PyPile- a pile analysis software program

PyPile is a free sidelong pile analysis software program which is based on p-y curves and used for pile bending, bending moment and shear force analyzing with different load cases.

About Software: PyPile is developed by Yong Technology and the latest version is 0.6.3 which is available for both Windows and Mac. This software has the file size of 11.79 MB so it doesn’t take much space and has the license of Freeware so basically it is virus free. This software comes with common pile cross sections and custom cross section; it also included basic soft clay, stiff clay, sand p-y curves (Barry J. Heyer and Lymon C. Reese) and customized p-y curves. Free or fixed pile-head boundary conditions are also available to users.

Features:

• This software is built-in typical soft clay stiff clay and sand p-y curves.
• It has custom p-y curves which are defined by JavaScript or pricewise lines.
• Multi-layered soil considered in it.
• P multiplier is used to reduce p value in p-y curves.
• There are both Common pile cross sections and Custom cross sections.
• Pile El Multiplier is used to increase or reduce pile bending stiffness.

• Free and fixed pile head boundary conditions are used.
• Lateral force and pile head moment combinations are also used.
• Different results output like deflection, moment, shear force and rotation angle can come as excel xlsx file. 
• Soil profile graph is ready to be exported and used in report.

Source www.cesdb.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Top ten software for estimating and bidding

Sage Estimating

Sage Estimating can significantly accelerate the estimating process for several construction firms. Sage facilitates you to produce bids rapidly, precisely and positively with takeoff and cost databases. As soon as the project is procured, estimate details flow automatically into Sage business management software, removing unnecessary tasks and data entry errors. Sage Estimating also facilitates forecasting the labor, raw material and other overhead costs so that the contractors can arrange & deliver correct bids.

Download

Candy

It is a superb Construction Project Management Software to manage projects efficiently in the construction & engineering industry. It focuses on the need of the contractor ranging from quantity take-off, pricing and planning a project, controlling at the site level, analytical calculations, critical path planning, dynamic forecasting, Project cash flow through to the final certificate. Candy maintains an interactive link among the Bill of Quantity (BOQ) and the construction program or schedule of work under one construction project management solution.

Download

B2W Estimate

B2W Estimate is useful for heavy civil construction estimating and bidding. The software can generate and pre-populate comprehensive databases with costs along with default templates of crews and pay items. Estimators will be able to perform by accessing the resources and items even when the server is offline. Just reconnect, and the new estimates or alterations are included on the server. So, it becomes possible for the companies to work from any remote location or download a bid locally for closing throughout bid day.

Download

HCSS Heavy bid

This software facilitates the users to create estimates and control regular bids. The software can computerize repetitious tasks on the basis of tracking data from various sources like past estimates, standardized libraries, historical costs, performance data, and integrated RSMeans. Users will be able to form, review and edit estimates instantly as well as make automatically run price calculations to recognize errors. HeavyBid empowers the users to decompose complicated work into more controllable pieces, and arrange estimates to meet the requirements of the organization. Users can also evaluate subcontractor and supplier quotes.

Download

CostX

CostX can instantly capture exact measurements from scanned, PDF and CAD drawings together with formation of automatic BIM quantities from 3D/BIM models. The live-linked hierarchical workbooks can be applied to make an estimating build up with links to user-defined rate libraries. Besides, customized reports can also be generated.

Download

Stack

Stack can generate bids with user-defined pricing so that it becomes easier to work out the costs more precisely. The users can perform their own takeoffs within the program, or send request to the STACK team to accomplish the work for them with a single click through the STACK To-Go tool. STACK Estimating also offers pre-built catalogs for some trades with comprehensive lists of equipment, labor, and materials which are necessary for the users depending on adjustable historical experience.

Download

ProEst Estimating software

It is a cloud-based construction estimating software with automated features for different types of construction companies. It allows the construction teams to check and control centralized estimates, takeoffs, reports and contracts, and all information can be obtained and distributed 24/7 from any mobile device with active internet connection. Users can compute, analyze and manage business performance during the project lifecycle, and construction databases offer current costing and productivity data. ProEst can also track pending projects, upgrade estimate pipelines and make perfect short- and long-term business forecasts.

Download

eSub

eSUB makes paperless projects providing one central storage for project information, photos, drawings, PDFs and any other documents that all team members can access practically. By logging in via a protected internet portal, eSUB’s project management module facilitates the subcontractors to produce, log, and track vital documents like requests for information (RFIs), change orders, and more. eSUB’s timecard module tracks subcontractors’ labor hours and costs, which can be delivered from the job site to accounting software. Get rid of tracking projects manually and automates labortracking and communication.

Download

Clear Estimates

It is a cloud-based construction estimating system useful for remodelers and contractors to make estimates, submit bid requests, draft proposals, manage customers and more. The system is adjusted to satisfy the requirements of most trades like homebuilders, design/build firms, finishing contractors, roofing and siding contractors and other speciality contractors. It is helpful for smaller companies that creates less than $5 million in revenue annually.

Download

On-Screen Takeoff

On-Screen Takeoff can produce and finish more bids correctly. There are various tools for estimating, managing bids and maintaining project visibility. A bid wizard assists the new users through all dialogues at the time of generating a new bid. The application supports digitizer integration, file integration (CAD, PDF, etc), and 2D takeoff. The estimating application comprises of electronic quote system, cost databases by trade, and accounting integration. The system is well matched with tablet technology that allows the users to access project data in the jobsite for cost and labor management.

Download

Read more

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make your estimating, project management and bidding process smarter with ProContractor

ProContractor is a useful construction software developed by Viewpoint. The software can handle the whole project lifecycle from bid to project completion by providing all-in-one solution for estimating, project management, and accounting.

ProContractor is operated through the cloud with the viewport’s partner CloudJumper. Supported by a strong and scalable platform, CloudJumper offers a workspace as a service (WaaS) platform –providing the users the capability to virtualize their desktop and get access to ProContractor from any remote location at any time.

ProContractor facilitates the contractors to save huge time and win more work by generating takeoffs, estimates, and proposals efficiently. Right-fit features are specifically created for general contractors in residential and commercial construction, concrete, masonry contractors and other specialty trades together with earthwork and excavating contractors.

Given below, some exclusive features of the software :-

• ProContractor improves the speed and perfectness for continuous takeoff and estimating
• It applies digital takeoff to minimize the cost and disputes which may arise for applying paper plans. So, incomparable accuracy can be achieved.
• Instantly and perfectly estimate costs for labor, materials, and equipment
• Yield more bids in fewer time with superior profit margins

For more information, go through the following link
viewpoint.com/products/procontractor-by-viewpoint

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Published By
Rajib Dey
www.constructioncost.co
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use Etabs 2016 for slab design

This construction video provides useful information on how to use Etabs 2016 for creating effective slab design.

This newest software can be used to make integrated structural analysis, design and drafting of building systems. ETABS 2016 contains supreme 3D object based modeling and visualization tools as well as rapid linear and nonlinear analytical capacity, superior and wide-ranging design capacities for a wide array of materials, and intuitive graphic displays, reports, and schematic drawings which facilitate the users to smoothly & instantly read and understand analysis and design results.

ETABS combines each phase of the engineering design process from initial design perception to the formation of schematic drawings. Formation of models becomes so simple. With superior drawing commands, one can instantly generate floor and elevation framing. CAD drawings are directly transformed into ETABS models or applied as templates onto which ETABS objects are overlaid. The advanced SAPFire 64-bit solver facilitates the users to instantly evaluate exceptionally big and complicated models. It also supports nonlinear modeling methods like construction sequencing and time effects (e.g., creep and shrinkage).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A useful video tutorial on drawing Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagram

This construction article briefly demonstrates how to draw SFD and BMD. SFD stands for Shear Force Diagram and BMD stands for Bending Moment Diagram. These two play a major role for creating the design of members.

Specific parameters are necessary for each design method to design the capacity of members. These parameters act as input in design process and as an end result there will be cross-sectional and material properties.

This video focuses on graphical approach to demonstrate how analysis of a simply supported beam is prepared and drawing is made for shear force and Bending moment diagram. Conventions are similar to that applied in software like etabs and sap2000. Bending Moment is positive downward with the purpose of clarifying in superior manner where reinforcement should be positioned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

QuoteExpress Sheet Metal On-Screen 3.0

Kerry Brainard comes up with a useful construction video for construction professionals that teaches you how to input of pdf files onscreen as well as estimate material and labor cost through QuoteExpress Sheet Metal On-Screen 3.0 developed by Quote Software Inc.

Watch the following demo video that focuses on how it works.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to efficient structural design with Robot Structural Analysis Professional

In this construction video, one can learn how to use Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional, Advanced structural analysis software, for slab, beam, column design of any structure.

This software contains advanced BIM-integrated analysis and design tools to comprehend the performance of any structure type and examine code compliance. Use the software for superior building simulation for complicated structures as well as instantly make analysis of various structures for easy workflow.

The most updated version is Robot Structural Analysis Professional 2016. Go through the following link to download a free trial version.

Download Robot Structural Analysis Professional free for 30 days

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SAFI Bridge is a useful construction program to Analyze & design 2D and 3D bridge models

The SAFI Bridge program is very useful for engineers to study, validate, assess, generate and design large and complicated 2D and 3D bridge models having different types and sizes on the basis of standard or non-standard moving loads. With this construction program, the engineers can validate and design steel, composite, reinforced concrete, bridges together with pre-stressed bridge girders.

The SAFI bridge analysis component of the program is based on the autonomous and customary code and it contains incomparable graphical user interface.

The SAFI Bridge program contains the following features :-

• The program accomplishes numerous simultaneous or non simultaneous standard and non standard moving  loads analysis with plain and complicated procedures.

• The program consists of a wide-ranging library containing more than 25 standard trucks and a moving load    editor for user defined trucks and trains.

• The moving loads can be transmitted to selected elements of the model.

• Impact factors are assigned for a whole truck load or following a per axle basis along with lane loads. Axles can    be expanded on the basis of some bridge design codes like the CAN/CSA S6-06 code

• Lateral distribution factors toward moment, shear and deflection are substantiated.

• Envelopes of response are procured with the integration of moving loads, lane loads and non moving loads.

• Incremental analysis is performed considering staged constructions.

• Load factors are established automatically by the program while analyzing a subsisting bridge.

• The advanced query engine is applied to determine the relevant forces and utmost values at any point of the      structure

• SAFI Bridge facilitates the query analysis results and associated results at any point of the structure

• SAFI Bridge can assess and design steel, composite, reinforced concrete, bridges together with pre-stressed bridge girders.

Download SAFI Bridge Sheet for visit to site

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Design various types of reinforced concrete members with RCM ACI-Builder Software

RCM ACI-Builder Software is a simple tool for structural engineers to design several types of reinforced concrete members with adhering to ACI318M-11 code.

This useful structural engineering software can produce comprehensive design output report involving complete formulas and explanatory figures. This construction program can easily resolve practical issues associated with design. Besides, it can be applied for educational purpose as it facilitates the engineers to gather thorough knowledge on ACI code.

RCM ACI-Builder Software contains the following items:

A. Design of flexural members (Rectangular and T-Shape Sections):

A.1-Ascertain section characteristic under balance case, singly reinforced section & doubly reinforced section.

A.2-Estimate area of steel in accordance with applied moment.

A.3-Estimate moment as per alloted area of steel.

B. Design of Shear under following cases:

B.1- Members based on shear and flexure only.

B.2- Members based on shear and axial compression.

B.3- Members based on shear and significant axial tension.

C. Design of combined shear and torsion under both cases of compatibility and equilibrium torsion.

D. Design of punching for prestressed and non-prestressed members with all column geometry cases: interior, edge & corner columns.

E. Manage current and enduring deflection for beams and slabs.

F. Design of corbels and brackets.

Link for download Design various types of reinforced concrete members with RCM ACI-Builder Software

G. Deal with flexural cracking in beams and one-way slabs.

H. Design of pile-caps with most general geometry cases: 2,3,4,5 & Strip-Pile Caps.

I. Design of isolated footings under eccentrically and concentrically case of loading.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.constructioncost.co

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use RCsolver software program to make the design of 2-way reinforced concrete slab

Dimitrios Mamoglou, the renowned engineer and software developer, has presented an exclusive video for construction constructor & construction estimator. This video shows how to design a two way reinforced concrete slab through RCsolver software program by following Eurocode 2 specifications.

RCsolver is the kind of software that is used to create the design and computation of reinforced concrete structural members. It makes all the calculations defined in the Eurocodes and ACI 318-11 toward the tensile and shear reinforcement of the structural members.

RCsolver helps the users to have a 3D digital view of the members and the reinforcement rebars. It is combined with Eurocode 2 and 8 specifications, together with the national annexes specifications concerning a great amount of European countries. The latest version of RCsolver consists of the ACI 318-11 specifications focusing concrete member design.

Eurocode 2 and EC2 are both short forms for BS EN 1992, Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures. There exist four parts to BS EN 1992 but while referring to Eurocode 2 a good number of people suggest BS EN 1992-1-1 general rules and rules for buildings.

For more information, visitwww.eurocode2.info

A 15-day free trial version is available for users.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Top Ten Software used in Civil Engineering

The civil engineers are always choose and excited to use thesoftware. But now the question is what kind of software are preferable for the expert civil engineers.

In this case, good engineers can simply build and check list and start your journey without delay.

However, you will recognize some or all of them as a result of they're user friendly and really in style. Thus on the premise of the requirement mention higher than, high 10 software package are listed as follows as per civilvalley.blogspot.in

Microsoft Word: It is understandable that none of the person will begin his accomplished career predominantly official process while not knowing the importance and value of Microsoft workplace product like MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and list goes on.

“AutoCAD” and “Google Sketchup”: Writing is the best tool for note down the imagination or you can draw and make a plot. In AutoCAD, a small little question and it's the foremost much-liked package in beaux arts world has the equivalent significance for the applied science similarly. It first comes from the layout, plan and 2nd and 3rd views as well as 3D views that square measure shaped most generally with none of the conflicting howeverAutoCAD. The straightforward to know as compared to the commands. You'll create your 2nd into 3D simply by memorizing a Tool, then simply one click to drag and it’s done.

SAP 2000: It is 30-year-old essential software which structurally use in Latin and Central America and sometime in Portugal, Italy and Spain. The other options are StaadPro, ETABS and Risa 3D. The network sometime makes it easier. How?

• It makes geometric input than with StaadPro.
• Dynamic analysis is stronger in SAP2000 for example earthquake force applied in any direction, automatic lumping of masses for earthquake, live load reduction, bridges transient loads, eigen modes and ritz modes, etc.
• It has amenities for sneak into the concrete. Its ability to solve heterogeneous soil-structure interaction clearly differentiates it from others.

CSI SAFE: It works designing concrete floor and foundation system. It frames layouts for the detail drawings. It put together every features of engineering. It provides supreme profit to the engineer with its truly sole mixture of power, comprehensive capabilities, and in a uses friendly way.

Primavera Project Planner: Primavera Software, Inc., are the leading supplier of Project Portfolio Management (PPM). This is an answer for project-intensive industries. It is actually owned by Oracle.

MXRoads: Bentley MXROAD is a superior, higher quality, string-based modeling tool that allows the fast and exact design of road types. With MXROAD you can rapidly build design alternatives to achieve the “ideal” road system.

Pipe 2012: Pipe2012 is a flawlessly included suite of software which consists of the engines KYPipe, Steam, SWMM, Gas, Surge, and GoFlow. For forty years, KYPipe has and given the support for pipe system hydraulic flow software.

“VectorWorks Designer” & “Rhino”: It is almost free software. Vector works Designer and Render works are complete with each other. All the components an engineer needs to have creating your designs come alive are here. The Rhino 5 development process began more than five years before with one superseding objective—to get rid of as many of your workflow blockage.

Mathcad: Mathcad by PTC® is a product making company. It increases the industry standard software for engineering calculations.

“Visual Basic” & “HTML”: Above two are not in fact the software, these are more than software in fact these are all programming languages.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Civil Engineering Design Calculation Software

This is actually civil engineering 3Dsoftware. It supports the BIM too. The AutoCAD Civil 3D users and experts can now make the better use of it to perform the projects and reacting fast to change. It helps to do the work with less time to be taken and with design, analyzing and necessary changes to be made.

The free trial version can be available in the autodesk website.

This is the system requirement. Installation of any Autodesk products: It is significant that the users confirm that the PC meets, or surpasses, the system requirements.

If your system does not get together the needs, problems can happen while running the product, and at the operating system level. Hit this link to be invented

AutoCAD Civil 3D: It is set up in Pennsylvania. The Louis Berger Group has familiar to a globally recognized company that gives engineering, architecture construction management, environmental planning and science.

Subscription: The Subscription procedure offers elastic ways to get into the entry.

Preservation and subscription for a perpetual license - Increase the lasting investment in Autodesk software and services. Desktop Subscription is more flexible and user friendly, periodical and annual selection for using certain Autodesk software.

Hit this link to download

Image Courtesy : onlinecivil.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to get rid of construction project drawbacks - Some useful measures

In order to run your construction business smoothly, you have to submit more tenders to get more projects. In this regard, you have to ensure that your bid submission process is perfect and bid is priced precisely as well as you have submitted the lowest bid. So all the project team members should have clear and concise ideas on all the costs associated with a construction project.

The following are some useful steps to get rid of the construction project estimation drawbacks:-

Unpredictability: In a larger construction project, it is often required to employ more than one estimator. If several estimators are appointed, the things can be messed up with improper activities. So, there should be concise and reliable guidelines for taking up identical estimation for the same service or product. The estimators should supply a high degree of detail to cope up with the stringent deadline. They should utilize simplified recording system to verify what each can offer and tally with the contract requirements. They should also offer clear definition to avoid costly errors & discrepancies. The reliability and consistency of all the informations collected should also be checked carefully.

Management: Use some sophisticated tools to maintain level of detail and complexity while making estimation of a construction project. Now-a-days template based spreadsheet for estimating becomes very popular for executing many tasks as well as automating the estimating process to analyze diversified scenarios. But spreadsheet based estimating may not be always perfect as maneuvering a figure in one column to get a individual cost item down will bring about results to a different place in the document and in the mean time all the calculations are completed, the end result will be multiplied to a great extent.

Low Bidding: In initial phase, if costs are calculated precisely at regular interval, the possibilities for errors may still occur any time. In your company one team out of the total teams can complete a job somewhere else and evaluate that the new contract would be suitable in a perfect way. Here the tendencies may arise to keep the rate of bidding lower to obtain the work & keep the staff engaged in figuring out how to get a profit from the work and it can always be performed afterward.

Besides, in order to keep the profit margin on top of the project costs, estimate should be clear and perfect. But sometime, we fail to notice the simple calculations. Mistakes may happen if you can’t find out what costs the figures denote. In most cased, mistakes take place while documents are transferred among different departments. If the total costs are calculated in a wrong way, the profit margin can be ruinous. The proper software should be used to keep away from making the bidding too low.

Software issues: Software is very important in keeping the process times less as well as automatically pointing out holes in estimate documents. If you utilize imperfectly-built software, it can produce to errors which can’t be identified throughout the estimating process. The errors can occur in software construction, programme performance, hardware inaptness and an failure to integrate data sourced from other software.

In order to improve the efficiency of the software, you have to check how the software interrelates with the “fleshware” that is the humans tasked with operating it. So you have to select easy to use systems and complete training and support for staff should be provided to improve buy-in and considerably make a better final cost estimates.

Lack of transparency: It is not sufficient to win the bid by providing all-inclusive assessment of costs. All the stuffs associated with a company should easily understand the detailed cost estimates. If detailed information is supplied in one inflexible format like on a single spreadsheet, then additional effort should be given to make out the figures easily as per requirements.

The cost estimate should provide a brief synopsis and a thorough breakdown for those at the top of the company structure. But it should also contain understandable and related information to lower level staff as well as project managers and members of the commercial team.

Ref: www.constructionglobal.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Published By

Rajib Dey

www.quantity-takeoff.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~