A method for determining a position of a sub-space of a nesting plan, wherein the nesting plan is provided for controlling a cutting process of a flatbed machine tool for cutting out workpieces from a material panel and comprises a non-overlapping arrangement of sub-spaces which correspond to the workpieces in a two-dimensional planning space, as well as an arrangement of predetermined support spaces (27, Sp) and support surrounding spaces (FI, Se, N), wherein the support spaces (27, Sp) correspond to bearing surface regions of the material panel which are supported during the cutting process, the method having the steps of: providing contour data which indicate a cutting contour that delimits the sub-space in the position in the planning space to be evaluated, position data that indicate the positions of spaces in the planning space which are to be taken into account in the evaluation, wherein said spaces encompass a group of support spaces and a group of support surrounding spaces (FI, Se, N), and cutting procedure data which indicate a type of cutting procedure for at least one section of the cutting contour, ascertaining cumulative contour section lengths using the position data, the contour data and the cutting procedure data, wherein each of the cumulative contour section lengths indicates, specific to a type of cutting procedure and a group of spaces, a cumulative length of sections of the cutting contour, each of which lying within the corresponding group of spaces, by combining the contour section lengths in a weighted manner using weighting factors (e1,..., a1,..., s1,...) which define a damage probability on the basis of the respective group of spaces and the respective type of cutting procedure, calculating a damage rate for the cutting contour in the position to be evaluated, and using the calculated damage rate of the cutting contour, determining an evaluation value for the position of the sub-space to be evaluated, carrying out the cutting procedure based on the nesting plan. providing contour data which indicate a cutting contour that delimits the sub-space in the position in the planning space to be evaluated, position data that indicate the positions of spaces in the planning space which are to be taken into account in the evaluation, wherein said spaces encompass a group of support spaces and a group of support surrounding spaces (FI, Se, N), and cutting procedure data which indicate a type of cutting procedure for at least one section of the cutting contour, contour data which indicate a cutting contour that delimits the sub-space in the position in the planning space to be evaluated, position data that indicate the positions of spaces in the planning space which are to be taken into account in the evaluation, wherein said spaces encompass a group of support spaces and a group of support surrounding spaces (FI, Se, N), and cutting procedure data which indicate a type of cutting procedure for at least one section of the cutting contour, ascertaining cumulative contour section lengths using the position data, the contour data and the cutting procedure data, wherein each of the cumulative contour section lengths indicates, specific to a type of cutting procedure and a group of spaces, a cumulative length of sections of the cutting contour, each of which lying within the corresponding group of spaces, by combining the contour section lengths in a weighted manner using weighting factors (e1,..., a1,..., s1,...) which define a damage probability on the basis of the respective group of spaces and the respective type of cutting procedure, calculating a damage rate for the cutting contour in the position to be evaluated, and using the calculated damage rate of the cutting contour, determining an evaluation value for the position of the sub-space to be evaluated, carrying out the cutting procedure based on the nesting plan.