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Standard-Referenced Infrastructure Suite

Civil & Highway Engineering Tool Directory

Engineering tools based on selected ERA, AACRA, AASHTO and other applicable design criteria. Access our complete catalog of 24 calculations, formatters, and evaluators organized across 9 engineering disciplines. Tool calculations and engineering file processing run in the browser.

Showing 24 of 24 tools

Highway Geometric Design

8 Tools

Geometric alignment calculations establish the spatial three-dimensional path of the roadway centerline. Tools in this suite enforce horizontal curvature thresholds, spiral transition lengths, superelevation cross-slope distribution, vertical K-values for sight stopping distances, and junction entry geometries according to ERA 2013 and AASHTO Green Book specifications.

Applicable Design References:ERA 2013 Geometric Manual, AASHTO Green Book (2018), FHWA Junction Design

Road Cross-Section Coordinates

Calculate lane and shoulder offsets and elevations from entered widths and crossfalls. View the section and download coordinate CSV.

Ref: ERA 2013 Chapter 6 context

Route-Option Comparison

Compare road alternatives using project evidence, documented reviewer scores, and weights. Test ranking sensitivity and download an audit CSV.

Ref: ERA Route Selection Manual Chapter 10 context

Geometry review

Horizontal–Vertical Alignment Phasing Review

Compare horizontal and vertical curve station ranges on a shared basis. Inspect overlaps and gaps and export a paired review list.

Ref: ERA Geometric Design Manual Chapter 10 context

Horizontal Alignment Formatter

Parses raw Civil 3D horizontal alignment curve exports, eliminates redundant tangent records, and restructures data into standard sequential PC, PI, and PT stationing tables.

Ref: ERA 2013 / AASHTO Table 3-7

Vertical Alignment Formatter

Validates vertical profile grade breaks, verifies parabolic vertical curve lengths (L = K * A), and flags crest and sag K-value violations against minimum design speed criteria.

Ref: ERA 2013 Table 9-3 / AASHTO

Superelevation Calculator

Calculates tangent runout, transition runoff lengths (Lr), and critical rotation stations for normal crown, reverse crown, and full superelevation transitions.

Ref: ERA 2013 Chapter 8 / AASHTO e_max

Sight Distance Calculator

Estimate dry paved-road stopping sight distance and compare selected ERA passing-distance and vertical-curve references.

Ref: AASHTO 2018 / ERA 2013 Section 5.2

Junction & Roundabout Geometric Checker

Audits roundabout inscribed circle diameter (ICD), entry lane width, entry deflection angles, and sight triangle visibility envelopes against safe intersection design criteria.

Ref: FHWA Roundabouts Guide / ERA Chapter 11

Pavement Design & Materials

3 Tools

Pavement engineering tools size structural layers to withstand cumulative standard axle repetitions over the design life without premature rutting, fatigue cracking, or subgrade pumping. Algorithms cover empirical catalog methods (ERA 2013), AASHTO 1993 Structural Number formulations, and Westergaard rigid slab design.

Applicable Design References:ERA 2013 Flexible Pavement Manual, AASHTO 1993 Guide, PCA Rigid Method

Flexible Pavement Structural Sizer

Estimate cumulative traffic loading, check its traffic class, and review supported flexible pavement layer and overlay presets.

Ref: ERA 2013 Pavement Manual / AASHTO 1993

Rigid Pavement Slab Sizer

Calculates Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) jointed plain slab thickness, steel dowel bar diameters, and tie bar spacing using Westergaard edge and corner stress equations.

Ref: AASHTO 1993 Rigid / PCA Method

Pavement Layer Substitution Calculator

Evaluates structural equivalence when replacing standard asphalt concrete or crushed stone base with asphalt concrete binder, cement-stabilized base, or subbase layers.

Ref: AASHTO Structural Number Equivalence

Drainage & Hydraulics

2 Tools

Roadway drainage design ensures effective conveyance of stormwater away from the pavement structure and natural watercourses crossing the road embankment. Tools compute peak catchment discharges and size culvert openings and side ditches to prevent overtopping and scouring.

Applicable Design References:ERA 2013 Drainage Design Manual, FHWA HDS-5, Manning's Equation

Culvert & Side Ditch Sizer

Estimate peak runoff, screen full-barrel culvert capacity, and estimate normal depth in a trapezoidal ditch.

Ref: ERA Drainage Manual / FHWA HDS-5

Structure Plan-Profile Sheet Creator

Compiles cross-drainage culvert schedules detailing inlet/outlet invert elevations, skew angles, culvert lengths, barrel slopes, and headwall coordinates into clean tabular formats.

Ref: ERA Drainage Design Manual 2013 / AASHTO

Survey & Terrain Analysis

3 Tools

Surveying and terrain classification provide the primary topographic foundation for all geometric and earthwork designs. These tools validate field point clouds for instrument inversions and classify longitudinal terrain relief into standard design classes.

Applicable Design References:ERA 2013 Geometric Manual Table 2-1, USBR Soil Mechanics

Survey Data Cleaner & Anomaly Detector

Scans total station and GNSS point clouds (P,E,N,Z,D) to detect inverted Easting/Northing coordinates, elevation spikes, duplicate point numbers, and non-conforming feature codes.

Ref: ERA 2013 Site Investigation & FGDC Geodetic Accuracy Standards

Terrain & Topography Classifier

Audits longitudinal profile slope gradients over 5-kilometer intervals to categorize alignment sections into Flat (<10 5m-contours/km), Rolling (11-25), Mountainous (26-50), or Escarpment (>50).

Ref: ERA 2013 Geometric Manual Table 2-1

Expansive Soil Classifier

Classifies active clay subgrades by swelling potential (Low, Medium, High, Very High) using Plasticity Index (PI), Liquid Limit (LL), and clay fraction indicators to guide subgrade capping.

Ref: USBR / ERA Subgrade Investigation Manual

Earthworks & Haul Optimization

2 Tools

Earthwork planning balances cut excavation against fill embankment to minimize economic haul distances, optimize borrow pit locations, and prevent costly spoil disposal.

Applicable Design References:Average End Area Formulation, Mass Haul Diagram Theory

Mass Haul Diagram & Balance Calculator

Calculates cumulative algebraic earthwork volumes, generates mass-haul ordinates, identifies balance lines, and calculates economic overhaul and free-haul limits.

Ref: AASHTO Earthwork & Mass Haul Principles

Earthwork Quantity Takeoff Assistant

Audit earthwork from actual cross-section spacing and export consolidated or linked Excel quantity workbooks.

Ref: Average End Area Volume Method

Road Safety & Furniture

2 Tools

Road safety engineering protects errant vehicles from catastrophic roadside hazards, steep embankment rollover, and collisions with non-breakaway structures.

Applicable Design References:AASHTO Roadside Design Guide (4th Ed), ERA Chapter 12, MUTCD

Guardrail & Barrier Warrant Evaluator

Evaluates embankment height vs fill slope steepness, clear zone lateral offset to fixed obstacles, and water hazard proximity to evaluate semi-rigid W-beam or concrete barrier warrants.

Ref: AASHTO Roadside Design Guide / ERA Chapter 12

Road Signs & Markings Estimator

Estimates regulatory, warning, and guide sign quantities alongside thermoplastic longitudinal pavement marking areas (centerlines, edge lines, chevron hatchings) per corridor km.

Ref: MUTCD / ERA Traffic Signs & Markings Manual

Quantity Takeoff & BoQ

1 Tool

Bill of Quantities standardizers convert engineering volume takeoff into contractually sound bid schedules structured according to standard civil works divisions.

Applicable Design References:ERA Standard Technical Specifications, CESMM4

Bill of Quantities (BoQ) Standardizer

Organizes itemized cost line items across standard Division Series (1000 General, 2000 Site Clearance, 3000 Drainage, 4000 Earthworks, 5000 Subbase/Base, 6000 Bituminous, 7000 Structures).

Ref: ERA Standard Technical Specifications

Civil 3D & CAD Automation

1 Tool

Interoperability formatters bridge the gap between web-based engineering calculations and heavyweight desktop CAD software, eliminating manual copy-paste errors.

Applicable Design References:LandXML 1.2 Open Schema, Autodesk Civil 3D Import Schema

LandXML Centerline Geometry Formatter

Parses, repairs, and standardizes LandXML 1.2 alignment geometries, coordinate tuples, and station equations for error-free import into Civil 3D and Bentley OpenRoads.

Ref: LandXML 1.2 Standard Specification

Engineering Project Management

2 Tools

Reconcile field test records against project targets and organize drawing submission folders for review.

Applicable Design References:ISO 19650 BIM Information Management, ERA Drawing Guidelines

Quality records

Field Test Coverage Register

Reconcile recorded field tests against project targets by lot, material and method. Review gaps, duplicates and unmatched records.

Ref: ERA testing and contract specification context

Standardized Drawing Submission Generator

Creates standardized directory hierarchies for drawing submittals across Concept, Preliminary, and Detailed Engineering Design phases, exporting an immediate ZIP file archive.

Ref: ISO 19650 / Road Authority Submittal Standards

Need a custom standard or road agency manual implemented?

We actively expand our calculations to support regional AASHTO variations and specific transportation authority codes.