# NAWCAD and ONR Release ESTIMATE-HC App for Civil and Field Engineering Calculations

- Published: 2026-11-06 08:35 UTC
- Section: Digital & Computing › Software & services
- Tags: horizontal construction app, ESTIMATE-HC iOS, NAWCAD Lakehurst, ONR Global TechSolutions, construction earthwork calculation
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-f6de8f310fbdf1e482a36ed8_nawcad_and_onr/

**Engineers developed an iOS application that runs offline and uses augmented reality to calculate earthwork and place equipment directly on site.**

![NAWCAD and ONR Release ESTIMATE-HC App for Civil and Field Engineering Calculations](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/ca7ba10d8798a13d.jpg)
*OutdoorMen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

The Office of Naval Research Global TechSolutions program and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst have released a mobile application called ESTIMATE-HC for field construction planning, according to EurekAlert [1]. The software was made available in the Apple App Store for iPhones and iPads, providing real-time calculations without requiring an active network connection [1].

The initiative addresses long-standing bottlenecks in horizontal construction, which covers the planning and maintenance of roads, airstrips, and base camps [1]. Traditionally, project planners recorded measurements on site using physical clipboards, then returned to an office environment to process data manually in distinct spreadsheets [1]. This multi-step process regularly consumed hours before producing verified resource estimates for moving soil or staging machinery [1].

## Computational Formulas and Standardization

The software eliminates repetitive manual entry by consolidating standardized mathematical formulas into a single mobile interface [1]. The embedded engineering data set matches the curriculum taught at Fort Leonard Wood, establishing unified calculation standards across diverse field teams [1]. Because the tool relies exclusively on unclassified and public parameters, it functions as a standalone utility without requiring custom backend enterprise installations [1].

By processing variables locally on mobile hardware, teams calculate earthwork volumes and machine logistics directly at the job site [1]. This real-time processing removes the requirement to transit between construction zones and desktop terminals to verify layout plans [1].

## Augmented Reality for Equipment Staging

In addition to volumetric math, the platform incorporates augmented reality tools through the device camera [1]. Operators point mobile sensors at an open physical plot and project virtual equipment models directly over real terrain [1]. This spatial visualization helps field managers assess spatial clearances and organize complex material staging in remote areas before any heavy machinery arrives on site [1].

Field testing remains underway to validate stability under rigorous job-site conditions [1]. The development team designed the application specifically to operate autonomously in disconnected environments, ensuring that remote geographical locations do not limit access to technical design calculations [1].

## Sources

1. [EurekAlert](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1150710)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-f6de8f310fbdf1e482a36ed8_nawcad_and_onr/