DAVCO OptiSurface
DAVCO OptiSurface develops patented AI-driven software (OptiSurface Designer and OptiWorks) that optimizes farm earthworks for drainage, irrigation, and erosion control, serving large-scale farmers, agricultural consultants, and earthmoving contractors across more than a dozen countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersGold Coast, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What DAVCO OptiSurface does
DAVCO OptiSurface (legal entity: Davco OptiSurface Pty Ltd) is an Australian agricultural technology firm that develops and licenses software for optimizing farm earthworks used in drainage, irrigation, and erosion control. Founded in the late 1990s by brothers Graeme Cox, an agricultural engineer with a PhD in Sugar Cane Precision Agriculture, and David Cox, principal of the related DAVCO Farming sugar cane operation in Ayr, Queensland, the company is headquartered in Ashmore, Queensland, with a global sales presence through a Global Sales Manager based in the USA.
The company's core technology is the patented OptiSurface system, which uses AI optimization to calculate Continuously Variable Grades (CVG) for field topography and integrates with 3D GPS machine control systems from Trimble, John Deere, Outback, Ag Leader, and Case New Holland. The primary products are OptiSurface Designer, a desktop software for in-office analysis and design, and OptiWorks, an in-cab survey, design, and automated blade-control system that runs at 10 Hz via RTK GPS. Supporting offerings include OptiHaul (patent-pending optimal haul path analysis), OptiLine (variable-slope profile design), OptiSurface Cloud (online design sharing), and OptiSurface Mobile (iOS field access), plus UAV/drone and Google Earth integration.
Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: software licenses for OptiSurface Designer and OptiWorks sold via quote request, professional design services starting at $297, and 2-day hands-on training workshops priced at $1,997 USD. Distribution combines direct sales with a worldwide partner network of precision agriculture dealers (including BMS LaserSat, Inntagri, Geotrim, and Record Harvest Enterprises), independent consultants, and earthmoving contractors across the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Central America, and several European countries. The company reports that its designs have been applied to over 2 million acres globally, with stated outcomes of up to 80% reduction in earthworks compared to traditional laser grading and a 1-year payback on investment.
DAVCO OptiSurface firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DAVCO OptiSurface
- Legal name
- Davco OptiSurface Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://optisurface.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- DAVCO OptiSurface develops patented AI-driven software (OptiSurface Designer and OptiWorks) that optimizes farm earthworks for drainage, irrigation, and erosion control, serving large-scale farmers, agricultural consultants, and earthmoving contractors across more than a dozen countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DAVCO OptiSurface industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Agriculture Software
- NAICS
- Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333111), Agricultural Implement Manufacturing (33311)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Agricultural Services (700), Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Variable Rate Technology (VRT) & Prescription/Tasking Platforms (AFAAAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Farm Management & Decision Support Software (FMIS, ERP, Recordkeeping) (AFAGALAA), Decision Support & Prescriptive Analytics (Variable-Rate Rx, Crop Modeling) (AFABAMAE), Precision Irrigation & Water Management (Smart Irrigation, Scheduling, VRI, Water Sensors) (AFAGALAF), Drone/UAV Data Capture & Processing Software (AFAAAFAH)
Keywords
Where DAVCO OptiSurface is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gold Coast
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
DAVCO OptiSurface business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Licenses (OptiSurface Designer & OptiWorks): OptiSurface Designer is farm earthworks design software for in-office analysis and design. OptiWorks is in-cab survey, design, and control system. Both are sold as licenses with access to software installation files, online video training courses, and world-class technical support.
- Professional Design Services: Done-for-you farm earthworks designs including Landform Design, Drain Network Design, Erosion Control Design, Furrow Irrigation Optimization, and Topography Survey services. Prices start at $297.
- Training Services: Premium training including 1-on-1 online or in-person training via screen sharing, and 2-day group workshop programs. Workshop tuition is $1997 USD.
- OptiHaul - Optimal Haul Path Maps: Innovation released in December 2021 - shows optimal earth haul paths, included with OptiSurface Designer software.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Services starting price point for farm earthworks solutions |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Design Services (Done For You) |
| Subscription | Annual | OptiSurface Designer Software License |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | OptiWorks In-Cab System |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Training Workshop (2-Day) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
DAVCO OptiSurface product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DAVCO OptiSurface develops and licenses patented AI-powered agricultural earthworks optimization software (OptiSurface Designer for in-office design and OptiWorks for in-cab machine control) that uses Continuously Variable Grades (CVG) technology and 3D GPS machine control to optimize farm drainage, irrigation, and erosion control. The company complements its software with done-for-you professional design services, training workshops, and a global partner network of dealers, consultants, and earthmoving contractors.
Product overview
DAVCO OptiSurface offers a software and services platform for agricultural landforming and earthworks optimization. The core products are OptiSurface Designer (desktop design software) and OptiWorks (in-cab survey/design/control system), which work together to enable precision landforming using patented AI optimization. The platform uses Continuously Variable Grades (CVG) technology to calculate optimized field surfaces that save up to 80% in earthworks compared to traditional laser grading. Supporting professional services include landform design, drain network design, erosion control design, furrow irrigation optimization, topography surveying, and premium training. Additional features include OptiSurface Cloud for online sharing, OptiSurface Mobile for iOS field access, OptiHaul for optimal haul path analysis, and OptiLine for variable slope design.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OptiSurface Designer: Desktop software for in-office analysis and design of agricultural earthworks, compatible with most RTK GPS systems and machine control systems.
- OptiWorks
Products and services
- OptiSurface Designer Farm earthworks design software that allows users to import field surveys from any RTK GPS and UAV, create optimized 3D landform designs, perform drainage and erosion analysis, and export control files for machine guidance systems. Sold as an annual subscription license.
- OptiWorks In-cab earthworks system that enables survey, design, and automatic machine control in the field. Receives RTK GPS elevation data 10 times per second and automatically adjusts scraper or ditcher height through tractor hydraulics.
- Optimum Surface Landform Design Service Done-for-you landforming design service where OptiSurface experts survey fields and create optimized designs for drainage, irrigation, and erosion control with up to 80% earthworks savings over traditional methods. Service starts at $297.
- Drain Network Design Service Design service for surface drain networks to remove excess water, including maps of existing topography, depression and flow paths, proposed drain network, and proposed flow paths.
- Erosion Control Design Service Design service for erosion control structures including terraces, graded contour banks, waterways, and dry dams with cut/fill maps and earthworks volumes.
- Furrow Irrigation Optimization Service Service that numerically optimizes furrow inflow rates, duration, and field slopes to maximize water use efficiency and field profit.
- Topography Survey Service Field topography surveying service with sub-inch accuracy using RTK GPS on ground vehicles, drone photogrammetry, or aircraft LIDAR technology.
- Premium Training 1-on-1 online or in-person training via screen sharing for OptiSurface software products, plus 2-day hands-on workshops taught by Dr. Graeme Cox. Workshop tuition is $1,997 USD with partner discounts available.
Quantifiable outcome
- Save up to 80% in earthworks compared to traditional laser/planar methods
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use DAVCO OptiSurface
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DAVCO OptiSurface technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability3 records
Feature8 records
DAVCO OptiSurface partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Record Harvest Enterprises, Inc.coreRecord Harvest Enterprises, based in Nevada, Missouri, became an OptiSurface Partner in March 2016 to provide surface drainage solutions for clients using the patented 3D landform design software. GPS landforming reshapes field topography to optimize water management.
- BMS LaserSatcorePrecision Agriculture Dealer providing OptiSurface software and services. Has conducted surveys and designs for thousands of acres and sold over $7 million of laser, GPS and machinery equipment.
- InntagricorePrecision Agriculture Dealer promoting OptiSurface in Central America. Has been using the technology since 2010 and reports that it is unique in the world for agricultural earthworks designs.
- GeotrimminorPrecision Agriculture Dealer in Finland providing OptiSurface software and support.
- Preston MartheycoreGlobal Sales Manager for DAVCO OptiSurface with over 25 years experience in precision agriculture, agricultural earthworks, lasers and GPS. Has surveyed and designed 150,000 acres and sold over $7 million of laser, GPS and machinery.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DAVCO OptiSurface competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Raven Industries (CNH): Raven Industries (now part of CNH Industrial) builds precision agriculture technology including guidance, autosteering, and application control for ag retailers and growers. Comparable because their precision-ag platform competes for the same farm-management software, GPS hardware, and machine-control integration budgets that OptiSurface targets through its partner and OEM relationships.
- Topcon Agriculture: Topcon provides precision agriculture solutions including GPS guidance, autosteering, and machine control for seeding, spraying, and land leveling applications. Comparable because they sell directly into the same agricultural earthworks and water-management workflows OptiSurface serves, often through overlapping precision-ag dealers.
- Ag Leader Technology: Ag Leader manufactures precision agriculture displays, GPS receivers, and farm management software used for planting, spraying, and harvest operations. Comparable because OptiSurface directly integrates with all Ag Leader RTK receivers for survey import, and both companies serve the same row-crop and grain farmer customers through a common partner channel.
- Farmers Edge: Farmers Edge is a precision agriculture company selling farm data management, variable rate prescriptions, and connected hardware to broad-acre growers globally. Comparable because it also operates in decision-support software for drainage, fertility, and yield optimization, and pursues a partner-and-dealer go-to-market model for international expansion similar to OptiSurface.
Others
- Pessl Instruments (METOS): Pessl Instruments (METOS) builds field sensors, weather stations, and farm decision-support platforms used worldwide for irrigation scheduling, disease modeling, and precision agronomy. Comparable as an ecosystem peer in precision agriculture decision-support, especially with OptiSurface's stated irrigation/drainage optimization services, though Pessl is sensor-driven rather than earthworks-focused.
Broad incumbents
- CNH Industrial (Case IH / New Holland): CNH Industrial owns Case IH and New Holland, two of the largest agricultural equipment OEMs with growing precision-ag software stacks and GPS guidance systems. Comparable because OptiSurface directly supports Case/New Holland RTK systems, and CNH has the resources to bundle landforming or drainage analytics into its existing precision-ag platform if it chooses.
- Trimble Agriculture: Trimble's agriculture division provides GPS guidance, machine control, and farm management software widely used in precision agriculture. Comparable because OptiSurface explicitly integrates with Trimble GPS hardware for survey import and machine control export, making Trimble both a complementary and potential competing precision-ag stack.
- John Deere (Deere & Company): John Deere is a major agricultural equipment OEM with extensive precision-ag software, GPS receivers, and machine-control platforms integrated across its tractor and implement lineup. David Cox sits on the John Deere Global Ag Innovation Council, and OptiSurface explicitly supports John Deere guidance systems including iGrade, making it both a channel partner and a potential integrated competitor.
Emerging players
- Agrian (now part of TELUS Agriculture): Agrian, now part of TELUS Agriculture, provides precision-agriculture and crop-protection compliance software used by ag retailers and growers for prescription and recordkeeping workflows. Comparable because both serve enterprise agribusinesses that need documentation, prescription, and analytics, even though OptiSurface focuses on earthworks-level rather than crop-input prescriptions.
- Climate FieldView (Bayer): Climate FieldView is a digital farming platform offering field data management, prescription maps, and decision-support agronomy tools to large-scale farmers. Comparable because both compete for per-farm software subscriptions and decision-support workflows, although FieldView focuses on in-season agronomy where OptiSurface focuses on landforming/earthworks prescriptions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DAVCO OptiSurface social profiles
Digital presenceDAVCO OptiSurface financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DAVCO OptiSurface leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
DAVCO OptiSurface funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DAVCO OptiSurface M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DAVCO OptiSurface
What does DAVCO OptiSurface do?
DAVCO OptiSurface develops and licenses patented AI-powered agricultural earthworks optimization software (OptiSurface Designer for in-office design and OptiWorks for in-cab machine control) that uses Continuously Variable Grades (CVG) technology and 3D GPS machine control to optimize farm drainage, irrigation, and erosion control. The company complements its software with done-for-you professional design services, training workshops, and a global partner network of dealers, consultants, and earthmoving contractors.
Is DAVCO OptiSurface a public or private company?
DAVCO OptiSurface is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DAVCO OptiSurface founded?
DAVCO OptiSurface was founded in 1990. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is DAVCO OptiSurface based?
DAVCO OptiSurface is headquartered in Gold Coast, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does DAVCO OptiSurface make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses (OptiSurface Designer & OptiWorks) is the primary driver. The others are professional Design Services, training Services and optiHaul - Optimal Haul Path Maps.
Who are DAVCO OptiSurface's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Raven Industries (CNH), Topcon Agriculture, Ag Leader Technology and Farmers Edge. Pessl Instruments (METOS) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are CNH Industrial (Case IH / New Holland), Trimble Agriculture and John Deere (Deere & Company). Emerging players are Agrian (now part of TELUS Agriculture) and Climate FieldView (Bayer).
Does DAVCO OptiSurface have an API?
No public API is recorded for DAVCO OptiSurface.
What industry is DAVCO OptiSurface in?
DAVCO OptiSurface's product category is Precision Agriculture Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAAAFAE, Variable Rate Technology (VRT) & Prescription/Tasking Platforms, with a secondary code of AFAGALAA, Farm Management & Decision Support Software (FMIS, ERP, Recordkeeping). Its NAICS code is 333111 and its SIC code is 7372.