The term denotes a category of applications designed to streamline the process of estimating the quantity of materials that must be moved, added, or removed from a construction site. This involves calculating cut and fill volumes, topsoil stripping, and other related tasks. For example, a civil engineering firm might employ such a tool to determine the amount of soil that needs to be excavated to create a level building pad.
Accurate estimation of these quantities is critical for project budgeting and scheduling. Historically, these calculations were performed manually using paper plans and calculators, a time-consuming and error-prone process. Utilizing specialized applications reduces the risk of inaccuracies, accelerates the estimation workflow, and ultimately contributes to improved cost control and project profitability.
