Comparison of Earthworks Estimation Software
The table below provides a list of software used in the engineering and construction industries to plan, execute and cost Earthworks (engineering). Earthworks software is a subset of CAD software, it is often the case that earthworks software is in the form of an add-on to a more general CAD package such as AutoCAD rather than a stand alone product.[1]
Earthwork software principally is used to calculate cut and fill volumes which are then used for producing material and time estimates. However most products offer additional functionality such as the ability to takeoff terrain elevation from plans (using contour lines and spot heights); produce shaded cut and fill maps; produce cross sections and visualize terrain in 3D.[2]
The means by which volumes are calculated in software can differ quite considerably leading to potentially different results with the same input data. Many software products use methods based on triangulated irregular networks (TINS) and triangular prism volume algorithms, however other calculation methods are in use based on rationalizing elevations into high density grids or cross-sections.[3][4][5]
Title | Developer | Stand Alone\Add On | Operating System | Calculation Method | Imports | Exports |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12D | 12D Solutions | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prisms | Points (xyz file, dxf, dwg) : Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg) | ?? |
AEC CutFill | AEC Logic | Add on for AutoCAD | Windows | Cross Section | Cross Sections (AutoCAD XData) | Cross Section (.dxf) |
Civil 3D | Autodesk | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prisms | Points\Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg) | Surface (.dxf, .dwg) |
Carlson Takeoff | Carlson Software | Stand Alone or AutoCAD Add on | Windows | TIN Prisms or Grid | Points (xyz file, dxf, dwg) : Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg, .pdf) | Reports (.pdf, excel) |
Earthwork 4D | AGTEK | Stand Alone | Windows | High-Density Cross Sections through TIN Surfaces | Points (pnez text file, .dxf, .dwg, .dgn, .xml) : Contour Lines\Break Lines (pnez text file, .dxf, .dwg, .dgn, .xml, .kmz, .kml, .pdf) : Route Alignment Data (station-offset text file, .dxf, .dwg, .dgn, .xml, .pdf) : Surface TINs (pnez text file, .dxf, .dwg, .dgn, .xml, .tn3, .ttm) | Points (pnez text file, .dxf, .dwg, .xml) : Contour Lines\Break Lines (pnez text file, .dxf, .dwg, .xml, .ln3) : Route Alignment Data (station-offset text file, .cgo, .xml) : Surface TINs (pnez text file, .dxf, .dwg, .xml, .tn3, .ttm) : Reports (.csv, .xls, .kmz, .emf, .wrl .pdf) |
Business Centre HCE | Trimble | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prisms | Points (xyz file, dxf, dwg) : Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg) | ?? |
Siteworks | Insite Software | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prisms | Points (xyz file, dxf, dwg): Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg) | Surface (.dxf) |
ESurvey Earthwork | ESurveying Softech | Stand Alone | Windows | Grid | Points (xyz file, dxf, dwg) | Reports (Excel) |
Earthworks OnScreen | Tally Systems | Integrates with MS Excel |
Windows | ?? | Points,Contour Lines\Break Lines (.pdf) | ?? |
Fast Terrain | Diolkos3D | Stand Alone | Windows | ?? | Points\Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg) | ?? |
Pizer Earth | Pizer Incorporated | Stand Alone | Windows | Cross Section | Manual Input | Cross Section (.dxf) |
EarthWorkPro | Planswift | Plug-in for Planswift | Windows | Grid | Manual Input | Report (.csv, Excel, XML, HTML) |
HEADS Site | Techsoft Engineering Services | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prism | Points (xyz file) | Surfaces (.dxf, .dwg) |
Nonio C \ DomusTerra | Interstudio | Stand Alone | Windows & macOS | ?? | Points\Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg, xyz file, QD3D) | Surfaces (Domus.Cad, GDL, QuickDraw 3D, Quesa MetaFile). |
NRG Surveys | NRG Survey Systems | Stand Alone | Windows | ?? | ?? | ?? |
Mudshark | Brightbox Software | Stand Alone | Windows | Solid Modelling from TIN,TIN Prism | Points (xyz file, dxf, dwg, various image formats) : Contour Lines
(.dxf, .dwg, .pdf, various image formats) |
Cross Sections (.pdf), Results (xml, Microsoft Excel), 3D .dwg/.dxf with results tags, image files of project. |
Model Maker Systems | Model Maker | Stand Alone | Windows | Grid & Cross Sections | ?? | ?? |
KeyTERRA-FIRMA | KTF Software | Add on for AutoCAD & BricsCAD | Windows | TIN Prism | Points (xyz file, dxf, dwg) : Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg) | Cross sections and cut & fill depths as contours or solid colors (.dwg, .dxf); txt report files; Surfaces (.dwg, .dxf, LandXML); Water volume depth graphs |
Kubla Cubed | Kubla | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prism | Points (xyz file, dxf), Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf) | Surfaces (.dxf), Designs (dxf) : Report (.doc, .pdf) |
Earthworks | Trakware | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prism | Points (.dwg), Contour Lines\Break Lines ( .dwg) | ?? |
LSS | DTM Software | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prism | Points\Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg, xyz file, LandXML, MX Genio) | Surfaces (.dxf, LandXML, xyz file) |
LisCAD | LisTech | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prism | Points\Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg) | Cut & Fill Areas (.dwg, .dgn, LandXML) |
QuickDIRT | Constructive Computing | Stand Alone | Windows | Grid | Points\Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf) | Surface (xyz file) |
SiteWorks/OS | Vertigraph | Stand Alone | Windows | Grid | Points (xyz file, dxf, dwg), Contour Lines\Break Lines (.dxf, .dwg) | Reports, Surface, Cross Sections (HTML .pdf, Word, Excel) |
SCC Pro Software | SCC Survey | Stand Alone | Windows | TIN Prism or Grid | support AutoCAD, Microstation, MX MOSS and LandXML | support AutoCAD, Microstation, MX MOSS and LandXML |
Cut & Fill | Synergy Information Systems | A component of Sage Timberline Office | Windows | ?? | ?? | ?? |
Terrain Tools | Softtree | Stand Alone | Windows | ?? | Points\Contour Lines (LandXML, xyz File, Arc Grid) | Surface (LandXML, .dxf, .dwg) |
WinEx Master\WinEx GRADE | Roctek International | Stand Alone | Windows | Grid | Points\Contours (.pdf, .dxf, .dwg) | Reports (Excel) |
Causeway Estimating | Causeway | Stand Alone | Windows | ?? | Points\Contour Lines(xyz file, .dwg, MX Genio, .pdf) | Surfaces (.dwg, MX Genio) |
Viewpoint Earthwork Software | Viewpoint Construction Software | Stand Alone | Windows & Mac OS | Grid | ?? | ?? |
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to CAD. |
References
- ↑ "Taking the Measure of Methods for Estimating Earthwork Volumes - Forester Network". Forester Network. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- ↑ "Vertigraph, Inc. -- Automating the Takeoff & Estimating Process". www.vertigraph.com. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- ↑ "How to Estimate Cut and Fill Volumes for Earthworks Projects | Grid Method, Cross Section Method, Earthworks Software". www.kublasoftware.com. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
- ↑ "Vertigraph, Inc. -- Calculating Cut and Fill Quantities : Modern Techniques and Best Practices". vertigraph.com. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
- ↑ Cheng, Jian-chuan; Jiang, Long-jian (2013-11-06). "Accuracy Comparison of Roadway Earthwork Computation between 3D and 2D Methods". Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Intelligent and Integrated Sustainable Multimodal Transportation Systems Proceedings from the 13th COTA International Conference of Transportation Professionals (CICTP2013). 96: 1277–1285. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.08.145.