Quick Start Guide

Welcome to TrenchCalc! Our core feature is the trench volume calculator — this guide will help you get started with your first trench volume calculations in minutes.

Step 1: Install the App

Download TrenchCalc from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) and install it on your device.

Step 2: Open TrenchCalc

Launch the TrenchCalc app on your device.

Step 3: Click Start Trench Setup Button

Tap the "Start Trench Setup" button to begin creating your first trench calculation.

Step 4: Follow the Wizard and Enter Dimensions

Follow the setup wizard and enter your trench dimensions:

• Length: Total length of the trench
• Base Width: Width at the bottom
• Depth: Depth from ground surface

Step 5: Receive Results

View your calculated trench volume and other results.

Step 6: Press Home Button to Access Range of Modifications and Tools

Press the home button to access a range of modifications and tools, including:

• Culvert planning
• Cement stabilization
• Zones configuration
• And many more features

1. Basic Tab - "Change Trench Size"

Features:

• Set trench depth, length, and base width
• Supports both metric (m) and imperial (ft) units
• Real-time diagram visualization
• Input validation
• Wizard mode for guided setup

This is your starting point. Enter the fundamental dimensions of your trench to begin calculations.

2. Fill Tab - "Change Fill Type"

Features:

• Select fill material (preset or custom)
• Configure material density (kg/m³ or lb/ft³)
• Set compaction factor
• Enable zone-based fill configuration
• Configure bedding depth and overlay depth
• Supports multiple fill zones: bed, haunch, side, overlay, gap, general
• Real-time volume calculations

Define what material will fill your trench. You can assign different materials to different zones for complex projects.

3. Wall Tab - "Add Benching / Battering"

Features:

• Three wall types: Vertical, Benched, Battered
• Configure bench step height (for benched walls)
• Set batter slope ratio H:V (for battered walls)
• Temporary ramp configuration
• Ramp volume calculations
• Visual diagram showing wall configuration

Choose how your trench walls are configured. Vertical walls are simplest, while benched or battered walls provide stability for deeper excavations.

4. Cement Tab - "+ Add Cement"

Features:

• Cement percentage slider (0-20%)
• Per-zone cement application (if zones enabled)
• UCS (Unconfined Compressive Strength) calculation
• Water/cement ratio configuration
• Flowable fill calculations
• Weather advisory integration
• Cement mass and volume displays
• Custom soil type selection for UCS

5. Culverts Tab - "+ Add Culverts"

Features:

• Circular or box culvert shapes
• Configure culvert count
• Set diameter (circular) or width/height (box)
• Configure spacing between culverts
• Set distance to walls
• Fit validation (warns if culverts don't fit trench)
• Visual diagram with culvert placement
• Supports multiple culverts with spacing calculations

6. Diary Tab - "Site Diary"

Features:

• Voice input transcription
• Location and date tracking
• Uses AI to reconstruct voice transcription and polish it into a detailed diary

6. Spoil Tab - "Manage Spoil"

Features:

• Calculate spoil volume from excavation
• Configure spoil pile dimensions (angle, height, base width, toe distance)
• Split spoil evenly on both sides option
• Display metrics:
  • Volume per side
  • Base width
  • Height
  • Centre from trench
  • Total spoil volume
• Visual diagram showing spoil pile placement
• Help tooltips for each metric

Plan where excavated material will be stored. The app calculates spoil pile dimensions based on your trench volume.

7. Testing Tab - "Soil Testing"

Features:

• Compaction testing
• PSD (Particle Size Distribution) testing setup
• Atterberg test
• Test volume calculations
• Integration with planner for test scheduling
• Foundation test configuration
• Test frequency settings (per lift, per zone)

8. Planner Tab - "Construction Planner"

Features:

• Project timeline estimation
• Cost estimation and breakdown
• Productivity calculations
• Culvert installation rate configuration
• Mobilization/demobilization costs
• Duration breakdown (by activity)
• Categories: Personal, Plant, Material, Soil Testing, Logistics, Production

Estimate costs, timelines, and reporting.

9. Geofabric Tab - "Geofabric Lining"

Features:

• Calculate geofabric surface area requirements
• Roll size configuration (preset or custom)
• Overlap configuration between rolls
• Wastage percentage settings
• Calculate number of rolls required
• Total linear meters calculation
• Cost estimation (price per roll)
• Supports all wall types (vertical, battered, benched)

Calculate how much geofabric you need, accounting for overlaps and wastage.

10. Survey Tab - "Site Survey"

Features:

• AR camera integration for scanning
• Point cloud processing
• Volume calculation for stockpiles and trenches
• Unlimited LiDAR scanning
• Scan quality metrics
• On-device processing
• Measurement history

11. Photos Tab - "Photo Documentation"

Features:

• Camera capture with GPS tagging
• Tagging system (28 pre-built tags + custom tags)
• Photo detail viewer
• Annotation capabilities:
  • Coordinates of the photo markup
  • Direction the photo was taken
  • Map where the photo was taken
  • Free text title of the photo

Annotation for project photos.

Tabs are locked based on your subscription tier:

• Free tabs: Available (Basic, Fill, Wall)
• Basic tier: Adds Cement, Culverts, and Diary tabs
• Premium tier: Unlocks all 12 tabs

Locked tabs show a lock icon and require login or upgrade to access.

Premium Features:

• Safety Breach: Informs users if their trench breaches certain custom rules. Currently supports Australian trenching rules.

Basic Tier:

• Watercart Load Calculator: When cement is enabled, calculates water requirements for cement stabilization.

All Tiers:

• Loads Calculator: Calculates how many truck loads are needed to move trench volume or stockpile of dirt based on the size of your truck.
• Export: Export material breakdown and zone breakdown of volumes and mass quantities
• Save/Load Trench Configurations: Save and load your trench configurations for reuse
• Light and Dark Mode: Switch between light and dark themes for comfortable viewing in any environment
• Real-time Calculations: All tabs update calculations immediately on input changes
• Visual Diagrams: Most tabs include real-time visual representations
• Unit Conversion: All tabs support metric and imperial units

Step 1: Upload Site Map (Optional)

Before taking photos, you can upload a site map by clicking the "Upload Site Map" button. This uploads a picture of your site that will be used as a minimap guide for reference. The site map helps you pinpoint and visualize the exact location where you take your photos.

Step 2: Take a Photo

Click the "Take Photo" button to proceed to the camera feed. Position your device to capture the desired scene and take the photo.

Step 3: Name Your Photo

After taking the photo, the app will prompt you to name the photo. Enter a descriptive name that helps you identify the photo later (e.g., "North Excavation Day 1", "Culvert Installation Section A"). Click "Save" to confirm the name.

Step 4: Place Pin on Site Map (If Site Map Used)

If you uploaded a site map in Step 1, the app will prompt you to place a pin on the location where you took the photo. This visual marker helps you see exactly where on the site map the photo was captured.

If you didn't use a site map, the app will skip this step and proceed directly to the preview screen.

Step 5: Preview Screen

You'll be taken to the preview screen where you can review your annotated photo. The preview screen displays:

• Top Right Corner: Shows the coordinates of where the photo was taken, along with the date and time, and the facing direction (the direction your camera was pointing when the photo was taken)
• Bottom: Displays the name of the photo that you entered in Step 3

All this information is automatically captured and overlaid on your photo.

Step 6: Save to Camera Roll

Click the "Save to Camera Roll" button to save the annotated photo (with coordinates, date/time, direction, and name) to your phone's camera gallery. The photo will be available in your device's photo library for sharing or future reference.

Step 7: Take Another Photo (Optional)

Click the "New Photo" button to retake a photo if you're not satisfied with the current one, or to continue taking additional photos for your project documentation.

Step 1: Click on the Site Diary Tab

Navigate to the Site Diary tab in the app. If this is your first time using the feature, you'll see a brief overview that explains how the Site Diary works.

Step 2: Click the Optional Setup Prompts

Before recording, you can enable optional setup prompts. These prompts help you remember key points to mention during your recording. If you get stuck halfway through the recording, the prompts will display keywords to help you remember what to say about your work day.

Step 3: Click the Start Recording Button

When you're ready to begin, click the "Start Recording" button. The app will start a countdown before recording begins, giving you time to prepare.

Step 4: Describe Your Work Day on Site

Speak clearly and describe your work day on site. Include details such as:

• Tasks completed
• Work progress
• Any issues or challenges encountered
• Weather conditions
• Equipment used
• Any other relevant information

You can speak naturally—the app will process and improve the transcription.

Step 5: Transcription and AI Processing

After you finish recording, the app will automatically:

• Transcribe your voice recording
• Process the transcription
• Use AI to polish and refine your recording into a professional diary entry

This processing happens automatically, so you don't need to do anything else—just wait for the polished transcription to appear.

Step 6: Receive Your Transcribed Diary Entry

Once processing is complete, you'll receive your transcribed and polished diary entry. You can:

• Click "Copy to Clipboard" to copy the text
• Paste it into any email or report that you need

The polished transcription is ready to use in your documentation without additional editing.

Step 1: Select Scan Type

On the Site Survey screen, pick either Stockpile or Trench for 3D LiDAR scanning. This determines how the app processes and calculates the point cloud data.

Step 2: Start a New Scan

Click the "New Scan" button. This will bring up the camera feed with a start button visible on the screen.

Step 3: Begin Scanning

When you're ready to proceed, click the "Start Scan" button. The scanning process will begin, and LiDAR dots will appear on top of the camera feed in real-time.

The top left corner of the screen shows the number of captured dots, which increases as you scan. Move your device slowly around the object you're scanning to capture points from different angles.

Step 4: Stop Scanning

Once you're satisfied with the coverage and number of points captured, click the "Stop Scan" button. The app will process the point cloud data.

After processing completes, you'll be returned to the main Site Survey screen, which displays an estimated volume based on your scan.

Step 5: Open the Point Cloud Viewer

Click on the "View Point Cloud" button to enter the point cloud viewer. This 3D viewer allows you to examine and interact with your scan in detail.

Step 6: Navigation Controls

In the point cloud viewer, you can:

• Move: Navigate through the 3D space
• Zoom: Use pinch gestures to zoom in and out
• Rotate: Use one finger to rotate the view

These gestures allow you to examine your scan from any angle and distance.

1. Navigate Mode

Default mode for moving around and examining the point cloud. Use this mode to explore your scan and find areas of interest.

2. Measure Distance Mode

Measure the distance between two points. Select two dots in the point cloud, and the app will calculate and display the distance between them.

3. Area Mode

Create a surface polygon by selecting multiple dots. The app will join the dots to form a polygon and determine the area of that surface. This is useful for measuring cross-sections or surface areas.

4. Angle Mode

Uses three dots to define two planes and calculates the angle between them. Select three points to establish the angle measurement. This is helpful for measuring slopes, angles of repose, or other angular measurements.

Refined Mode

In the top right corner, you can access Refined Mode. In this mode, you can see the mesh representation of your point cloud, which provides a more solid visualization of the scanned object.

Ground Plane Adjustment

In Refined Mode, you can adjust the ground plane using the slider on the top left corner. This helps align your scan with the actual ground level.

Click the "Advanced Ground Plane Settings" dropdown to reveal additional sliders that allow you to adjust the angle of the ground plane for more precise alignment.

Stockpile Peak Interpolation

For stockpile scans, click on the tab next to the ground plane settings to access the peak interpolation feature.

Since LiDAR can only capture up to 5 meters in height, the interpolation feature allows you to estimate the rest of the stockpile peak using a slider. This is particularly useful for large stockpiles that exceed the LiDAR's maximum capture range.

Can I use TrenchCalc offline?

AI features require internet connection for the diary.

What units are supported?

TrenchCalc supports both metric (meters, kilograms) and imperial (feet, pounds) units. You can switch between them in settings.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Subscriptions are managed through Google Play Store. Go to Play Store → Subscriptions → TrenchCalc → Cancel. You'll keep access until the end of your billing period.

Can I export my data?

Yes! You can export projects as PDF reports or CSV files. PDFs include all calculations and breakdowns. CSV files contain raw data for spreadsheet analysis.

What's the difference between Free, Basic, and Premium plans?

See the Pricing page for a detailed comparison. Free includes basic calculations. Basic adds cement stabilization and culvert support. Premium includes all features with advanced planning tools.