AGTEK Gradework

Pros: What I really like is the accuracy of the cut and fill calculations. Recently on a commercial site, I built the existing and proposed surfaces to run comparisons. The volume breakdown was detailed. When we compared the AGTEK quantities to the engineer’s estimated numbers, they were very close. 3D modeling is another feature I rely on heavily. Being able to rotate the site, visually inspect slopes and drainage patterns has helped me catch grading spikes that didn’t look right in plan view I was able to fix the mistake. Cross sections are also strong. Once you understand the workflow, generating sections along roads is straight forward. The estimator & I especially like being able to apply my cross sections to google earth KMZ file and see the work on the map.

Cons: I am running the program on a fairly new computer yet sometimes when the file is to big it will take a long time to print. AGTEK support team are very knowledgeable, and they helped me reduce the amount of time to print.

Pros: It's ability to integrate numerous different applications for my work. It's very compatible. I can use it for autocad files. I can use it for machine files. I can put together linework for dredgework. The utilities that gradework has are never ending.

Cons: It can take a lot of time to load depending on the task, but it depends on what is being calculated.

Pros: $84

Cons: Cost of entry — AGTEK isn't cheap. For a smaller contractor or a one-person estimating shop, the upfront licensing cost can be a tough pill to swallow. It pays for itself quickly on volume, but that initial investment is a real consideration for companies just getting into digital takeoffs. Learning curve for new users — While it's intuitive for experienced plan readers, someone brand new to estimating or digital takeoffs is going to need time and training to get comfortable. It's not the kind of software you can just open up and figure out on your own in an afternoon.

Pros: It is easy to use and easy to train people on. The online tutorials are great, especially for training new employees. Very accurate takeoffs and able to complete them quickly.

Cons: I don't like the fact that it isn't backward compatible with previous versions. We have a lot of users and have to go through extra effort to get everyone updated at once in case we are sharing files between users.

Pros: We mainly focus on doing utilities. AGTEK allows us to quickly do depth brackets for trenching/rock estimates, and calculate embedment. Exporting the data as an excel allows us to quickly enter some formulas to price out the job. The ability to complete a turnkey takeoff in one software is huge as well.

Cons: I don't have many negatives for AGTEK as it is simply the easiest takeoff software I've used. I have to sometimes clean up CAD files to make them work with AGTEK. If the file is too large (covers too big an area) then it causes problems.

Pros: I appreciate the ease of use in creating models. I also find that the 3D view is a powerful tool to communicate ideas to other team members and it provides instant feedback on whether there are mistakes in the model or not. I think it is important to highlight both the excellent customer support and the immense value of high-quality tutorials and training resources available to users.

Cons: For excavations that ultimately have low quantities, the time it takes to create a model is usually not worth the output. The print screen for exporting any images is undeveloped to the point of uselessness.

Pros: As a Heavy Civil Estimator, AGTEK Gradework is an essential tool for my everyday workload. Whether I'm working on subdivisions, commercial, waterworks or road reconstruction projects AGTEK is an extremely helpful tool. AGTEK can look pretty daunting at first but once you give it a try, attend one of their webinars or look at the tutorial videos they have on their site, it becomes very simple and effective in building out your earthwork/utilities Takeoffs.

Cons: The new gradework is pretty neat when it comes to materials and obviously gradework but the highway mode is not as good compared to the old Earthwork 4D, whenever I use Highway mode on the new gradework app, my lines don't comform as smooth as they used to, or it just glitches alot. But htis only happens on Highway all the other features work great.

Pros: The modules have good flow and are easy to pick up and understand. The versatility of being able to import various file types and fold them into a single takeoff is smooth

Cons: Occasionally the program struggles to import and work with very large files, such as high-density DWG or heavily layered PDF's.

Pros: Agtek is very expensive, would like it if they could bring the price down a bit. I think that soon we could see a saturation of cheaper competitors with less overhead due to AI.

Cons: It lacks AI capabilities, wondering if they plan on sharing AI plans. I hope that they release AI soon.

Pros: What we liked the most is the ease of learning it coming from Agtek 3D. Their customer support is spot on when we need them. So many features to help with our takeoffs.

Cons: What we liked the least with Gradework is nothing. There software is spot on in our opinion. Keep it up

Pros: I like how easy it is to produce quality and detailed eathwork models which has simplified our tendering process but also our on site works. I also like the price point and for what it allows us as a company to achieve is definitely worth the money. I found that the customer support has been super helpful, the program is also that good i've only had to contact support once!

Cons: I don't like how you are unable to print from agtek to mark up drawings or overlay on to existing site plans and that only screenshotting works.

Pros: Gradework is a very powerful program for calculating areas, lengths, and volumes, yet it is very intuitive. Once the basics are mastered the process flows from one step to the next. The integration of the earthwork and the materials/underground parts is relatively seamless. Generally, updates are just that: Updates. They do not re-invent the wheel every time a new feature is released. When needed, support is prompt and very helpful.

Cons: Currently there are some issues with the Report Regions and the Sectional Thickness keeping locked together. When a Report Region is entered with the corresponding Section Thickness, there are times that when you check the Report Region, the Sectional Thickness is no longer shown. There are times that the Rock Layer does not stay when staging from one phase to another.

Pros: Agtek Grade work is the most efficient way in the earth moving trade to calculate cut/fill quantities on a jobsite, I also love the fact I can use it hand and hand with Agtek reveal for drone flights and topo's.

Cons: I believe that grade work should have a spot for notes or memos. If a estimator receives the job after the takeoff guy is done, it would be handy to be able to open up Agtek and there could be callouts in grade work or materials. This would help the takeoff guy be able to note what he was thinking and help the estimator understand that.

Pros: AGTEK does an amazing job of outputting intricate visuals for my team to understand the earthwork being done on a project. The surface models being rendered are invaluable to our company.

Cons: A very small issue, but at times I get frustrated with not being able to customize and expand/contract items in the toolbar. There are certain functions within the program that I never utilize and ultimately lead to a lot of mis-clicks.

Pros: I like how detailed and accurate you can get when using Gradework. You can get as close to a real world quantity as you can with the information you have available.

Cons: The downside of AGTEK Gradework for me would be the presentability. The print functions should be upgraded to be able to create better views of the models or visuals you can see in the program.

Pros: AGTEK Gradework offers a strong set of robust, highly capable features that deliver real value without unnecessary fluff or overly complicated tools, making it efficient and enjoyable to use on a daily basis.

Cons: While AGTEK Gradework is powerful overall, some features and workflows are not as intuitive as they could be, occasionally requiring extra time to learn or adjust to before reaching full productivity.

Pros: The ease of use. The amount of information you can get from a take off from setting a project up in phases vs manually doing the areas by hand.

Cons: Saving files to our shared sever. This has caused AGTEK to crash. We save all our docs on a shared drive, as our computers don't have enough storage.

Pros: AGTEK has made creating takeoff for estimating simple and easy to understand. The customer support is wonderful and will answer any questions that come up!

Cons: Learning the application and what all it can do can be overwhelming at first, but with the help of training videos and customer support, it is easy to figure out.

Pros: The software is powerful and accurate, the online community is great, and the customer support is top-notch.

Cons: The software looks intimidating and has a relatively steep learning curve when compared to other takeoff tools.

Pros: I was nervous about learning a new software but [sensitive content hidden] jumped in and walked us through our first take off. They spent almost 8 hours on MS teams walking our estimator through how to elevate existing lines and how to elevate design lines to get a dirt & materials take off.

Cons: Agtek my seem expensive but everything worth doing is worth paying for and I would not want a half-measure solution to something as important as earthwork takeoff software. All good things are worth the money spent to get them...

Pros: The ability to quickly take a set of plans or CAD and turn it into a takeoff report, GPS machine model, drone calcs, etc. There isn't much you cannot do with it, and the new features seem to keep updating by the day. Good value for all of the features and support you get, I'm not sure how anyone could do dirt takeoffs without a software like this!

Cons: Not really much of any, the occasional crash at times, usually alleviated by updating the software (just have to remember to save your work periodically so you don't lose it if this happens!) A bit complex to learn at first coming into it with no experience with takeoff software, but that is to be somewhat expected with how many features there are (ex. trying to learn Photoshop when you hardly know Microsoft Paint).

Pros: Agtek allows us to be very efficient and accurate when performing take-offs. This results in better estimates, turned around on time, and able to provide illustrations to clients that help explain our inclusions and exclusions.

Cons: Obviously, it's the cost. I do however think it is worth the investment, just it's always painful when a key needs to be added.