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Earthworks Estimating Software
Compare All Earthworks Estimating Software
RSMeans Data Online
RSMeans Data Online
RSMeans Data Online is cloud-based access to a comprehensive database of construction costs in North America. The application details costs for materials, equipment, labor and productivity at the unit, assembly and square foot lev...Read more
WinEst Essentials
WinEst Essentials
Wherever you are in the estimating process – from initial conceptual budgeting to specialty execution – WinEst Essentials provides the tools you need to confidently make profitable decisions based on real-world data, all in one va...Read more
InSite Elevation Pro
InSite Elevation Pro
Are you frustrated dealing with overly competitive bids, confusing GPS modeling software, and having nowhere to turn for support? InSite Elevation Pro is an easy-to-use earthwork take-off and GPS modeling solution for busy earthw...Read more
EarthWorks
EarthWorks
EarthWorks Excavation by TrakWare is a takeoff system for excavation plans that comes with features like onscreen takeoff, digitizer integration, CAD file integration, and 3D takeoff. The product is offered on a best-of-breed basi...Read more
SharpeSoft Estimator
SharpeSoft Estimator
SharpeSoft Estimator is an on-premise cost estimating software for contractors and sub-contractors in the construction industry. Offered on a best-of-breed basis, SharpeSoft provides integrated tools for labor and equipment costin...Read more
Estimating Link
Estimating Link
Estimating Link is a construction estimating and bidding solution. It’s suitable for heavy highway, environmental, bridges, site-work and civil projects, and both state and private commercial work. Estimating Link allows user...Read more
B2W Estimate
B2W Estimate
B2W Estimate software for heavy civil construction estimating and bidding enables contractors to bid with speed, accuracy, and strategy. Users can pre-populate a centralized database with cost data and structures for labor, tasks,...Read more
Software pricing tips
Read our Earthwork Estimating Software & Excavation Software Buyers GuideSubscription models
- Per employee/per month: This model allows you to pay a monthly fee for each of your employees.
- Per user/per month: Users pay a monthly fee for users—normally administrative users—rather than all employees.
Perpetual license
- This involves paying an upfront sum for the license to own the software and use it indefinitely.
- This is the more traditional model and is most common with on-premise applications and with larger businesses.
Rated best value for money
Autodesk Construction Cloud
Autodesk Construction Cloud
Autodesk Construction Cloud brings together best-of-breed solutions to unite office and field teams from design to planning, construction to operations to help make construction more predictable, safe and sustainable. No aspe...Read more
Trimble Estimation
Trimble Estimation
Trimble Estimation (formerly known as Viewpoint Estimation) is a full-featured estimating solution tailored to the needs of mechanical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors. Developed with capabilities designed specifically for your tra...Read more
Active Takeoff
Active Takeoff
Active Takeoff is an on-premise construction take-off solution that caters to businesses of all sizes in the construction industry and helps them to manage the cost estimating process. The solution is suited for all kinds of ...Read more
Easy Price Pro
Easy Price Pro
Easy Price Pro, designed in 1990 by a professional homebuilder, is a full suite of applications created specifically for residential contractors. This suite includes service management, accounting, project management, estimating, ...Read more
Groundplan
Groundplan
Groundplan is a cloud-based construction solution designed for electrical, plumbing, fire and security industries. The solution allows users to upload construction project plans, calculate project totals and confirm material quant...Read more
Popular Earthwork Estimating Software & Excavation Software Comparisons
Buyers Guide
Last Updated: May 13, 2022
Earthwork takeoff and costing is dramatically different than vertical construction estimates. As such, earthwork and site work estimators require a very different set of cost estimate tools.
The primary challenge in earthwork is the takeoff process, rather than the actual estimate process. During takeoff, companies need more sophisticated three-dimensional tools for calculating cuts and fills, profiling trenches and planning concrete or asphalt work. With a top-rated earthwork takeoff system, excavation contractors can dramatically reduce their tracing time, calculate more accurate measures and win more bids.
These tools are also effective for new business owners just learning how to estimate excavation. We recommend shoppers in this category exercise extreme scrutiny if a site offers an earthwork software free download or other free earthwork calculation software.
We put this guide together to help you better understand the market for earthwork estimating software.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
What is Earthwork Estimating Software?
Common Features of Earthwork Estimating Software
Earthwork Estimating Software Pricing
Earthwork Estimating Software Deployment
What is Earthwork Estimating Software?
Earthwork estimating software is specialized construction software typically used for large excavations in construction projects. Unlike other general estimating software applications, earthwork estimating software is specially designed with a number of features to assist with the earthwork planning process. For example, many earthwork estimating platforms offer computer-assisted design and GPS modules so users can draw up 3D blueprints of the project for every step along the way.
With earthwork estimating software, users can perform takeoffs from a variety of different image files of the job site. With 3D modeling they can easily determine the scope of the project and how long it will take to complete.
Common Features of Earthwork Estimating & Excavation Software
To determine which costing solution will meet your unique company requirements, your earthwork estimator should evaluate and compare the following functions. Business software for small excavating, for example, could differ from solutions for creating a canal earthwork excavation estimate. Your buyer should take extra care in assessing offers described as an earth work program free download or earthworks software free download.
| Cut & fill estimating program | The primary requirement of any earthwork takeoff program is the ability to measure cuts and fills. The system must present existing and final elevation maps and calculate the amount of earth to be cut or filled in each section. |
| Strata layer breakdowns | Most excavation takeoff software should be able to map the various strata and code them by color. It should calculate earthwork by taking inputs from the earth samples and engineers’ notes so that the type of strata is known for each part of the job site. |
| Grid views | Sophisticated cut and fill software should allow the estimator to select any grid from grid staking reports and view the cut and fill measurements associated with that area. |
| Trench profiling | The earth filling calculation program should allow the estimator to measure trench plans and profiles, as well as determine slope, widths and heights. This includes determining how much earth will need to be excavated and what materials will be required for trench utilities, including piping and footings. |
| 3D, multi-color elevation maps | In contrast to two-dimensional vertical cost estimate solutions, top earthwork estimating software must offer more sophisticated, three-dimensional and multi-color visualizations of existing and final elevations. |
| Trench profiling | The system should allow the user to create a cost estimation for earthwork using measurements of trench plan and profile, slope, widths and heights. This includes determining how much earth will need to be excavated and what materials will be required for trench utilities, including piping and footings. |
| 3D, multi-color elevation maps | In contrast to two-dimensional vertical estimating solutions, an earthwork estimating system must offer more sophisticated, three-dimensional and multi-color visualizations of existing and final elevations. |
| Pad takeoff | The sitework takeoff software should allow the user to perform takeoffs for flat pads, such as those used for building pads. The system should allow the estimator to specify the area that is, or should be flat. |
| Retaining wall takeoff | The earth work calculating software should support takeoff of vertical elements, such as cliffs and retaining walls. These should be visualized and measured during takeoff, as well as include a material library. |
| Material library | The cuts and fills software vendor should offer a material library that is specific to earthwork. This may just consist of a library of subgrade materials, but more likely will also need to include an asphalt estimating tool and materials required for concrete work, walls and other hardscape or roadwork. |
Earthwork Estimating Software Pricing
Earthwork estimating software is typically priced one of two ways: perpetual licensing and monthly subscription.
With a perpetual license, you pay a large fee up front and own the software outright. However, you may still have to pay annual fees for support, maintenance and updates. With subscription pricing on the other hand, you will generally pay a monthly fee that is often assessed based on the size of your business or the volume of construction work your business is doing.
Be sure to consider what the long term cost of the software will be. Each method of pricing has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.
Earthwork Estimating Software Deployment
Earthwork estimating software is deployed one of two ways: on-premise and cloud-based.
Cloud-based. Cloud-based software is hosted on the software vendor’s servers and is accessible through any web browser on a computer or a smart device. For contractors on the go who are juggling multiple projects, the mobility and convenience of cloud-based software can be very appealing.
On-premise. On-premise software is installed on the company’s computers or servers and accessed locally. Some contractors might prefer on-premise software due to the familiarity they have with it or because of other reasons such as security or sometimes lower price.
When it comes to pricing, in general, cloud-based services are priced as subscriptions and on-premise software is priced as a perpetual license. Keep in mind that on-premise software can sometimes require specific hardware setups to work properly.