic scaling. © 2005 IEEE. 200204Barbado, L., Maier, G., Maximum traffic scaling in WDM networks optimized for an inicial static load (2003) ONDM 2003, 1, pp. 41-60. , February 3-5. Budapest, Hungary(1990) Architechture of Optical Transport Networks, (G.872)(2001) Network Node Interface for the Optical Transport Network (OTN), (G.709)Ozdalgar, A.E., Bertsekas, D.P., (2003) Routing and Wavelength Assisnment in Optical Networks IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, 11 (2). , aprilRamaswami, R., Sivarajan, K.N., Design of logical topologies for wavelength-routed all optical networks (1996) IEEE/JSAC, 14, pp. 840-851. , JuneGencata, A., Mukherjee, B., Virtual topology adaptation for WDM mesh networks under dynamictraffic (2002) Proc., IEEE Infocom 2002, pp. 48-56. , New York, JuneKodialam, M., Laksshman, T.V., Integrated dynamic IP and wavelength routing in IP over WDM networks (2001) Proc. IEEE INFOCOMAssis, K.D.R., Waldman, H., Approaches to maximize the open capacity of optical networks (2004) Ghent -Belgium ONDM 04, 1, pp. 599-618. , Ghent Belgium,februaryRamaswami, R., Sivarajan, K.N., (1998) Optical Networks: A Practical Perspective, , Morgan Kaufmann PublishersRamaswami, R., Sivarajan, K.N., Routing and wavelength assignment in all-optical networks (1995) IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, pp. 489-500. , OctAssis, K.D.R., Iterative optimization in VTD to maximize the open capacity of optical networka Procedings of ICT04, , Fortaleza-CE. Brazil