Question 1

How do I set up my first project?

Accepted Answer

Create a project, import a DXF alignment, and ForgeLot will auto-detect the coordinate system so you can lock a control line and generate chainage markers straight away.

Question 2

Do I need to be a surveyor to use ForgeLot?

Accepted Answer

No. Site and project engineers, surveyors and QA staff all use ForgeLot day to day, the chainage and offset workflow is designed to be usable by anyone tracking construction lots.

Question 3

How long does onboarding take?

Accepted Answer

Most teams import their first alignment and generate lots within an hour. Professional and Enterprise plans include priority support and, on Enterprise, guided onboarding.

Question 4

Can I try ForgeLot before committing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every workspace gets one 14-day free trial on the plan you choose. You add your card when the trial starts and you can cancel anytime before it ends without being charged.

Question 5

Can multiple people work on the same project?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on Starter one seat is included; Professional and Enterprise support a shared team workspace with roles so engineers and QA staff see the same live lot register.

Question 6

Which DXF entities are supported?

Accepted Answer

ForgeLot reads LWPOLYLINE, POLYLINE, LINE, ARC, CIRCLE and SPLINE entities, including geometry nested inside blocks, so most alignment exports from civil design packages import cleanly.

Question 7

How does auto-detection of the coordinate system work?

Accepted Answer

On import, ForgeLot scores candidate map projections against the drawing's coordinates and extents, and picks the best match automatically.

Question 8

What if my drawing has no coordinate system at all?

Accepted Answer

You can place the alignment manually on the satellite basemap if no projection can be determined, then continue locking the control line as normal.

Question 9

Can I change the control line after generating chainage?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can re-lock the control line, and ForgeLot will regenerate chainage markers and re-check the lots that depend on them.

Question 10

What units does ForgeLot use for chainage and offsets?

Accepted Answer

Chainage and offsets follow the units embedded in your DXF file; ForgeLot will flag a project if it detects mixed or ambiguous units on import.

Question 11

How do I create a lot?

Accepted Answer

Define a chainage range along your locked control line, then set left and right offsets, ForgeLot draws the lot boundary on the satellite basemap and computes its area automatically.

Question 12

What is a construction layer?

Accepted Answer

Each lot is tagged with the construction layer it represents, such as topsoil strip, subgrade or base course, so the register shows exactly what stage each lot has reached.

Question 13

How is lot area calculated?

Accepted Answer

Area is computed automatically from the chainage range and left/right offsets against the locked control line, there's no manual measurement step.

Question 14

Can lots overlap or share chainage ranges?

Accepted Answer

Yes, different construction layers can occupy the same chainage range and offsets, so you can track topsoil, subgrade and pavement lots independently over the same stretch of alignment.

Question 15

How do I track lot status?

Accepted Answer

Every lot carries a status field you update as work progresses, giving you a live visual record of what's been built across the corridor.

Question 16

Can I export the lot register?

Accepted Answer

Yes, registers export to CSV for spreadsheets and analysis, or to PDF for handover packs and QA submissions.

Question 17

What is an ITP (inspection and test plan)?

Accepted Answer

An ITP lists every inspection, test, hold point and witness point for a work activity in construction sequence, with the specification clause it verifies, who performs it and the record produced. Earthworks projects usually run one ITP per activity, such as subgrade preparation or fill placement.

Question 18

What is the difference between an ITP and a lot register?

Accepted Answer

The ITP is the plan of what will be checked; the lot register is the record of which parcels of work were built and which checks passed on each. One ITP is applied many times, once per lot.

Question 19

What belongs in a lot register?

Accepted Answer

Lot number, location by chainage and offset, construction layer, area or volume, the ITP reference, test results, current status and the conformance date. ForgeLot keeps all of these against the lot geometry and exports them to CSV or PDF.

Question 20

What is a hold point and a witness point?

Accepted Answer

A hold point stops work until the nominated party inspects and releases it, such as a subgrade proof roll before capping. A witness point invites attendance but work can continue if notice was given and nobody attends.

Question 21

Does ForgeLot suit Queensland TMR (MRTS04) earthworks projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Lots are created by chainage range, offsets and construction layer, which is how earthworks lots are described on TMR jobs, and each lot carries its hold point status and conformance date. See our MRTS04 earthworks guide for how lotting, layers and release work in practice.

Question 22

Do you have a free ITP or lot register template?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can download a free earthworks ITP template and lot register template in CSV, plus a printable PDF version, from our templates page. No signup or email is required.

Question 23

Do you have a free site diary template?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our free civil site diary template covers weather, crews, plant hours, work areas by chainage, lots opened and conformed, tests, hold points, delays and instructions, with a companion plant and labour record. It comes as CSV files plus a printable A4 PDF, with no signup required.

Question 24

How do I track ITP status in ForgeLot?

Accepted Answer

Each lot moves through awaiting inspection, awaiting testing, passed or rework required, and the map recolours as status changes so held work is visible before a crew covers it. Read the full guide to inspection and test plans and lot registers for the detail.

Question 25

Where is my project data stored?

Accepted Answer

Your DXF imports, control lines, chainage and lot data are stored securely per organisation, and are only visible to members of your workspace.

Question 26

Can I export everything if I need to leave?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can export your full lot register to CSV or PDF at any time, so your records are never locked into the platform.

Question 27

Who can see my lots and registers?

Accepted Answer

Only members of your team workspace with an assigned role can view or edit a project's lots and registers.

Question 28

Does ForgeLot support single sign-on?

Accepted Answer

SSO and custom roles are available on the Enterprise plan for organisations standardising access across multiple sites.

Question 29

How is ForgeLot priced?

Accepted Answer

Starter and Professional are priced per user per month (or per year at a discount), with Starter limited to one active project. Enterprise is custom-priced for larger organisations.

Question 30

Can I switch plans later?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can move between Starter, Professional and Enterprise as your team and number of active projects change.

Question 31

Is there a contract or can I cancel anytime?

Accepted Answer

There's no lock-in contract, plans are month-to-month or annual, and you can cancel from your account settings at any time.

Question 32

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Accepted Answer

Your projects and lot registers remain exportable to CSV and PDF for a retention window after cancellation.

Frequently asked questions

Getting started

DXF & coordinate systems

Lots & chainage

ITPs & lot registers

Data & security

Billing & accounts

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