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Writer's pictureMatthew Caddy

Construction Software: A Guide for Heavy Civil Contractors

Updated: Apr 24, 2023

The world of heavy civil engineering construction is an ever-evolving field with the demand for more efficient and cost-effective projects. This means that, as a contractor, you must be on the lookout for new technologies, software, and processes that can help streamline your workflows and ensure you're completing projects to the best of your ability.


In this blog from SharpeSoft, we'll discuss how construction software for heavy civil construction can help make your job easier and improve your bottom line. We'll also provide a guide for using the software to fit your needs best.

Construction Software: A Guide for Heavy Civil Contractors

Table of Contents:

  1. Understanding Heavy Civil Construction

  2. Heavy Civil Construction Projects & Works

  3. Construction Software for Heavy Civil Construction: What is It?

  4. How Can it Help?

  5. Managing Complex Processes with Heavy Civil Construction Software

  6. Using Heavy Civil Construction Software: A Step-By-Step Guide

  7. Getting the Most Out of Your Construction Software

  8. Conclusion


People Also Ask:


What is a heavy civil project?


The Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction sub-sector consists of contractors or construction companies whose core task is to build entire engineering projects from start to finish. These can also include specialty trade contractors.


What are some examples of heavy civil construction?


Buildings and other structures are built using heavy construction techniques, such as dams, tunnels, skyscrapers, bridges, and monuments.


Understanding Heavy Civil Construction


While it's true that heavy civil construction is part of the construction industry, the branch is typically classified under the larger umbrella of civil engineering. This is because civil projects require careful planning and coordination between various structural engineers and design experts before any construction begins.


Heavy civil construction companies do much more than build buildings. Many are also experienced in managing existing natural environments such as mountain ridges, hillsides, water reservoirs, and man-made infrastructures.


Contractors bidding on heavy civil projects must be familiar with grading, erosion control, legal regulations, access rights, public impact, and much more. This comprehensive knowledge is vital to understand the scope of any construction project request and work.


Heavy Civil Construction Projects & Works


Civil construction typically involves structures such as city halls or libraries, but the heavy civil sector takes construction and design to another level.


Below are some of the most common types of heavy civil construction projects and works in the industry.


Projects:

  • Railroads

  • Roadways

  • Earthwork projects

  • Bridges

  • Dams

  • Wastewater centers

  • Canal and river stabilization

  • Airports, water ports, and other major transportation centers


Works:

  • Street sweep grading

  • Concrete barriers

  • Soil stabilization

  • Site demolition

  • Beautification & Landscaping

  • Hauling & Trucking

  • Site Clearing

  • Roadbeds & sub grading

  • Construction site remediation

  • Roadway setting

  • Stormwater pollution prevention

  • Slope & erosion control

  • Railroad track salvaging & removal

Construction Software for Heavy Civil Construction: What is It?


Construction software for heavy civil construction is designed to streamline and simplify the complex processes involved in large construction projects, from mediating communication between all stakeholders to scheduling and tracking costs; construction software helps manage and organize critical workflow tasks for those planning and executing such projects.


This powerful technology can help construction companies remain competitive, efficient, and productive in their endeavors to achieve the best outcomes for their clients.


How Can it Help?


Modern construction software for heavy civil construction comes with various beneficial features designed to help civil engineering contractors maximize efficiency and optimize project delivery.


With the right software, you can streamline complicated processes such as:

  • Construction planning

  • Cost estimation

  • Labor portfolio management

  • Progress reporting

  • Construction safety compliance

  • Quality assurance

This ensures that construction projects are completed quickly with fewer disruptions, reducing cost overages and liabilities.


By automating manual processes, much of the time-consuming paperwork is reduced significantly. This makes construction operations less laborious, freeing up technicians to focus more on value-added tasks that help ensure the successful completion of construction projects.


Managing Complex Processes with Heavy Civil Construction Software


Many construction professionals are turning to heavy civil construction software to help them plan and execute their projects. Heavy civil construction projects are some of the most complex and challenging undertakings in the industry. They require a high level of coordination between different teams and trades, with the margin for error being minimal.


Construction software specially designed for civil engineering provides companies with the tools they need to manage large, complicated projects successfully. By utilizing this technology, you can track more efficiently and oversee project completion, providing your team with real-time data that allows for improved decision-making.


This software also helps reduce the chance of human error. It improves overall project quality by allowing users to accurately forecast and track progress over time, ensuring that deadlines are met without sacrificing quality. With this support at your fingertips, your heavy civil engineering firm can attain its goals quickly and safely, ultimately leading to greater success in all your projects.


Using Heavy Civil Construction Software: A Step-By-Step Guide

Heavy civil construction software can be integral to civil engineering projects. Understanding how to use the tools inside the software package is essential to get started with heavy civil construction software.


Our SharpeSoft team has created a simple, step-by-step guide below on how to use your construction softer for your heavy civil projects:


Step #1: Begin by familiarizing yourself with the various features and how they can be used for your project.


Step #2: Set goals for your heavy civil engineering projects at a high level and create assignments within the software to help them break down the task into smaller components. As the project progresses, you should take advantage of any reporting capabilities that provide helpful insights into your progress.


Step #3: Finally, heavy civil construction software benefits from regularly evaluating outputs of workflows since this information can highlight potential areas of improvement that could help future operations run smoother.


Getting the Most Out of Your Construction Software

To get the most out of construction software for heavy civil construction, it’s essential to take the time to explore all of the features and tools that your software has to offer. This can mean leveraging useful functions like data synchronization, shared design libraries, and project tracking capabilities during construction projects.


It is also important to ensure workflow processes are set up correctly from the start so that workflows are efficient and that construction progress can be tracked with accurate data.


Finally, using construction software for heavy civil construction can also help improve collaboration between different parties, such as contractors, owners, and design teams, by providing a convenient place to share documents and work together remotely.


Conclusion

Construction software has revolutionized the way heavy civil contractors manage their projects by streamlining processes from start to finish. Whether you’re an experienced estimator or just starting to manage heavy civil construction contracts, having access to the right tools can make all the difference when it comes time for your next big job!


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