Common questions!
How expensive is excavation software?
Excavation software can range from a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of dollars.
Why is there such a big price difference?
More expensive software tends to be much more sophisticated and complex and often has machine-control and project/equipment management capabilities.
Less expensive software tends to be easier to use and is primarily for generate excavation quantities for bidding.
Less expensive software tends to be easier to use and is primarily for generate excavation quantities for bidding.
Which is best for me?
That all depends on what you need the excavation software to do.
If you need to generate excavation and material quantities for bidding, then less expensive and simpler software is the best solution.
If you are handling very complex projects and require machine control capabilities, then you will need to purchase the more expensive software.
A word of advice if you are going to be purchasing machine control hardware and want software to use with it. It is best to buy everything from a single vendor. That way you won't get have the the-glitch-is-the-other-guy's-fault problem.
If you need to generate excavation and material quantities for bidding, then less expensive and simpler software is the best solution.
If you are handling very complex projects and require machine control capabilities, then you will need to purchase the more expensive software.
A word of advice if you are going to be purchasing machine control hardware and want software to use with it. It is best to buy everything from a single vendor. That way you won't get have the the-glitch-is-the-other-guy's-fault problem.
How hard is excavation software to learn?
Learning to use excavation software ranges from easy to moderately difficult. Plan to spend at least a half a day to a few days becoming familiar with the software. Take advantage of any training opportunities available either in person or through webinars. Money for training is well spent. For your first job, take off a job that you have previously taken off and are familiar with. Make sure to take full advantage of all of the features that allow you to verify your work.
How long until I recover my costs for the software?
If you learn how to use the software effectively, you will recover your costs very quickly.
You are recovering your investment in two ways.
1. The time saved by doing your takeoffs faster. If you were previously spending a day a week doing takeoffs, that will be a savings of 24 hours a month. If you value your time at $50/hour, that means you will be saving $1200/month.
2. The increased in your accuracy and in your bidding speed means that you will be both winning more bids and doing that with better numbers. Based on the typical $10/cubic yard cost of importing or exporting soil, every 100 yards of increased bidding accuracy saves you $1000.
You are recovering your investment in two ways.
1. The time saved by doing your takeoffs faster. If you were previously spending a day a week doing takeoffs, that will be a savings of 24 hours a month. If you value your time at $50/hour, that means you will be saving $1200/month.
2. The increased in your accuracy and in your bidding speed means that you will be both winning more bids and doing that with better numbers. Based on the typical $10/cubic yard cost of importing or exporting soil, every 100 yards of increased bidding accuracy saves you $1000.
What's the least expensive way to get started?
The least expensive way to get started is to purchase excavation software that works with PDFs and TIFFs. This allows you to avoid the cost of purchasing a digitizer.
Does excavation software ever become obsolete?
No, it does not become obsolete. The process of estimating excavation volumes never changes.
The only way that excavation software stops working is if the operating system that it runs on becomes obsolete and your original computer fails. That has only happened twice in the last 20 years. That's when the computer world moved from DOS to WindowsXP in the mid-90s and DOS based software would no longer functioned on the new computers. And then in the late 2000s when Windows 3.1 software could not run on the newer Windows Vista machines. As long as you can maintain a computer with a compatible operating system, your software will continue running indefinitely.
But what you will be missing in running old software is the improvements in capabilities and ease-of-use that come with newer software.
The only way that excavation software stops working is if the operating system that it runs on becomes obsolete and your original computer fails. That has only happened twice in the last 20 years. That's when the computer world moved from DOS to WindowsXP in the mid-90s and DOS based software would no longer functioned on the new computers. And then in the late 2000s when Windows 3.1 software could not run on the newer Windows Vista machines. As long as you can maintain a computer with a compatible operating system, your software will continue running indefinitely.
But what you will be missing in running old software is the improvements in capabilities and ease-of-use that come with newer software.
My computer is sort of old. Do I have to buy a new computer before I buy excavation software?
Most computers less than three years old will run excavation software reliably.
How powerful a computer does excavation software require?
Check with the software vendor first, but a mid-range computer should be adequate to run any excavation software. If you wish to invest extra money, purchase a large monitor. This will allow you to easily work with large drawings without having a cluttered screen.
Can I install the excavation software on more than one computer?
This depends on the excavation software. Some can be licensed only for a particular computer. Others can be used on any of your company's computers but only one at a time.
Is any excavation software designed to run on Macs?
No. The reason is that the Mac market is less than 3% of the total US computer market and there are no programming tools that allow software to be built for both Windows and Mac computers. This makes the process of developing estimating software for the Mac both expensive and, with such a small market, very difficult to recover development costs.
If you are commited to your Mac, then you can purchase and install a Windows operating system on it and boot into Windows when you want to run your excavation software.
If you are commited to your Mac, then you can purchase and install a Windows operating system on it and boot into Windows when you want to run your excavation software.
Can I save money by buying a used system?
Certainly you can, but you will normally have to pay a license transfer and upgrade fees. (Check with the software vendor BEFORE you buy and get their license transfer & upgrade requirements and costs) Also, you will have to pay for any training or support. If you do purchase a used system, make sure to get a letter from the original owner transferring the license of the software to you so that you have clear title.
Also make sure that you determine if the software uses a "hardware key" or not. All excavation software uses either a software or hardware licensing system. If it uses a software license, the license will ONLY be available from the software's vendor. If it uses a hardware license (i.e. a hardware key), make sure that you get that key from the seller. Hardware keys come in two forms. The older form plugs into the old-style 25-pin printer ports. The newer form plugs into a USB port. Without a license, the excavation software will not operate.
If you buy a used system, make sure that you can return it if it does not work on your computer system. A lot of the software available is older and may not be compatible with your computer. Also, many excavation software vendors charge upgrade fees in proportion to the age of your version of the software. For some systems, that may approach the price of purchasing a new copy of the software.
Clarify before you buy!
Also make sure that you determine if the software uses a "hardware key" or not. All excavation software uses either a software or hardware licensing system. If it uses a software license, the license will ONLY be available from the software's vendor. If it uses a hardware license (i.e. a hardware key), make sure that you get that key from the seller. Hardware keys come in two forms. The older form plugs into the old-style 25-pin printer ports. The newer form plugs into a USB port. Without a license, the excavation software will not operate.
If you buy a used system, make sure that you can return it if it does not work on your computer system. A lot of the software available is older and may not be compatible with your computer. Also, many excavation software vendors charge upgrade fees in proportion to the age of your version of the software. For some systems, that may approach the price of purchasing a new copy of the software.
Clarify before you buy!
What's the advantage of buying new excavation software versus a used system
The advantages of purchasing new excavation software are:
The advantages of purchasing use excavation software are:
- You will have the latest and greatest version of the software
- Free support for technical problems
- Free training
- Free updates (depending on the vendor)
- A clear title to the software license
- Free access to online support resources
- Fixed costs
The advantages of purchasing use excavation software are:
- Cost
Can I save money by buying a used digitizer?
Yes. There are often digitizers available on the used market, such as at auctions or on eBay.
There are four important considerations before you buy a used digitizer:
1. Digitizers are relatively delicate and are easily damaged by careless handling. It is VERY important that you only buy from a company that guarantees the digitizer to be fully functional on arrival. Make sure that you test the board thoroughly as soon as it arrives. What you are looking for are "dead spots" on the digitizer. To test for dead spots, install the TabletWorks driver (available on the GTCO site) and move the digitizer's pen or cursor back and forth over the entire surface of the digitizer. If the mouse pointer does not move in certain areas, the digitizer may be damaged in that area. This is especially common with the flexible digitizers. Digitizer repairs start at about $800.
2. The connection type. Newer digitizers, such as the GTCO Rollup III, Super L IV and Super L VI use USB connections. Older digitizers, such as GTCO Rollups (I and II), Super Ls (Plus, II and IIIs) Summas, Kurtas and Calcomps use serial connections. Unless you have a serial port on your computer or install one, you will have to purchase a USB-to-serial adapter. The ONLY reliable USB-to-serial adapter is the Keyspan USA-19HS.
3. No warranty. If the digitizer fails, the minimum repair cost for the digitizer itself, exclusive of shipping, starts at $900.
4. No free support. If you have any technical questions regarding the digitizer, the GTCO support charge is $30 per incident.
There are four important considerations before you buy a used digitizer:
1. Digitizers are relatively delicate and are easily damaged by careless handling. It is VERY important that you only buy from a company that guarantees the digitizer to be fully functional on arrival. Make sure that you test the board thoroughly as soon as it arrives. What you are looking for are "dead spots" on the digitizer. To test for dead spots, install the TabletWorks driver (available on the GTCO site) and move the digitizer's pen or cursor back and forth over the entire surface of the digitizer. If the mouse pointer does not move in certain areas, the digitizer may be damaged in that area. This is especially common with the flexible digitizers. Digitizer repairs start at about $800.
2. The connection type. Newer digitizers, such as the GTCO Rollup III, Super L IV and Super L VI use USB connections. Older digitizers, such as GTCO Rollups (I and II), Super Ls (Plus, II and IIIs) Summas, Kurtas and Calcomps use serial connections. Unless you have a serial port on your computer or install one, you will have to purchase a USB-to-serial adapter. The ONLY reliable USB-to-serial adapter is the Keyspan USA-19HS.
3. No warranty. If the digitizer fails, the minimum repair cost for the digitizer itself, exclusive of shipping, starts at $900.
4. No free support. If you have any technical questions regarding the digitizer, the GTCO support charge is $30 per incident.
Brought to you by Trakware, Inc., the makers of EarthWorks Excavation Estimating software.
Copyright, Trakware, Inc. 1992-2023. All rights reserved.
Copyright, Trakware, Inc. 1992-2023. All rights reserved.