Terrain and earthwork volumes.

Prepare surfaces for machine control and calculate what has been excavated. We have brought terrain models, volume calculation and documentation together in VCAD Pro.

3D road model showing carriageways and lines along the surrounding terrain.

Ready for machine control.

01

Import your polyface mesh

VCAD automatically converts polyface meshes to polyline blocks on import.

02

Create and trim the surface

Create a surface from the imported data and trim it to the area you need.

03

Export for the machine

Export the surface as LandXML for the next stage of machine-control work.

Include the extra excavation.

When part of an excavation is dug deeper, that additional work needs documenting too. Calculate both the original excavation and the extra quantities in VCAD Pro.

  1. The original excavation

    Calculate the volume of soil that has been excavated.

  2. The extra quantities

    Calculate the additional excavation when an area within the first excavation is dug deeper.

  3. PDF documentation

    Put the documentation for the excavation and the extra quantities into a PDF for others on the project.

The quantities on paper.

An example showing a terrain model, three cross-sections and the total excavation in cubic metres.

PDF plot from VCAD showing a coloured terrain model, cross-sections TP1, TP2 and TP3, and the total excavation in cubic metres.Open the PDF example
A3 · 1 page · PDF in Danish
Explore the tools for this task

Models and data

VCAD imports formats including LandXML, DWG, DXF and point files, as well as polyface meshes directly.

Surfaces and volumes

VCAD Pro includes surface modelling and volume calculation alongside everything in Basic.

Cross-sections and profiles

Examine the terrain with cross-sections and profiles, and use the application’s import and export options in your project work.

Surface modelling, volume calculation, cross-sections and profiles are included in VCAD Pro, along with everything in Basic.

Compare Basic and Pro

VCAD Basic

For everyday drawing, data processing and documentation.

  • 2D and 3D CAD
  • Background maps and WMS
  • Specialist palettes, including drainage and signs
  • Import, export and PDF plots

VCAD Pro

For working with terrain, surfaces and quantities.

  • Everything in VCAD Basic
  • Surface modelling
  • Volume calculation
  • Cross-sections and profiles

We sell VCAD by subscription through local resellers. You can start with Basic and upgrade to Pro later, keeping the same drawings.

Good to know.

Which edition includes volume calculation?

Volume calculation is part of VCAD Pro. Pro also includes surface modelling, cross-sections and profiles, plus everything in Basic.

Can I work with LandXML?

Yes. VCAD can both import and export LandXML.

Is Pro a separate application?

Basic and Pro are editions of VCAD. Pro extends the tools with surface modelling, volume calculation, cross-sections and profiles.

Practical questions about browsers, files and subscriptions
How can I try VCAD?

You can get a 7-day trial through one of our resellers. Contact us at info@vcad.dk, and we’ll help you find a reseller.

Which file formats can I import into VCAD?

VCAD supports a wide range of that you can easily import by dragging your files onto the drawing canvas.

What is the difference between Basic and Pro?

Basic includes 2D and 3D drawing, maps, palettes, import, export and PDF plots.
Pro includes everything in Basic, plus surfaces, volume calculation, profiles and cross-sections.

You can start with Basic and upgrade to Pro later, keeping the same drawings.

What do I need to use VCAD?

VCAD runs directly in the browser on a standard PC, with no installation required. We recommend Brave or Microsoft Edge 64-bit.

Where is my work saved?

VCAD automatically saves your changes locally in the browser you are using, including when the internet connection drops. The Save button downloads a DXF file with the drawing and its settings, which you can open in VCAD on another PC. Cloud storage is an optional extra.

Where can I buy VCAD and get support?

We sell VCAD by subscription through local resellers. Contact us and we will help you find a reseller. You can add support through your reseller.

Try VCAD with no obligation.

Discover how easily you can go from project data to a finished drawing. Try VCAD on your own projects and see how it fits into your working day.

Contact us, and we’ll find a reseller to help you get started.

info@vcad.dk