How it works!
How Excavation Software Works
How the drawing get into the excavation software
There are two general methods for getting a site drawing into your excavation software, "Tracing" and "Importing".
1. Trace it in - If you work either from paper plans or from PDFs, you will need to "trace" your drawing into the software.
Tracing in from paper plans
If you are using paper plans, that will mean taping down your paper plan to a digitizer (if you don't know what a digitizer is, don't worry! We talk about those later) and then using the digitizer's pen to trace in your drawing's information.
Paper plan examples
If you wanted to trace in an existing contour, you would click the "Existing Contour" icon in the software, type in the contour's elevation and then carefully run the digitizer's pen along the contour from one end to the other. As you traced in the contour, it would appear on-screen.
If you wanted to enter a new building pad, you would click the "Proposed Building" icon, type in the pad's elevation and then tap each corner of the building.
If you wanted to enter a proposed spot elevation, you would click the "Proposed Spot Elevation" icon, enter the spot's elevation and then tap the spot elevation with the digitizer pen.
As each elevation is traced in, it appears on-screen. Once all of the elevations are traced in, your complete drawing will appear on-screen and it can then be calculated.
Tracing in from PDFs/TIFFs
If you are using PDFs or TIFFs, you will first import the PDF/TIFF file into the software where it will be displayed on your computer's screen. You will then use the computer's mouse to trace in your drawing's information using the on-screen image as a guide. The process is almost exactly the same as tracing in a drawing from a paper plan except that the plan is on your computer's screen rather than on the paper print.
2. Import It - If you are using AutoCAD files, you import the drawing rather than trace it in. Importing an AutoCAD drawing is certainly faster than tracing it in from a paper or electronic plan but these drawings often require a lot of editing.
To import an AutoCAD file, you would first open the AutoCAD file in your excavation software. You will then select which items to import into your takeoff. Since not every item in the AutoCAD drawing will be important in your takeoff, you would then either select certain layers to import or objects within the layers to import.
Once all the information is imported into the software, the proposed elevations will need to be edited. Editing is required because the AutoCAD operator typically doesn't assign elevations to any of the proposed objects but rather uses text labels instead to enhance readability. Correcting the proposed elevations can be time consuming but the overall process is always faster and more accurate than digitizing.
1. Trace it in - If you work either from paper plans or from PDFs, you will need to "trace" your drawing into the software.
Tracing in from paper plans
If you are using paper plans, that will mean taping down your paper plan to a digitizer (if you don't know what a digitizer is, don't worry! We talk about those later) and then using the digitizer's pen to trace in your drawing's information.
Paper plan examples
If you wanted to trace in an existing contour, you would click the "Existing Contour" icon in the software, type in the contour's elevation and then carefully run the digitizer's pen along the contour from one end to the other. As you traced in the contour, it would appear on-screen.
If you wanted to enter a new building pad, you would click the "Proposed Building" icon, type in the pad's elevation and then tap each corner of the building.
If you wanted to enter a proposed spot elevation, you would click the "Proposed Spot Elevation" icon, enter the spot's elevation and then tap the spot elevation with the digitizer pen.
As each elevation is traced in, it appears on-screen. Once all of the elevations are traced in, your complete drawing will appear on-screen and it can then be calculated.
Tracing in from PDFs/TIFFs
If you are using PDFs or TIFFs, you will first import the PDF/TIFF file into the software where it will be displayed on your computer's screen. You will then use the computer's mouse to trace in your drawing's information using the on-screen image as a guide. The process is almost exactly the same as tracing in a drawing from a paper plan except that the plan is on your computer's screen rather than on the paper print.
2. Import It - If you are using AutoCAD files, you import the drawing rather than trace it in. Importing an AutoCAD drawing is certainly faster than tracing it in from a paper or electronic plan but these drawings often require a lot of editing.
To import an AutoCAD file, you would first open the AutoCAD file in your excavation software. You will then select which items to import into your takeoff. Since not every item in the AutoCAD drawing will be important in your takeoff, you would then either select certain layers to import or objects within the layers to import.
Once all the information is imported into the software, the proposed elevations will need to be edited. Editing is required because the AutoCAD operator typically doesn't assign elevations to any of the proposed objects but rather uses text labels instead to enhance readability. Correcting the proposed elevations can be time consuming but the overall process is always faster and more accurate than digitizing.
How a digitizer works
A digitizer is like a large electronic drafting table that has thousands of fine wires embedded in it. The digitizer also has a pen attached to it by a wire that emits a small signal. As the pen is moved across the digitizer, the digitizer uses all those tiny wires to sense exactly where the pen is located. The digitizer then sends the pen's position along a cable into the computer.
This allows you copy a paper plan into the computer by tracing in the elevation information shown on the plan.
Digitizers used to be manufactured by several companies but all of those companies have consolidated and are now owned by the GTCO Corp. in Maryland, USA.
GTCO digitizers are constructed in two forms, rigid and flexible. The rigid digitizers are heavy and rugged and can be mounted on a stand just like a drafting table. Flexible digitizers can be rolled up for portability and storage and require a hard surface, such as a drafting table or desk, to be used. Digitizers come in a variety of sizes from 30"X36" to 48"X60". The sizes refer to their active areas. Their actual sizes are somewhat larger.
This allows you copy a paper plan into the computer by tracing in the elevation information shown on the plan.
Digitizers used to be manufactured by several companies but all of those companies have consolidated and are now owned by the GTCO Corp. in Maryland, USA.
GTCO digitizers are constructed in two forms, rigid and flexible. The rigid digitizers are heavy and rugged and can be mounted on a stand just like a drafting table. Flexible digitizers can be rolled up for portability and storage and require a hard surface, such as a drafting table or desk, to be used. Digitizers come in a variety of sizes from 30"X36" to 48"X60". The sizes refer to their active areas. Their actual sizes are somewhat larger.
How the excavation totals are calculated
Most excavation software calculates by first "triangulating" the existing and proposed surfaces. This means that the software uses the elevations you entered to calculate thousands of triangles that precisely represent the existing and proposed surfaces.
The cut and fill is then calculated using the difference between the existing and proposed surfaces at hundred of thousands of points sampled across the drawing. The total cut and fill is just the sum of all the individual cut or fill depths multiplied by the sample spacing.
The cut and fill is then calculated using the difference between the existing and proposed surfaces at hundred of thousands of points sampled across the drawing. The total cut and fill is just the sum of all the individual cut or fill depths multiplied by the sample spacing.
How using excavation software increases bidding speed
Doing a takeoff with excavation software requires either the drawing be "traced in" from a plan or imported from an AutoCAD file and edited.
The process of tracing in information from a typical D-size print requires about one hour. Once the information is entered, the excavation software can calculate the excavation totals in just a minute or two.
Compare that to the four to eight hours it takes to take off a D-size print by hand!
The process of tracing in information from a typical D-size print requires about one hour. Once the information is entered, the excavation software can calculate the excavation totals in just a minute or two.
Compare that to the four to eight hours it takes to take off a D-size print by hand!
How using excavation software makes your bidding more accurate
When the excavation software calculates the drawing it does it with great precision, especially when compared to a "by-hand" calculation.
That is because excavation takeoffs require a lot of math. Because computers are fast at math, the computer can calculate the drawing with a much tighter grid than is possible by hand.
We all know that the tighter the grid on a takeoff, the more accurate the takeoff is.
Where a typical "by-hand" calculation might use a grid spacing of 20 feet, the same takeoff calculated by the computer would done at a tenth of a foot. For a 1000" X 750" site, a 20" grid spacing requires the cut/fill depth to be calculated at 1875 points. At one-tenth of a foot, the computer would calculate the cut/fill at 75,000,000 points. This small grid size gives your takeoff calculations unparalleled accuracy.
That is because excavation takeoffs require a lot of math. Because computers are fast at math, the computer can calculate the drawing with a much tighter grid than is possible by hand.
We all know that the tighter the grid on a takeoff, the more accurate the takeoff is.
Where a typical "by-hand" calculation might use a grid spacing of 20 feet, the same takeoff calculated by the computer would done at a tenth of a foot. For a 1000" X 750" site, a 20" grid spacing requires the cut/fill depth to be calculated at 1875 points. At one-tenth of a foot, the computer would calculate the cut/fill at 75,000,000 points. This small grid size gives your takeoff calculations unparalleled accuracy.
How excavation software allows you to double check your work
Any good excavation software provides an array of tools to prevent and detect takeoff errors.
These can range from simple tools that can alert you to mis-keyed elevations to more complex viewing tools that allow you to see your site color coded by elevation or cut/fill depth. Color views like these allow you to visually detect even the most subtle elevation errors.
On-screen takeoffs allow an extra method of validating your takeoff that is not available in with either paper plans or AutoCAD import. With on-screen takeoffs, your takeoff is superimposed over the PDF image of the plan. This allows you to verify that the drawing was taken off exactly.
These can range from simple tools that can alert you to mis-keyed elevations to more complex viewing tools that allow you to see your site color coded by elevation or cut/fill depth. Color views like these allow you to visually detect even the most subtle elevation errors.
On-screen takeoffs allow an extra method of validating your takeoff that is not available in with either paper plans or AutoCAD import. With on-screen takeoffs, your takeoff is superimposed over the PDF image of the plan. This allows you to verify that the drawing was taken off exactly.
How excavation software allows you to edit your work more easily
Once a drawing is entered into the computer, editing it is easy. Most excavation software allows you edit, delete, move or modify any information that has been entered.
This allows you both to correct entry and takeoff mistakes but also to modify the drawing if the original plans change.
This allows you both to correct entry and takeoff mistakes but also to modify the drawing if the original plans change.
How excavation software allows you to share your work
The simplest way to share your work is with the printouts of the takeoff. These allow you to document and share the excavation totals. Other printouts include 3D, elevation and cut/fill views of your job site.
If you have multiple copies of the same excavation software, you can share the takeoffs directly with other users. This allows them to review, edit and calculate the takeoff using your original takeoff.
If you have multiple copies of the same excavation software, you can share the takeoffs directly with other users. This allows them to review, edit and calculate the takeoff using your original takeoff.
Brought to you by Trakware, Inc., the makers of EarthWorks Excavation software.
Copyright, Trakware, Inc. 1992-2023. All rights reserved.
Copyright, Trakware, Inc. 1992-2023. All rights reserved.