The allowable margin of error for civil engineering firms is so small that the slightest mistake can cost the company future business and a good reputation. This might explain why civil engineering enterprises are always on the lookout for the best software in the market. Most importantly, the right civil engineering software will help the business to deliver the best possible services to clients. However, it is difficult to settle on particular software if you consider the growing number of engineering application vendors in the market. If you find yourself undecided on which civil engineering software to buy, then read on. This article highlights the most fundamental features to look out for in civil engineering software.

Condensed Software -- One major challenge that civil engineers face is dealing with multiple software types in a single project. This is because most vendors develop software that provides a single engineering solution. For example, a bill of quantities software solely helps engineers to prepare a bill of quantities (BOQ). Once the BOQ is ready, the results are transferred into another program where they are merged with other results from a different system and sent to a client. The process of transferring results across multiple software programs can be frustrating, especially if one program experiences a glitch. Therefore, it is vital to choose a program that is condensed and can perform several functions from the same interface. The feature is critical because condensed software eliminates the need for multiple programs, consequently improving service delivery.

Sharing and Collaboration Features -- Clients need progress updates at every stage of a construction project for monitoring and input. Therefore, sharing periodic progress reports is a valuable service that civil engineers need to offer clients. However, most customers do not have engineering software that is required to view technical reports from their own devices. Therefore, software that allows you to export results and reports in a simple format such as excel sheets are the best. Your clients will be able to view project data without the need to learn the technicalities of navigating through a civil engineering program.

Real-Time Modeling -- It is essential to lay the model of a project on an area map for accurate implementation. Therefore, civil engineering firms must work with updated maps. However, accuracy is only possible if engineers have modelling software that has real-time mapping capability. Running a model against the background of a real-time map allows you to make corrections whenever necessary. For instance, a culvert that was not on the ground during an initial mapping might be constructed in a matter of days. If not identified in time, the channel can delay an entire project. Real-time modelling ensures that any changes in topography are detected in real-time and adjustments are made to the model.