Finding software can be overwhelming. We've helped dozens of earthwork contractors choose the right estimating software so they can accurately estimate evacuation and win more bids.
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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 aspect of... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: Cloud
Business Size:
PlanSwift is an on-screen digitizing and takeoff system that is suitable for both commercial and residential GCs and subcontractors in a number of industries, such as electrical, heavy/highway, plumbing, and custom and production home... Read more
Platforms: Win
Deployments: CloudOn premise
Business Size:
WinEst is an on-premise database-driven estimating solution that helps estimators in businesses across various industries to manage and integrate project estimates using cost-knowledge management. Key features include construction... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: On premise
Business Size:
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 level... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: Cloud
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InSite SiteWork Earthwork Takeoff
InSite SiteWork is a PDF & CAD cut and fill take-off and GPS modeling software solution for earthwork estimators who need to save time and money. Quickly and accurately calculate cut and fill, stripping, strata quantities, paving... Read more
Platforms: Win
Deployments: On premise
Business Size:
EarthWorks Excavation Software by Tally Systems
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 basis... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: CloudOn premise
Business Size:
Roctek’s WinEx Grade is a quantity takeoff and analysis tool. This solution allows you to take a PDF or other supported image formats and import PDF linework, import CAD linework, or use assisted-drawing tools to enter linework in... Read more
Platforms: Win
Deployments: On premise
Business Size:
B2W Estimate - Estimating & Bidding
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
Platforms: Win
Deployments: CloudOn premise
Business Size:
HCSS HeavyBid estimating and bidding software is built specifically for the construction industry. Used by more than 50,000 estimators, HeavyBid helps users build estimates and manage daily bids. The software helps automate repetitive... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: CloudOn premise
Business Size:
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 costing,... Read more
Platforms: Win
Deployments: On premise
Business Size:
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 users to... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: CloudOn premise
Business Size:
Hard Dollar offers cost estimate solutions for medium and large earthwork, sitework and excavation firms. It can be purchased as a stand-alone estimating system or integrated with Hard Dollar's project management system. Read more
Platforms: Win
Deployments: CloudOn premise
Business Size:
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 construction... Read more
Platforms: Win
Deployments: On premise
Business Size:
PlanHub is a cloud-based construction management solution for general contractors and subcontractors. The solution allows contractors to post projects, send bid invites, share information with subcontractors and manage multiple team... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: Cloud
Business Size:
GoCanvas is a cloud-based mobile business management system suitable for field service companies, including electrical, HVAC, pest control and plumbing. The solution is designed to work on any smartphone or tablet and can also be accessed... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: Cloud
Business Size:
ArcSite is a mobile drawing, takeoff and estimating tool for professional contractors who are constantly on the road. ArcSite users can quickly and easily create or mark up scaled drawings with all the measurements, then create detailed... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: Cloud
Business Size:
AroFlo is a cloud-based job management solution that helps businesses automate the job management lifecycle. It is suitable for companies of all sizes in industries such as electrical, HVAC, security, construction, data networking... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: Cloud
Business Size:
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, bid... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: CloudOn premise
Business Size:
Methvin Estimating, a cloud-based construction estimating solution, caters to businesses such as civil and general contractors, and builders. Key features such as the estimating tool, take off tool, and project management tools, allow... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: Cloud
Business Size:
ConstructBuy is a construction management system for general contractors, subcontractors and trade specialists. It includes takeoff, project management, task management, bid invitation, documentation storage, communication capabilities... Read more
Platforms: MacWinLinux
Deployments: Cloud
Business Size:
Popular Comparisons
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.