Unless you work in the construction industry or perhaps in natural resources management, you probably give little thought to the dirt work involved in construction, other than wondering why it takes so long for the excavation process to be completed. These beginning stages of construction actually often are some of the most complicated and time-consuming…. Read More

At EarthCalc, we’ve been in the construction game for 40 years and we were one of the first companies to use software for earthworks. We are often asked which software is the best. Should you use AGTEK, Trimble or Autodesk quantity takeoff software or something else? To be honest, it really doesn’t matter. Each of… Read More

Site work estimating software has been around for decades, but surprisingly there are still plenty of companies out there that are sticking with paper plans. Software can transform your entire construction process, and many of these estimating tasks can even be outsourced to further streamline your business model. Advantages of Site Work Estimating Software 1…. Read More

Unless you work in the world of construction, engineering or surveying, it probably would surprise you to learn all that has to happen before we even begin the actual construction of a building, home, bridge or even a road. Sitework and sitework estimating is a huge part of any construction project and EarthCalc can help…. Read More

In the past, the only data collector you had was a person with a pad of paper and pencil writing down calculations. Today, with a Carlson data collector or another top brand, you can simplify many aspects of a construction or engineering project. Sadly, many construction professionals stick with the old ways. In fact, a… Read More

Since the early 1980s, the construction industry has relied more and more on earthworks estimating software to streamline projects. This software has been a boon to the industry, and can help us complete projects on time (or early) and on budget (or below budget). Of course, there are dozens of companies out there creating quality… Read More

For most construction firms, using outsourcers or subcontractors for various construction takeoff services just makes a ton of sense. It allows projects to be completed quicker and usually ensures a higher level of accuracy as you are contacting niche experts to handle certain tasks. Within these niches, there are some pretty profitable and rewarding job… Read More

Are your projects often taking longer than they should? Do you often find yourself going over budget? You aren’t alone. In fact, a recent study revealed that it’s normal for construction projects to take about 20% longer than expected and more than 80% of all construction projects go over budget. Using tech such as machine… Read More

There’s no doubt about it – earthwork software is amazing. When you think back to the process of construction prior to the development of earthworks software, it feels a bit archaic to say the least. While software has transformed our industry, adding drones to the mix can take construction takeoff and earthworks to another level…. Read More

As dirt estimate specialists, our services make up one portion of the earthwork estimating pie. Earthwork tasks include all of the excavation and embankment work that must be completed for any construction project. This is a crucial part of the construction process, and it struck us recently that earthwork and construction projects in general can… Read More

There’s no getting around that fact that quantity takeoff is perhaps the most time-consuming component of any construction project. During this process, every aspect of a project is considered and detailed estimates are created. This includes materials estimates, as well as cost estimates. The quantity takeoff process can be easier and faster with the use… Read More

The cut and fill process typically is one of the first steps taken at any construction site, ensuring that the site is level and at the precise elevations needed for the project. In the past, detailed topographic maps were created by hand to identify segments of the site and the elevation in each segment, but… Read More

Every construction project, no matter how large or small, includes a long list of complicated tasks that must be completed. Outsourcing many of these jobs can save time and money, and here’s a quick look at some of the construction takeoff and earthwork services you might need. 1. Excavation When we talk about earthwork services,… Read More

3D machine control files can increase productivity, accuracy and safety on a job site, not to mention reducing costs. While the construction industry is headed toward using machine control virtually 100% of the time, we aren’t at that level yet. As experts in building machine control files, we certainly encourage engineers to move toward this… Read More

Recently, we were enjoying an issue of Civil & Structural Engineer and that got us thinking about some of the exciting trends in the construction industry and earthwork takeoff services. The industry is moving forward in leaps and bounds, and here’s a look at a few trends shaking the dust, so to speak. 1. Easier… Read More

When it comes to the construction industry, AGTEK has long been a leader in software development. We’ve been using AGTEK software to help with our dirt estimates since the 1980s, when using software was something new and cutting edge. AGTEK Software Options AGTEK is cloud-connected, which means you can use it in your office, on-site… Read More

When we discuss earthwork calculations, we basically are talking about any type of “soil disturbance” in regard to a construction project. This could be virtually any type of construction, from the building of a new road to a housing tract to the construction of a skyscraper and even a mining operation. Of course, earthwork calculation… Read More

Hiring a construction engineering consultant or several consultants can be your smartest option for just about any construction project. At EarthCalc, our consultants can provide you with quality dirt estimates as well as machine control files, and there are several reasons why we urge you to consider our services. Save Time While you might possess… Read More

For some people, the word “excavation” conjures up images of Indiana Jones and archaeological digs. For those of us in the construction industry, the term encompasses a wide range of excavating tasks that might need to be accomplished for any given construction project. Here’s a quick look at some of the common types of excavation… Read More

The advent of GPS guidance benefits a wide range of industries, including the construction and civil engineering industries. When it comes to moving dirt, GPS and products such as Trimble machine control files makes the process far easier thus ensuring the highest possible accuracy during excavation, grading, embankment and so forth. If you haven’t delved… Read More

Trimble machine control systems provide a myriad of benefits to anyone who uses earthwork machinery and, at EarthCalc, we can provide you with 3D files for your machine control-enable equipment. Not sure if machine control is worth the cost? Consider the following reasons why you need to consider this option. 1. Greater Accuracy & Consistency… Read More

If you aren’t involved in the construction business, you probably haven’t given a great deal of thought as to what happens prior to the actual construction of any building, road, bridge or other construction project. Sitework and sitework estimating, however, is a crucial component of all construction projects and includes some of the following tasks…. Read More

The process of quantity takeoff is an immense undertaking. This term is a blanket statement that includes all of the measurements and calculations involved in the creation and, ultimately, the completion of any given construction project. Quantity takeoff includes all of the details, small and large, and tends to be the most time- consuming portion… Read More

In general, the Global Positioning System, or GPS, has greatly improved our world, improving navigation for individuals and the transportation industry. Within the construction industry, GPS machine control has made excavation and embankment easier and more efficient, but navigation and machine control aren’t the only uses for GPS. Here are a few fun facts about… Read More

Earthwork takeoff has always been a part of construction projects, but sometimes it’s fun to think about how early or even ancient engineers managed to handle these tasks without the highly precise software we use today. There’s a reason why the Pyramids of Giza are one of the wonders of the world, while the pyramid-shaped… Read More

In a perfect world, every inch within a plot of land would be the perfect elevation for a construction project. Of course, this is never the case, which is why cut and fill calculations are an essential step in the construction process. Here’s a general overview of cut and fill, and a few considerations engineers… Read More

Construction takeoff encompasses many aspects of a construction process, but at EarthCalc, we focus on the dirt. At EarthCalc, our goal is to provide you the most precise construction takeoff calculations possible. Whether you are grading land for a road, preparing a construction site for a new building or developing plans for a suburban park… Read More

To those not familiar with the world of construction, the words “concrete takeoff” probably conjure an image of someone grinding away at a sidewalk with a jackhammer, to remove all evidence of said sidewalk. This, of course, is not what concrete takeoff is all about, so in order to “cement” your knowledge, we offer a… Read More

At EarthCalc, we use many great software programs to help us with our dirt estimates and machine control files. This includes AGTEK and Trimble, of course, but also the Carlson family of software. Software such as Carlson Takeoff, Carlson Survey and Carlson Construction are invaluable tools for those of us in the construction business. Here’s… Read More

Most people probably don’t spend a great deal of time thinking about dirt. However, civil engineers and grading contractors understand that how we handle dirt can make or break a project. At EarthCalc, we’ve been providing dirtwork services since 1983, and one of the top tools we use is AGTEK, the industry’s leading earthwork takeoff… Read More