7 Best Earthing and Grounding Design Software Packages - ELEK Software

2/27/23, 7:12 PM 7 Best Earthing and Grounding Design Software Packages - ELEK Software
Home / Articles / Earthing Design
7 Best Earthing and Grounding Design

Software Packages
We compare the best software based on features, ease of use and value
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Table of Contents 
 What is an Earthing System?

 When should you perform an Earthing Study?
 Why use Earthing Design Software?
 7 Best Earthing & Grounding Software Packages
 1. ELEK SafeGrid
 2. SES CDEGS Suite
 3. SINT XGSLab
 4. ETAP Ground Grid Systems
 5. SKM GroundMat
 6. EATON CYMGRD
 7. APC WinIGS
One of the most revered topics in electrical engineering is electrical earthing. Traditionally
electrical earthing systems design has been a specialised field with topic experts and
dedicated departments within organisations who are responsible. This has partly been
https://elek.com.au/articles/7-best-earthing-and-grounding-design-software-compared/ 1/30
because electrical earthing is both complicated requiring effort to understand and also
because it is related to safety.
In the past, electrical earthing was regarded by many electrical engineers as a “black-art”.
Nowadays with greater numbers of mentors, increased online education and powerful,
intuitive software being available (and at a much lower cost to market than was previously
being offered), the capability of designing safe and robust earthing systems is more readily
available for electrical engineers.
This technical article will reveal and compare seven (7) of the world’s most well-known
software packages for the modelling and for the design of electrical earthing systems.
What is an Earthing System?
When should you perform an Earthing Study?

When a new power system is installed then a new earthing system design and study needs to
be performed. There are also several reasons to perform an earthing study for an existing
power system installation, including:
An audit or inspection uncovers defective or damaged earthing.

Measurements of grid resistance unveils a result which exceeds the design value.
Modifications or upgrades/extensions to an existing site.
Changes in the power system affecting fault level or clearing times.
Why use Earthing Design Software?
An earthing system (UK and IEC) or grounding system (US) connects an electrical power
system with the earth’s conductive surface, for both safety and functional purposes. The
earthing system must be carefully designed since it will affect safety and the electromagnetic
compatibility of an installation. In addition to electrical power systems, earthing may be
required for other systems such as for lightning protection systems.
In terms of safety for humans, assuming an earthing system is designed properly there are
significant safeguards and improvements to safety it can provide. Electrical fault currents
which are potentially fatal to humans in the form of touch or step voltage hazards are
captured by an earthing system and safely directed to and dissipated into the ground.
There is a myriad
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7 Best Earthing & Grounding Software Packages
Easily make changes to a design
software has become much more popular. to analyse the effects and optimise it.
Include the power system model and investigate multiple fault scenarios.
Accurately model your actual site conditions.
1. ELEK SafeGrid
To use accurate numerical software algorithms.
For compliance with the latest safety standards.
Perform difficult calculations in short amounts of time.
Visualise touch and step voltage plots.
But which software packages will perform these tasks to the highest standard? To determine
this, we’ll look at the current best earthing and grounding design software packages available.
SafeGrid is a well-known and a complete earthing design software package which has been in
the market since 2009. It is one of the few packages world-wide which has multilayer soil
modelling capability making it much more accurate than most other packages which can
model up to 2 soil layers only.
SafeGrid’s main algorithm considers the complex and frequency-dependent series impedance
of the grid conductors and is equivalent with the MALZ algorithm of CDEGS software and the
XGSA algorithm of XGSLab software.
Note that earthing software that neglects voltage drops in grid conductors can dramatically
underestimate earthing requirements near high voltage equipment and overestimate
grounding requirements everywhere else.
There is expert technical support provided by Electrotechnik. There is an online training

course available, and online step-by-step tutorials provided.
Things we like the most:
1. SafeGrid is the easiest to use. The design process is so simple.

2. Multilayer FEM algorithm is powerful and has high-precision.
3. Algorithm that accounts for the impedance of grid conductors which is much more
accurate and leads to improved safety and reduced construction costs.
4. Below and above ground arbitrary earthing systems from DC up to high frequency.
5. Steady-state (sinusoidal) and transient (time-domain) waveforms analysis included with
the Professional edition.
6. Automatic soil modelling from field measurements.
7. Fault current distribution module with standard cases.
8. Model custom grids from AutoCAD files.
9. Both IEC, BS and IEEE safety standards.
10. Interactive and modern plotting with reports in PDF or Microsoft Word.
11. Tool to overlay voltage plots onto your site construction drawings.
12. Rolling sphere method module for lightning protection designs.
13. Metric and Imperial units support.
14. Extremely powerful, easy to use and excellent value for money.
Things we don’t like:
1. No module for metallic pipeline induced voltage studies – under development due 2023.
2. Cannot model finite volume or vertically stratified soils.
3. Wenner arrays supported only and not Schlumberger arrays – Schlumberger due Q1,
2023.
4. No magnetic or electric fields outputs at present.
Pricing for SafeGrid packages:
Standard version: $9,900

Professional version: $15,000
The Professional version can model an unlimited number of elements up to 10 MHz.
1 year of updates and support is included. After 1 year the cost is 20%.
A free trial is available for download.
Review and Rating - ELEK SafeGrid
Ease of Use
Features
Technical Support
Value for Money
Price
Pros:
Multilayer soil modelling for custom grids in 3D. Advanced algorithm suitable for high-frequencies
and considers series voltage drops on grid conductors. Several modules included as standard such
as fault current distribution and lightning protection. Transient time-domain calculations available.
Modern interface and extremely easy-to-use. Training is usually not required. Advanced reporting
features.
2. SES CDEGS Suite

Cons:
Metallic pipeline induced voltages module and finite volume soil structures not currently available.
SES Technologies is a Canadian based company which offers the well-known CDEGS Suite
software package combining both earthing and electromagnetic analysis into one program.
The software includes accurate circuit analysis calculations that work in tandem with earthing
calculations and helps greatly in analysing electromagnetic related problems often
encountered in electrical systems. There are many different packages offered by SES for
earthing design where CDEGS is the highest package which includes all the capabilities of all
of them.
The main packages offered by SES Tech includes:
AutoGround – The most basic earthing design package limited to 2-layer soil modelling and
equipotential grid assumption which offers acceptable accuracy for small grids. Wenner and
Schlumberger array measurements but interestingly can give multilayer model however
AutoGround can still only model up to 2 soil layers only.
MultiGround – Multilayer soil modelling ability, still with the assumption of equipotential grid
conductors. Finite soil volumes and vertically as well as horizontally stratified soil models.
Includes fault current distribution.
MultiGroundZ – The same features as MultiGround but also considers the complex
impedance of the grid conductors which is much more accurate.
Multifields – This package can solve electromagnetic problems involving a network of above
ground and below ground conductors. Transients can be analysed up to hundreds of
megahertz.
CDEGS – This is the complete suite of SES software for solving earthing, electromagnetic
interference, electromagnetic fields, and transient phenomena.
Things we like most:
1. The full CDEGS package covers the broadest range of earthing and electromagnetic
applications for power systems.
2. The most widely known and accepted software package.
3. Interactive 3D CAD module which is best in class.
4. Can model the highest number of different soil structures.
1. Difficult and complicated software to use.

2. Very expensive for features offered as standard by other vendors.
3. Many of the packages and capabilities are not necessary for earthing designs. For
example, electromagnetic interference, electromagnetic fields, and transient
phenomena will not be required for most projects.
4. Highly academic software as opposed to practical in its approach to earthing design.
5. Their base packages of AutoGround and MultiGround (without Z+) exclude critical
features and have very limited capabilities for the price.
Pricing for CDEGS packages:
AutoGround version: ~$14,000

MultiGround version: ~$27,000
MultiGroundZ+ version: ~$54,000
MultiFields+ version: ~$90,000
CDEGS version: ~$105,000
The + versions of these packages and CDEGS include SPLITS which is their fault current
distribution package and SESShield which is for lightning protection design.
A free trial is not available at the SES website for download.
Review and Rating - CDEGS
Ease of Use
Features
Technical Support
Value for Money
Price
Pros:
3. SINT XGSLab
The most well-known and respected earthing and grounding modelling software package. Multi-
layer soil modelling as well as finite volumes and vertically stratified. Multiple add-on modules.
Cons:
Extremely costly. Some other packages (such as SafeGrid and XGSLab) have the same
capabilities for much lower cost. CDEGS software to difficult software to use – requires expensive
training courses. There are a lot of features which most users do not need and would never use.
SINT (Italy based) has developed the XGSLab Suite, which includes several modules to assist
with grid analysis, incorporating low frequency analysis of grounding systems and soil
calculations. It can take input data from graphical files (such as AutoCAD .dxf files) or
numerical files, ensuring that it can do calculations from all sorts of data.
XGSLab has several different modules to choose from:
GSA (Grounding System Analysis) for all basic application with underground systems with
equipotential grid voltages assumed.
GSA_FD (Grounding System Analysis in the Frequency Domain) for general applications with
underground systems.
XGSA_FD (Over and Under Grounding System Analysis in the Frequency Domain) for general
applications with overhead and underground systems
XGSA_TD (Over and Under Grounding System Analysis in the Time Domain) for general
applications with overhead and underground systems in the time domain.
Addon packages include:
NETS is the fault current distribution module.
SHIELD is the lightning protection design module which uses the rolling sphere method.
1. Multilayer soil modelling for all packages.

2. Accounts for the impedance of grid conductors (GSA_FD and above).
3. Below and above ground arbitrary earthing systems from DC up to high frequency.
4. Model custom grids from AutoCAD files.
5. Both IEC and IEEE safety standards.
6. Metallic pipeline induction studies, magnetic fields, and electric fields capabilities.
7. Time domain (transient) studies are possible (if required) with top package.
8. Lightning protection design module SHIELD is in 3D.
1. Relatively steep learning curve to use the software.

2. Sold through resellers therefore the technical support may not be good.
3. Fault current distribution (NETS) and lightning protection modules are optional extras
(add-ons).
4. Above ground earthing with Frequency-domain (FD) and Time-domain (TD) calculations
modules are expensive.
Pricing for XGSLab packages:
GSA Standard: Contact SINT (or reseller).

GSA_FD Standard: as above.
XGSA_FD Standard: as above.
XGSA_TD Standard: as above.
NETS: as above.
SHIELD: as above.
“Standard” means you can model up to 5000 elements (conductors).
1 year of support is included.
SINT offers affordable after sales web training via their resellers.
A virtual trial is available via resellers of XGSLab.
Review and Rating - XGSLab
Ease of Use
Features
Technical Support
Value for Money
Price
Pros:
Multilayer soil modelling like SafeGrid and CDEGS. A good level of features and capabilities. Well
known and respected internationally. Affordable after sales training is available.
4. ETAP Ground
Cons:
Grid Systems
Relatively difficult to use and high prices for standard capabilities. Add-ons for fault current
distribution (NETS) and lightning protection (SHIELD) cost extra. Technical support provided by a
reseller network and not SINT (Italy) directly.
ETAP is a package covering many areas of electrical power systems design and is well-known.
ETAP has developed the Ground Grid Systems (GGS) software to assist in designing ground
grid systems.
1. Can model grids of any shape.

2. 3D analysis of voltages.
3. User-definable conductor library.
4. Soil modelling using the Wenner method.
5. Calculation of safe limits to the IEEE standard.
6. Direct exportation of calculations and data to PDF.
1. Basic package and quite dated.

2. Algorithm assumes equipotential grid.
3. Limited to 2-layer soil models.
4. No IEC safety standards.
Pricing for ETAP GGS:
Contact ETAP for pricing information.
Review and Rating - ETAP Ground Grid Systems
Ease of Use
Features
Technical Support
Value for Money
5. SKM GroundMat
Price
Pros:
ETAP is well-known and supported software and widely used for power system analysis. Useful
package for analysing simple grids of any shape. Up to two soil layers with soil modelling and IEEE
safety standards.
Cons:
Very basic in terms of features and dated software interface. Main algorithm is flawed in that it
assumes equipotential grid segment voltages leading to large errors. IEC and EN safety standards
not supported. May not be able to purchase the grounding software separately from the entire
ETAP suite.
SKM has developed the GroundMat software with the purpose of substation ground grid
design and analysis. GroundMat specialises in the optimisation of pre-existing grid designs, or
reinforcing pre-existing grids, regardless of shape. With the usage of a finite element
algorithm, it can validate ground system efficiency with ease.
Things we like:
1. Uniform/two-layer soil layer analysis.

2. Multiple conductor sizes and material types, with sizing to IEEE standard 80.
3. Soil modelling using the Wenner method.
4. Calculation of safe limits to IEEE standards.
5. Interactive 2D and 3D plots.
1. Basic package and quite dated.

2. Algorithm assumes equipotential grid.
3. Limited to 2-layer soil models.
4. No IEC safety standards.
Pricing for GroundMat:
Single User: $3995

Local Area Network: $5495
Review and Rating - SKM GroundMat
Ease of Use
Features
Technical Support
Value for Money
Price
6. EATON
Pros:CYMGRD
SKM is well-known and supported software and widely used for power system analysis. Useful
package for analysing simple grids of any shape. Up to two soil layers with soil modelling and IEEE
safety standards.
Cons:
Very basic in terms of features and dated software interface. Main algorithm is flawed in that it
assumes equipotential grid segment voltages leading to large errors. IEC and EN safety standards
not supported. Not suitable for large or complex grids. Not supported by grounding experts.
EATON has developed the CYMGRD software as a means of substation grounding design and
analysis, seeking to make not only the design of new grids easier, but to reinforce existing
grids to be as efficient and cost effective as possible. With user-friendly data entry and
efficient analysis algorithms, the CYMGRD software makes arriving at cost-effective solutions
easy.
The CYMGRD software offers the following features:
Uniform and two-layer soil analysis

Conductor sizing to IEEE standard 80
Soil modelling using the Wenner method
Calculation of limits to the IEEE standard
Interactive 2D and 3D plots showing step voltages, touch voltages, etc

Inclusion of typical soil resistivity values and common types of surface layer materials
Pricing of CYMGRD:
Contact EATON for pricing.
7. APC WinIGS
SafeGrid Earthing Software

Easily design safe earthing systems in compliance with Standards.
Try For Free
Related Articles:
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(WinIGS) is a software that performs analysis and design of one or more grounding systems in
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standard criteria.
The WinIGS software offers the following features:
Uniform and two-layer soil analysis.

Multiple conductor sizes and material types and sizing to IEEE standard 80.
Soil modelling using the Wenner method.
Analysis of the distribution of fault currents in power systems.
Calculation of safe limits to both IEEE standards.
Power system above ground networks.
Lightning protection calculations in 3D using the rolling sphere method
Direct exportation of calculations results.
Pricing of WinIGS:
Contact APC for pricing.

Safety Limit Calculations to IEEE and IEC Standards
A safe earthing system design has two objectives; to provide a means to carry normal and fault current
without exceeding equipment limits or adversely affect continuity of service and to reduce the risk of a
person in the vicinity of an earthed facility being exposed to the danger of a critical electric shock.
Fundamentals of Earthing Design
Key earthing design concepts covered including Grid Potential Rise, design to reduce touch and step
voltages, fault current distribution, effects of soil resistivity and use of rods to improve safety along with
calculation and modelling examples.
7 Best Earthing and Grounding Design Software Packages
We compare the best and latest earthing and grounding system design software including SafeGrid, CDEGS,
XGSLab, ETAP and more based on technical features and compares price.
Surface Material Resistivity
This article provides typical values for surface layer resistivity to be used for earthing and ground electrical
calculations of touch and step voltages.
Multilayer Soil Effects on Earthing Grid Resistance
This article shows the effects of soil resistivity and thickness of layers on grid resistance for earthing systems
in multilayer soils. Increasing the resistivity of soil layers tends to increase the grid resistance, no matter
which soil layer that is. Increasing the thickness of any soil layer with high resistivity also increases grid…
Earthing System Types Explained
Low voltage earthing systems include TN-S, TN-C-S, TT, IT and DC. High voltage earthing includes solid,
ungrounded, resistance, reactance and resonant.
Lightning Strikes to Buildings with Earthing Systems
This report shows the effects of a direct lightning strike to an air terminal installed on top of a building which
is connected to a buried earthing system.
Reach Touch Voltages Explained
Reach touch voltages are different to touch voltages and automatically set to zero when the distance
between the voltage point on the ground surface and the grid conductor which is touched exceeds a reach
distance.
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2/27/23, 7:12 PM 7 Best Earthing and Grounding Design Software Packages - ELEK Software

Home / Articles / Earthing Design

7 Best Earthing and Grounding Design

Listen to this article now 10 10 1.0✕

 What is an Earthing System?

When should you perform an Earthing Study?

An audit or inspection uncovers defective or damaged earthing.

Why use Earthing Design Software?

There is expert technical support provided by Electrotechnik. There is an online training

Things we like the most:

1. SafeGrid is the easiest to use. The design process is so simple.

Things we don’t like:

Pricing for SafeGrid packages:

Standard version: $9,900

The Professional version can model an unlimited number of elements up to 10 MHz.

A free trial is available for download.

Review and Rating - ELEK SafeGrid

Value for Money

2. SES CDEGS Suite

The main packages offered by SES Tech includes:

Things we like most:

Things we don’t like:

1. Difficult and complicated software to use.

Pricing for CDEGS packages:

AutoGround version: ~$14,000

A free trial is not available at the SES website for download.

Review and Rating - CDEGS

Value for Money

XGSLab has several different modules to choose from:

NETS is the fault current distribution module.

Things we like most:

1. Multilayer soil modelling for all packages.

Things we don’t like:

1. Relatively steep learning curve to use the software.

Pricing for XGSLab packages:

GSA Standard: Contact SINT (or reseller).

“Standard” means you can model up to 5000 elements (conductors).

1 year of support is included.

A virtual trial is available via resellers of XGSLab.

Review and Rating - XGSLab

Value for Money

Things we like most:

1. Can model grids of any shape.

Things we don’t like:

1. Basic package and quite dated.

Pricing for ETAP GGS:

Contact ETAP for pricing information.

Review and Rating - ETAP Ground Grid Systems

Value for Money

1. Uniform/two-layer soil layer analysis.

5. Interactive 2D and 3D plots.

Things we don’t like:

1. Basic package and quite dated.

Pricing for GroundMat:

Single User: $3995

Review and Rating - SKM GroundMat

Value for Money

Uniform and two-layer soil analysis

Interactive 2D and 3D plots showing step voltages, touch voltages, etc

Contact EATON for pricing.

SafeGrid Earthing Software

Try For Free

The WinIGS software offers the following features:

Uniform and two-layer soil analysis.