Do away with the paper chaos: digital civil engineering with SitePlan
24.09.2025SitePlan Onboarding
01.10.2025
Stopwatch on - we compare SitePlan against classic analog construction site processes.
Every minute that your foreman or site team does not spend on time-consuming measuring, coordination and documentation activities reduces costs, shortens project lead times and speeds up invoicing. With SitePlan, even a 3-person team can save over 50.000 € save.
In this case study, we look at four typical civil engineering scenarios and show how SitePlan saves time, costs and nerves. The examples are taken from real projects of well-known construction companies (such as PORR).
1 | Asphalt measurement - 5x faster than with measuring wheel
A verifiable asphalt measurement - created classically or digitally. The process steps range from preparation to measurement, documentation, area calculation and storage.
Classic process (measuring wheel, measuring tape, clipboard):
| Step | Activity | Time |
| 1 | Preparation: measuring wheel, tape measure, clipboard, search for plan | 03:15 |
| 2 | Create measurement sketch and notes (description of the location) on clipboard | 04:30 |
| 3 | Measure with measuring wheel (stationing, circumference) and measuring tape (widths), make parallel notes on clipboard | 16:30 |
| 4 | Area calculation: Enter stationings and widths in the calculation tool (e.g. Auer Success) | 05:15 |
| 5 | Prepare measurement sheet (revise sketches, insert LV items) | 05:30 |
| 6 | Scan measurement sheet and store digitally/paper-based | 03:00 |
Total time classic: 38:00 minutes
Digital process (SitePlan + GNSS antenna):
| Step | Activity | Time |
| 1 | Preparation: Connect GNSS antenna, start app | 03:00 |
| 2 | Record measurements with SitePlan (points, lines, areas) | 02:45 |
| 3 | Create PDF measurement report in web app | 01:15 |
Total digital time: 07:00 minutes
Result: 82 % time saving - more than 5x faster.
In addition, high-quality digital measurement sheets are created that can be imported into CAD or GIS systems - including reusable point clouds.
2 | Staking out house sewer connections - save €50 per connection
House connections are standard in civil engineering. Traditionally, this requires measuring tape, string, external surveyors - and a lot of time. With SitePlan, foremen or supervisors take care of the stakeout themselves.
Classic process:
| Step | Activity | Time | Costs |
| 1 | External surveying: Stake out house connection incl. approach & coordination | - | 20,00 € |
| 2 | 2 skilled workers: secure staked-out connection (measuring tape + pegs) | 15:00 | 22,00 € |
| 3 | 1 skilled worker + 1 excavator: measure house connection (cord, pendulum) | 10:00 | 18,33 € |
Total costs classic: 60.33 € per house connection
Digital process (SitePlan + GNSS antenna):
| Step | Activity | Time | Costs |
| 1 | 1 Foreman with SitePlan + GNSS: Determine and mark location | 03:00 | 2,70 € |
| 2 | 1 skilled worker + 1 excavator + SitePlan: Measure house connection | 03:00 | 6,00 € |
Total costs digital: 8.70 € per house connection
Result: 50 savings per house connection - and up to twice as many connections per day possible (from 2 to 3-4 per batch).
3 | Staking out flood protection Schärding - save € 4,000 per month
On the Schärding flood protection construction site (ARGE PORR-Swietelsky), SitePlan was used for preliminary excavation, sheet piling, search slots, canal and earth dam staking and clearing work.
Normally: approx. 50 h/month external surveyors → around €6,000/month.
With SitePlan: ⅔ of these activities are carried out by the construction site team itself (technician, foreman, supervisor).
Result: Around €4,000 saved in surveying costs per month.
4 | Photo documentation - Evidence in seconds
Photos are part of everyday life on a construction site, but traditionally this means chaos: pictures are stored somewhere on a cell phone, transferred to a computer via cable, sorted into project folders - and when a report is needed, the tedious search begins. The site manager spends hours organizing photos and manually inserting them into reports.
With SitePlan, things work completely differently: all photos are automatically georeferenced, provided with layers, descriptions and time stamps and are immediately visible in the plan. The site manager can keep an eye on construction progress in real time, and proofs for clients can be created with just a few clicks.
The result: Photo reports in seconds, clear evidence without discussions and zero search effort.
Overall picture - why SitePlan pays off
Whether surveying, setting out or photo documentation: SitePlan saves civil engineering companies money Time, costs and personnel.
- Processes are 5x faster
- Per house connection up to 50 € cheaper
- Per construction site up to 4,000€ saved on monthly surveying costs
- Evidence is watertight, available at any time and directly billable
Practice ROI - three typical team sizes
- 2-person column: > 2,000 € savings/month
- 5-person team: > 5,000 € savings/month
- Large construction site (10-15 users): > 15,000 € savings/month
Conclusion
With SitePlan, digitization does not become a major IT project, but a practical help in everyday construction site life.
- Measurement in minutes instead of hours
- Setting out without waiting for external surveyors
- Photo documentation automatically georeferenced
- Reports in 3 clicks
The result: More billable services, lower costs, faster billing.
SitePlan does not pay for itself in years - but from the first week.
Digital surveying with SitePlan
In just 30 minutes, we’ll show you how to digitize photo documentation, field measurements, and staking – tailored precisely to your construction sites and workflows.
No obligations. No cost.
