Updated May 2026 · 8 min read · Grading & Earthwork
Bottom Line
Grading contractors need software that handles pad elevation logging, real-time deviation from design, compaction documentation, and pad certification report generation. Most construction apps handle photos and daily logs — not grade verification. Sitemark is purpose-built for the grading contractor's specific documentation workflow.
Grading documentation isn't just field notes — it's verified measurements that prove your work meets the engineer's design. The PE certifying your pads needs to see real data: what elevation you achieved, how it compares to what was designed, whether drainage meets code, and whether compaction met specification. Generic construction apps weren't designed for this.
Pad elevation logging
Log 5+ elevation points per lot with automatic comparison against design. Flag any lot outside ±0.10 ft tolerance before you leave the site. No retyping into a spreadsheet later.
Cut/fill calculation
Real-time cut/fill from your actual shots helps track earthwork quantities for change order documentation and owner reporting.
Compaction documentation
Lift-by-lift compaction records with percent compaction calculation. Connect to nuclear gauge data or enter manually. Required for most commercial and DOT work.
Pad certification format
The PE package needs a specific format: lot number, benchmark reference, design elevation, as-graded elevation, deviation, drainage slopes, and corrective action documentation. Generate this from field data in one tap.
Procore is industry-standard GC project management. If your client requires Procore, you may access it for schedule updates and documentation submittals. It has zero support for grade shot logging, pad elevation verification, or pad cert generation. For grading work, it's a document repository — not a verification tool.
Raken handles daily reports and photos well. For grading contractors, it documents that grading happened — not whether it met spec. No elevation logging, no deviation calculation, no pad cert generation. A daily report supplement, not a grading documentation tool.
Most grading contractors use Excel templates built over years. They work, but they're slow (1–2 days for a 50-lot pad cert), error-prone (one formula error propagates to every lot), and have no real-time verification. You won't know a lot failed until you're back at the office running numbers.
Sitemark is built specifically for the grading contractor's workflow. Log pad elevations against design, get real-time pass/fail per lot, track compaction lift by lift, verify drainage slopes, and generate the PE-ready pad certification package in one tap — same day you complete the survey.
Grading equipment
Rotary lasers, GPS rovers, and total stations for grading contractors.
Shop rotary lasers at Express Tools →Log pad elevations in the field, verify drainage, track compaction, and generate the PE certification package before you leave the site.
Start Free Trial →No credit card required. Plans from $29/mo.