You're a civil engineer. How can you choose the best construction estimating software for your projects?

As a civil engineer, you can choose the most appropriate construction estimating software to suit your projects by considering factors like features (for example, takeoff capabilities, cost databases), user interface, integration with other software, customer support, and cost-effectiveness. Also, user reviews and getting advice from your industry peers will influence your choice.

I was part of the Committee to select the best Estimation software... We concluded with Candy... The only issue we had was the seamless integration with P6

Estimation of time and cost: Excel sheet is enough as far as estimation is concerned and go for Bottoms up estimating. Factors; Use basic and keep it simple. 1.Quantification of Scope, 2. Work specifications, 3. Estimation of resources and unit rates 4. site data 5. Construction methods 6. Subject matter expert and experience. Software is useful and provide accuracy, but inputs must be focused on which we miss many times. Use primavera for logical sequencing but the output will depend upon logical inputs, sequencing and time estimating. Subject matter knowledge, experience must be focused on. This is the key for efficient estimating; more than software used.

Escolher o software ideal de engenharia pode ser um desafio, dada a grande variedade de op??es disponíveis no mercado. Para tomar a melhor decis?o é importante considerar diversos fatores, como: funcionalidades, especialidades, tamanho e tipo de projeto, integra??o com outros softwares, reputa?ao do fornecedor e custo benefício. Antes da aquisi??o é importante estarem bem definidas as funcionalidades necessárias, comparar os fornecedores e realizar testes.

There are several great constructions estimating software options for civil engineers that offer various features depending on specific project needs. Some popular choices include PlanSwift, ProEst, and Clear Estimates. These programs can assist with generating accurate cost estimates, takeoffs, and material quantities. It's essential to assess each software's capabilities, ease of use, and compatibility with existing project management tools to determine the best fit for your projects.

Selecting construction estimating software is like assembling a superhero team. ProEst is your Iron Man – cutting-edge and powerful. HeavyBid, the Thor, brings robust reliability, while PlanSwift acts like the Flash with lightning-fast estimates. Just be cautious of the software claiming to be Batman; "Dark Mode" might hide unexpected glitches.

Selecting estimating software for an engineer depends mostly on the whole capabilities of the software it self for measurement and takeoff, ease of practice, linking with other softwares or programs, ease of updating the versions if there is any addenda, ease of creating data base and reaching of that data base, ease of extracting the estimation to to form of tender or BOQ

I would personally compare with a manual estimation and if the differences are in between 10% to 20% margin, I would consider buying

It's essential to approach the evaluation process with a critical eye and a deep understanding of your project's unique requirements. Consider not only the features listed by the software providers but also how those features align with your specific goals and workflows. Furthermore, it's valuable to look beyond just the software itself and assess the reputation and track record of the companies offering these solutions. A provider with a history of excellent customer support, frequent updates, and a commitment to innovation may offer a more reliable long-term partnership. Don't underestimate the importance of user experience. Even the most feature-rich software can be rendered ineffective if it's overly complicated or unintuitive to use.

As a civil engineer seeking the best construction estimating software for your projects, it's crucial to compare different solutions based on features, benefits, and drawbacks. When comparing options, prioritize factors like accuracy, speed, ease of use, customization, compatibility, security, scalability, and customer support. For example, consider Bluebeam software, known for its robust PDF editing and markup capabilities, and PlanSwift, which offers powerful takeoff features and integration with other construction management tools. This thorough evaluation will help you select the software that aligns best with your project needs and workflow requirements.

When selecting construction estimation software, consider factors such as the software's compatibility with your project size, ease of use, integration capabilities with other tools, industry reputation, and cost. Additionally, assess features like accurate cost forecasting, real-time updates, and scalability to meet your project's evolving needs. Seeking user reviews and trial periods can help you make an informed decision.

Many US DOT’s have approved cost lists available for price checking. Check with government agencies often as the state of the economy can impact these costs significantly particularly with fuel, delivery and material costs.

An interesting fact is that all the software I found geared towards the construction industry have trial periods and an entire technical team to train and customize the software for the company if necessary.

é ótimo para avaliar seu desempenho na prática e verificar se atendem às expectativas. Isso proporciona insights sobre a usabilidade, funcionalidades reais e possível integra??o com sistemas existentes. Testes também revelam eventuais falhas ou limita??es, contribuindo para uma escolha mais confiável e alinhada às necessidades específicas da sua opera??o.

Civil Engineering Software are software that?assist engineers during all major infrastructure projects stages, including drafting, designing, visualisation and analysis. Civil Engineering Software offer solutions for structural analysis, model design, and project management. Software testing is the process of checking the quality, functionality, and performance of a software product before launching. To do software testing, testers either interact with the software manually or execute test scripts to find bugs and errors, ensuring that the software works as expected.

Though I agree with all the previous points, in my experience, two of the most important criteria to consider are: 1- Is the software used by stakeholders who I deal with. If mot, then will they use it or do they have their own system? 2- Is the software compatible with my other softwares? Is it compatible with my stakeholders’ softwares?

What matters is the amount of data which needs to be documented,then comes the availability of that software in the organisation wide systems ,it's doesn't make any sense if you are using a software which isn't accessible to all the stakeholders in the organisation,so choose wisely,I will definitely opt to go with Excel for estimating or planswift considering there diverse nature of offering dtatabase

Don’t change for the sake of “change”. Just because there’s farrari for sale doesn’t mean I “need” to buy it. I buy and change and implement something that addresses the needs of organisational growth, not just better marketing.

Availablity of multiple softwares and their similar benefits can cause a difference in opinion within the team for procurement of the software. Hence, one more parameter the cost of software procurement and other soft costs like training of staff for the use of software should also be considered while selecting the estimation software

Aprendo muita coisa assistindo vídeos no YouTube de pessoas que utilizam diversos tipos de softwares. Por experiência, é muito difícil encontrar esse tipo de conteúdo para software com pouco tempo disponibilidade no mercado. Por isso, acho importante considerar esse fator na escolha da ferramenta/ software.