GroundApp is engineered to equip site engineers, quantity surveyors, builders, buyers, groundworkers, supervisors and foremen with an intuitive mobile solution for on-site estimation, calculation and measurement tasks, eliminating dependence on spreadsheets, multiple ad-hoc tools or returning to the office to compute.
Built in collaboration with experienced civil construction engineers (and supported by academic usability studies at Aston University, Birmingham), the app emphasizes clarity, ease of use and traceability.
It functions entirely offline (no internet required) once installed, enabling field use in remote or low-connectivity zones.
All features of GroundApp are accessible with a one-time purchase (lifetime usage) rather than a subscription.
Key Features
- Wide range of modules: Includes volume & weight conversions for multiple materials, concrete volume estimations (kerbs, metal decking), pipe gradient & equivalent number calculations, ring-size calculations for manholes, polygon area & perimeter, radial setting out, distances & bearings between points.
- Material conversions: Converts between volume and weight for 12 different groundwork materials.
- Both metric and some imperial units: While metric is fully supported, several modules already support imperial units.
- Clear schematics and illustrations: User interface draws from simple visual sketches so even non-engineers can operate confidently.
- Lifetime license model: Purchase once and use for life; the license may be transferred between devices.
- Designed for field work: Works offline, caters to mobile workflows, aids in reducing estimation errors and improving productivity on site.’
Benefits to Users
- Speed & efficiency: Reduces the time taken to perform site calculations, enabling quicker decision-making and fewer delays.
- Accuracy & consistency: Standardises calculation methods across team members, reducing variability and human error in estimates.
- Empowers field staff: With user-friendly modules and visuals, less reliance on office-based engineers for routine ground-work calculations.
- Traceability and professional presentation: References included in modules assure auditability / validation of figures.
- Flexible deployment: Works on both iOS and Android, ideal for mixed-device site environments.
Ideal Use Cases
- Estimating quantities of materials (shingle, aggregate, tarmac) for groundwork and paving.
- Calculating volumes of concrete required for kerb, decking or manholes.
- Setting out pipes: gradient calculations, equivalent lengths.
- Deriving areas, perimeters and distances for site layouts and excavations.
- Supervisors or site engineers doing real-time checks and validation rather than waiting for office calculations.
Why GroundApp Stands Out
While many construction estimation apps exist, GroundApp distinguishes itself by addressing the specific gap encountered by ground-works teams: ad-hoc tools, inconsistent workflows and the need for field-ready calculation without heavy engineering software. According to industry press, it was launched to “replace expensive tools like AutoCAD” in the field context.
Its combination of professional-grade modules with a user-friendly interface makes it suitable both for engineers and site personnel with limited technical backgrounds.
