Frequently Asked Question

Creating Trenches

If your project is outdoors, there’s a good chance digging will be required to run conduits between equipment.
Once all equipment is in its final location, it’s time to add trenches to your design.

Step 1: Select the Trench Tool

• Click the Trench icon in the toolbar.

Step 2: Choose a Surface Type

• You can use one surface type for the entire trench or change surface types midway as the path crosses different surfaces.
• Two ways to select a surface type:
  1. Click directly on the surface type in the menu.
  2. Use the right mouse button to scroll through surface options quickly.

The default surface type for trenches is Soil.

Step 3: Draw the Trench

1. Position your cursor at the starting point of the trench.
2. Left-click to begin drawing.
3. Use left-clicks to:

• Create corners.
• End a section of one surface type.

*Updated Feature - Feb 2026*

The trench window stays open to allow you to place multiple and or more complex trenches without having to return to the tool bar.  To close the menu, either hit escape or return the the tool bar and click one of the select tools or any other object icon.

Pro Tips

• Plan ahead: Add trenches only after all equipment is finalized to avoid unnecessary edits.
• Match real-world conditions: Switching surface types mid-trench helps reflect real job site conditions like soil, asphalt, or concrete.
• Keep it clean: Avoid overly complex trench paths to minimize project cost and visual clutter.