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Trench Popup Window Field Reference

Modified: 7 Jun 2026 Viewpoint Estimating Estimating Help
This field reference describes the following:

Elevations tab

Field Description
Trench Template Click to select the template to use as a basis for the trench or enter a name if you want to save the trench as a new trench template.
Trench Name Enter a name for the trench.
Elevation Each cell displayed shows the pipe invert at each point in the trench. If needed, you can modify the elevation.

Specifications tab

This tab contains settings for the three sections of your trench. Most trenches will not use all three sections, but all trenches have a bottom section. Enabled fields are determined by the trench type you select. Fields that do not apply to the selected trench type are disabled. The left side of the tab displays the shape of the trench.

Field Description
Trench Type Click to select the trench type for the template.
  • Vertical
  • T shape
  • V shape
  • Y shape
  • Y shape with bench
  • Custom - In order to set the specifications of the Top or Middle sections for a custom trench, you must specify the depth of the section immediately below it. Otherwise, you cannot modify the specifications for the higher trench sections.
Disturbed Width Enter in the disturbed width of the trench. Disturbed width is the width needed for construction equipment to get around the widest point of the trench. This value includes the width of the trench itself, as well as the disturbed areas around the trench as one total value.
Mirror Left Side Select this checkbox to create the right side of the trench using the data for the left side. If you select this checkbox, you cannot enter any data to define the right side of the trench.
Top - Use this section to define the dimensions of the top section of the trench. The depth of the top section is determined by subtracting the lower depths (if they exist) from the total depth of the trench.
Left Bench Width Enter the width of the bench on the left side of the top section of the trench. The bench is a flat, level section between the middle and top sections of the trench.
Left Bench Width Unit (unlabeled) Click to select the unit of measure for the bench on the left side of the top section of the trench.
Left Run Enter the length (run) of the slope on the left side of the top section of the trench.
Left Rise Enter the height (rise) of the slope on the left side of the top section of the trench.
Right Bench Width Enter the width of the bench on the right side of the top section of the trench. The bench is a flat, level section between the middle and top sections of the trench.
Right Bench Width Unit (unlabeled) Click to select the unit of measure for the bench on the right side of the top section of the trench.
Right Run Enter the length (run) of the slope on the right side of the top section of the trench.
Right Rise Enter the height (rise) of the slope on the right side of the top section of the trench.
Middle - Use this section to define the dimensions of the middle section of the trench.
Depth Enter the depth of the middle section of the trench.
Depth Unit (unlabeled) Click to select the unit of measure for the depth of the middle section of the trench.
Left Bench Width Enter the width of the bench on the left side of the middle section of the trench. The bench is a flat, level section between the bottom and middle sections of the trench.
Left Bench Width Unit (unlabeled)

Click to select the unit of measure for the bench on the left side of the middle section of the trench.
Left Run Enter the length (run) of the slope on the left side of the middle section of the trench.
Left Rise Enter the height (rise) of the slope on the left side of the middle section of the trench.
Right Bench Width Enter the width of the bench on the right side of the middle section of the trench. The bench is a flat, level section between the bottom and middle sections of the trench.
Right Bench Width Unit (unlabeled) Click to select the unit of measure for the bench on the right side of the middle section of the trench.
Right Run Enter the length (run) of the slope on the right side of the middle section of the trench.
Right Rise Enter the height (rise) of the slope on the right side of the middle section of the trench.
Bottom - Use this section to define the dimensions of the bottom section of the trench.
Depth Enter the depth of the bottom section of the trench.
Depth Unit (unlabeled) Click to select the unit of measure for the depth of the bottom section of the trench.
Width Enter the width of the trench at the bottom of the trench.
Width Unit (unlabeled) Click to select the unit of measure for the width at the bottom of the trench.
Left Run Enter the length (run) of the slope on the left side of the bottom section of the trench.
Left Rise Enter the height (rise) of the slope on the left side of the bottom section of the trench.
Right Run Enter the length (run) of the slope on the right side of the bottom section of the trench.
Right Rise Enter the height (rise) of the slope on the right side of the bottom section of the trench.

Pipes / Bedding tab

Field Description
Pipe 1, Pipe 2, and Pipe 3- Use these sections to define the dimensions of up to three pipes in the trench.
Outside Diameter Enter the outside diameter of the pipe in inches.
Distance from trench bottom Enter the distance between the pipe and the bottom of the trench in inches. This value is used to calculate the trench depth as follows:

Trench Depth = Proposed Elevation - Pipe Invert Elevation + Distance of pipe from trench bottom.

You digitize proposed elevations in the Takeoff tab, pipe inverts in the Trench tab, and then you enter the distance of the pipe from the trench bottom on the Pipes/Bedding tab of the trench template.
Type Click to select the type of pipe to use. Valid values are based on Pipe Attributes screen.
Bedding Layers - Use this section to define any materials to add at the bottom of the trench.
Bedding Type Click to select the type of bedding to use. Bedding layers should be defined in the order they are placed in the trench (that is from the bottom up). Valid values are based on Volume Attributes screen. You can also enter the bedding type.

To remove a layer, select it and click Delete Layer. Then click Yes.
Depth (IN) Enter the depth of the bedding layer in inches.
Note: Bedding should not intrude upon the top layer of the trench. It should be contained in the middle and bottom layers of the trench.
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