The Best Earthworks Estimating Software
In this guide, we reviewed the top earthworks takeoff software to find the best options for estimating projects like underground utilities installation, road construction, and site development.
- Integrates with project management tools, such as Microsoft Project
- Easy data transfer into and out of DOT electronic bidding systems
- Free trial available
- Escalation feature saves time especially during final bid scheduling
- Efficient in managing similar projects with its recording system
- Exceptional customer support with immediate assistance
- Frequent updates for fuel prices and other fluctuating costs.
- Responsive to software change requests.
- Allows elevation of estimator risk and aggressiveness.
Our top picks include specialized construction estimating software to streamline cost forecasting for surveying and excavating, like estimating how much earth might need to be moved on a job site. We also factored in affordability, integration options, and the ability to customize bids to meet specific project needs.
- Estimating Link: Best for Trench Calculations
- HeavyBid: Best DOT Bidding Integration
- B2W Estimate: Best Template-Based Estimating
Estimating Link - Best for Trench Calculations
Estimating Link’s trench calculator simplifies estimating earthwork volumes and material needs. By providing a graphical display of the trench, the software helps evaluate backfilling, bedding layers, and pipe installation requirements, helping you create more accurate takeoffs.
The calculator takes dimensional inputs like length, width, and depth and generates a visual model of the trench. From there, it calculates figures like cubic yards of earth to move, the amount of gravel or sand needed for bedding, or the length of pipe required for installation. It even accounts for factors like pipe zone depth and slope ratio for more precise calculations for every project.
Estimating Link automatically posts these metrics to the item sheet, including tonnage, weight, and material costs. You can further refine cost breakdowns, adjust schedules, and coordinate labor and equipment needs. The software then provides estimates in both days or hours, allowing for more precise scheduling and timeline management.
Once you’ve determined costs and quantities, the system’s rate tables compare vendor quotes for various resources, including subcontractors and equipment. When you return to the bid sheet, you can add overhead costs, bonds, and indirect items using the markup summary tool. This lets you apply markups to different categories, including labor and profit, finalizing your project’s total cost.
HeavyBid - Best DOT Bidding Integration
The import and export feature in HeavyBid simplifies the bidding process by integrating directly with state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). You can import items from DOT electronic systems like AASHTOWare and Expedite. These are then automatically populated into the estimate, reducing manual entry and saving you time.
To ensure precise cost calculations from the start, HeavyBid integrates with takeoff tools like PlanSwift. This feeds accurate item quantities and details directly into your project.
Further customize your bid by selecting or creating activities or by pulling items from past estimates and standardized lists. These could include tasks like clearing, grubbing, and disking grass to prepare the “right of way” for construction. HeavyBid links each activity to a productivity table listing resources, including dozers, track loaders, operators, and foremen. If the task doesn’t fit existing categories, you can define custom activities, assign resources, and set unit rates for labor, materials, and equipment.
Finally, the bid summary screen lets you review all items, costs, and markups so you can make adjustments and apply desired pricing strategies before finalizing the estimate. Once complete, simply export the data back into the DOT’s system. This reduces the risk of disqualified bids and helps you comply with DOT standards.
Read more about HeavyBid on our product page.
B2W Estimate - Best Template-Based Estimating
B2W Estimate includes a resources database for creating customized crew and task templates, including labor, equipment, and materials. It stores up-to-date cost details for each resource, making it easier to tailor estimates for site preparation tasks like clearing, utilities installation, and paving.
Estimators can build templates for recurring activities—such as excavation and trenching—by combining the right labor and equipment. For example, an estimator can create a template for grading and allocate resources like bulldozers and laborers, which can then be reused for future projects. Moving forward, all necessary components, from machinery to materials, are included in bids, reducing the risk of oversight.
Pre-populating each template with detailed cost data provides a breakdown of expenses for every operation. This process supports the dynamic nature of site development projects, where expenses can fluctuate wildly based on task complexity and resource availability. Additionally, B2W Estimate includes a bid pricing tool where you can add markup for overhead, profit, or indirect costs.
The system auto-distributes costs across pay items as you build the bid, so it reflects realistic project costs without manual intervention. Finally, once you finalize your proposal, the error check wizard* can flag issues like zero costs or quantities, so your bids are always accurate before you submit them.
B2W Estimate starts at $5,500/user for a perpetual license. It’s part of a broader operational suite, so you can pick and choose modules that align with your operational needs. However, this will also add to your total cost of ownership. For example, if you need resource scheduling and dispatching, you must purchase B2W Schedule as well.
Get more pricing details and key features on our B2W Estimate product page.
What is Earthworks Estimating Software?
Earthworks estimating software assists engineers in forecasting costs related to earthwork projects like surveying, landscaping, and excavating. Like general construction estimating software, each estimate is now created by automatically calculating costs for labor, materials, and equipment necessary for a potential project, then using those numbers to develop and submit a professional, polished bid. Notably, this software also calculates the potential volume of earthmoving on a job, such as from cut and fill operations.
Sometimes referred to as earthworks takeoff software, these estimating solutions use available blueprints and schematics of the job site in order to calculate the total area of the project, cut and fill amounts, and other specifics. Previously, earthworks estimations were performed by hand with slide rules and grid cells, leaving a lot of room for human error. Since earthworks are necessary before most construction or infrastructure projects can begin, at least to some degree, it’s important to get accurate estimates on everything from topsoil to backfill as soon as possible to keep the entire project on schedule and on budget.
Key Features
- Pre-bid investigation: Gather detailed information about potential earthworks projects in advance of the bidding process to ensure an accurate proposal
- Digital takeoff: Use dimensional information about a job site, such as cross sections, blueprints, or area and perimeter measurements, along with job details to generate a list of required materials, equipment, and labor necessary for the entire construction project
- 3D modeling: Review 3-dimensional drawings and schematics of worksites to see existing elevation, subgrades, and demolition areas
- Labor cost forecasting: Predict how many employee hours are required for earthwork services, then manage job-specific rates for payroll
- Material and equipment estimating: Calculate material costs based on base rate costs along with prices for the purchase or rental of specific job equipment
- Estimate to quote conversion: Transfer data from internal job cost estimates into custom templates to develop customer-facing quotes and proposals
- Digital plan management: Once a bid is won, digitize paper plans, which can be updated and revised in real-time for efficient recordkeeping
- Document management: Continually store past or current job estimates into a digital system for easy reference; use digitizing to keep copies of dig permits, client communications, and soil studies
- Historical estimating data: Create a library of earthwork reference data to reuse when calculating future estimates based on past experience, compatible with formats like vector PDFs, TIFFs, AutoCAD files, and digitized paper schematics and blueprints
Benefits
Earthworks takeoff software provides many useful advantages to estimating. Some benefits include:
Accurate Job Planning
The first benefit of earthworks estimating is being able to plan out projects from start to finish with greater accuracy. Earthwork services are necessary before starting a wide range of construction jobs, such as:
- Roads and railways
- Highways
- Bridges and tunnels
- Building foundations and basements
- Land grading
- Drainage and dredge excavation
Before any site work on these civil engineering projects can begin, the takeoff process is necessary to calculate all possible measurements. From drawing sheets to detailed cross-sections, these detailed documents can indicate just how much earthmoving is required, the volume of materials necessary, and other important variables regarding the work.
For example, earthworks excavation software has tools to digitize takeoff into a 3D model to reveal possible complications with existing elevations so solutions can be identified in advance. And site drawings can be converted into CAD files with real GPS data to reflect actual locations on the entire worksite.
Improved Bidding Process
Previously, earthworks estimates had to be calculated by hand. Then, basic programs such as Excel allowed for streamlined estimations to be made with formulas. Those numbers were then used in bids to predict job costs. However, human error still causes mistakes to happen. As a result, the actual cost for the project could wind up significantly higher than the initial estimate indicated. Use earthworks estimating software to determine the details and costs of a specific project in order to perfect bids and proposals.
User-friendly digital takeoff tools can ease area and perimeter calculations by showing exactly where various property lines end or intersect. Now, estimates can be completed in minutes instead of hours or days while accounting for labor and equipment costs. And with more accurate estimates, more projects can be completed on or under budget.
Increase Worksite Safety Compliance
Accidents happen in earthworks, though they don’t always have to. Incidents from over-excavation or unstable slopes at high elevations can be avoided with proper planning and adherence to local or federal laws.
Earthwork projects require precision. Quantity estimation is necessary to ensure soil removed matches available fills. A single error during this step can endanger the project and risk the stability of the soil.
There are also safety regulations to consider when performing site work to prepare a bid. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has very strict rules regarding how to safely operate earthworks projects based on soil classification. During the bidding process, you need to be aware of these different regulations when encountering:
- Stable rock
- Type A soil
- Type B soil
- Type C soil
Failing to thoroughly investigate and take these different soils into account could delay excavation to prevent collapse when sloping, shoring, or shielding. By utilizing earthworks estimating software, these factors can be addressed early on, reducing the possibility of accidental collapse, worker injuries, and project delays alike. In addition to addressing OSHA regulations, software can adjust for international soil classification systems as well.
Lower Labor and Materials Costs
Finally, earthworks estimating software can lead to lower overall project costs and higher ROI. With precise estimates and bids, earthwork engineers can lower overall project costs. By anticipating every aspect of the project in advance, civil engineers and contractors can avoid unexpected expenses.
For instance, working a site which covers a wide area may result in working amongst different soil classifications. Geotechnical engineers know the tools used for moving coarse-grained soils can’t be used for handling peat. Since certain soil classifications need to be worked by specific equipment, that means adjusting the estimate to include more equipment for each classification at the location. This can further influence the total costs based on worker experience with that equipment and availability of rentals if necessary.
Additionally, in-depth crew analysis can reveal who should be assigned to each earthworks project for the best results. Historical data from past jobs can show who has experience with specific equipment, elevations, or soil classifications. This information can let you know from the start whether you need additional labor or specialty contractors to complete work.
Earthworks Estimating Software Pricing
The total costs of earthwork estimating software is largely based on whether you want an on-premise or cloud-based solution. SaaS estimating software pricing averages between $45 per month and $300 per month. There are also one-time perpetual licenses available for on-premise implementation for a set number of users or computers.
Costs may increase to accommodate training classes, annual upgrades, or real-time IT support services. Some systems can be self-installed, while others require professional setup, further increasing total costs.
The best software options are designed to fit the budget of every estimator. Several options are able to integrate with all-in-one general contracting software for additional functionality like invoicing and accounting.
