Smarter Underground Takeoff: How AGTEK Reduces Risk and Improves Field Communication
When managing heavy civil construction projects, underground utilities are often the most unpredictable part of a project. Unlike earthwork, where quantities can be modeled with a high degree of certainty, underground involves pipe networks that are often incomplete, missing depth information, or contain conflicts that only surface when crews are already digging. The result? Miscalculations, disputes, and costly delays.
AGTEK’s Underground program changes that. By combining smarter takeoff tools with seamless integration into Gradework, AGTEK provides contractors with a faster, more accurate, and better-documented method for estimating trench quantities, resolving conflicts, and communicating effectively with the field.
Powerful Features for Underground Takeoff
Manual utility takeoffs are slow, inconsistent, and prone to errors. AGTEK’s Underground program replaces those outdated methods with purpose-built tools that make estimating underground utilities faster and more reliable.
- Automated trench takeoff – Instantly calculate pipe lengths, trench volumes, and bedding quantities without manual guesswork. What once took hours with scale rulers can now be done in minutes.
- Flexible input options – Import CAD, PDF, or scanned drawings and quickly digitize utilities. Even if drawings are incomplete, utilities can be modeled accurately and updated later without needing to restart.
- Real-world documentation – Generate detailed reports and visuals that display pipe sizes, depths, and alignments, providing estimators, project managers, and crews with a clear, unified view.
- Conflict checking – Detect pipe crossings, depth issues, and design inconsistencies before the job begins, rather than after a crew has already exposed the problem in the field.
This workflow doesn’t just speed up takeoff—it builds a foundation for more thoughtful planning and stronger communication across the team.
Seamless Integration with Gradework
Your Underground becomes powerful when paired with Gradework, AGTEK’s earthwork modeling solution. Instead of treating trenching and surface work separately, the two programs share a connected model that eliminates silos.
- Pull trench quantities into site balancing – Incorporate trench excavation directly into your earthwork model, so balancing cut and fill reflects both grading and utilities.
- Optimize haul planning and production – Factor trench excavation into haul quantities and production schedules to ensure dirt is moved efficiently and cost-effectively.
- One playbook for the whole team – Estimators, project managers, and foremen all work from the same unified model—reducing errors, eliminating double-entry, and keeping everyone aligned.
- Faster takeoff from existing work – Because Underground uses the earthwork takeoff already done in Gradework, trench excavation quantities can be generated in minutes instead of hours.
The result is tighter bids, fewer surprises, and a job plan that mirrors how work is performed in the field.
Why Manual Takeoff Misses the Mark
Many contractors already know manual takeoff is both slow and risky. Scaling pipe runs, hand-marking depths, or counting trench lengths on paper inevitably leads to gaps.
- Missed quantities – Overlapping utilities, depth changes, or misread scales can cause trench volumes to be underestimated, leaving contractors exposed to cost overruns.
- Higher risk – Even small errors in trench depth or length can add up to thousands of dollars in lost margin once production begins.
- Thin documentation – Hand-marked drawings don’t provide the level of clarity or backup that owners, managers, and crews expect today.
By moving to software-driven takeoff, contractors not only accurately capture every trench and crossing but also protect themselves with a defensible record that supports bids and change orders.
Documentation: The Key to Better Field Communication
Accurate takeoff isn’t just for estimators—it’s for the entire project team. Crews in the field need clear visuals and reports that explain exactly what’s planned, not just a stack of drawings with pen marks.
- Clear instructions – Crews can see pipe sizes, depths, and trench dimensions before a bucket hits the ground.
- Fewer questions in the field – Professional documentation reduces confusion, cuts down on phone calls, and prevents rework.
- Owner confidence – Backed-up takeoff results and visual reports provide proof of scope, helping justify change orders and building trust with stakeholders.
With AGTEK, documentation becomes more than a byproduct—it’s a communication tool that keeps the project running smoothly.
Finding Pipe Conflicts Before Production
Catch problems before they cost you. One of the most powerful features in Underground identifies pipe conflicts in 3D before production begins. Instead of crews discovering a clash in the middle of excavation, contractors can see issues in the office and resolve them proactively.
- Spot crossings & clashes early – Quickly visualize storm, sewer, and water line interactions and identify conflicts.
- Adjust plans in advance – Resolve design errors or reroute pipes on screen instead of redesigning in the trench.
- Keep crews productive – By eliminating surprises, crews can stay focused on installation instead of waiting for redesigns or approvals.
This proactive conflict detection saves money, prevents downtime, and helps contractors build a reputation for delivering clean, efficient installations.
Underground utilities are too important—and too expensive—to leave to chance. AGTEK’s Underground program reduces risk, improves accuracy, and strengthens communication while its seamless integration with Gradework ensures earthwork and utilities are modeled together. With this connected workflow, contractors can:
- Bid with confidence
- Avoid costly mistakes
- Keep crews productive and informed
AGTEK Underground isn’t just software—it’s a competitive advantage.
See AGTEK Underground in action. Schedule a demo today and learn how you can cut risk, save time, and give your crews the clear communication they need to build faster and smarter.