Earthwork Calculation 3

[bashabo]

Owner wants to construct a bi-level residential building on a lot of 5000 sft. Currently, I am on the process of doing the topo survey using the traditional level machine for the grading plan. I would appreciate any comments regarding the survey as to how close I should take elevation shots for the rolling hills. Also, is there any less-expensive software (less than $1000) that I can use to calculate the earthwork (cut/fill) volume based on the survey contours and the proposed finished grade? Any recommendations will be highly appreciated. Thanks

 

[PEinc]

5000 sf????? A very small lot, only about 71' x 71'. Why don't you just draw some cross sections and do the calculations by hand? Do it like we did before computers and $1000 software.

 

[SteveWarfle]

PEInc has given you very good advice. On a lot that size, the earthwork calculation should be pretty simple. I'd take a piece of graph paper, and use it to scale your project elevations at even intervals across the site. If you are using a level on that site, just pull a tape to grid points every 25 feet or so. More if the site has a lot of undulations, less if it's relatively flat. A popular size is 50 X 50 feet....on something that small I'd go to 25 X 25. Next, multiply the square footage of the area by the depth of cut or fill, and then divide by 27. Ad up the cuts & fills, and that's your yardage. Don't forget to account for any stripping depth, or paving or topsoil replacement requirements.

Good Luck
Steve Warfle
Product Manager
InSite Earthwork & Utility Estimating Software

 

[MEM1]

I have a spreadsheet that will do what Steve suggests. It's in quatro pro. Your welcome to use it if you want. I don't attest to the accuracy. It calculates the cut and fill based on average grid interval elevation change. Let me know.

Scott

 

[chicopee]

If you have a drafting board you can lay out your countour line survey on a drafting sheet (D size preferably) than draw profiles of strategistically placed traverse lines and come up w/ a grade from which you can see the cuts and fills. Surveying books have the prismatic formulae for calculating the volumes for these cuts and fills.

 

[buffaloman]

an inexensive software package called CIVIL TOOLS does that calulation plus about 25 other routine CE calculations for you. Its about $300 find it on the web

 

[ql3]

If you're looking for an inexpensive program to do accurate
earthwork estimating, try Pizer Earth. I began using it twenty years ago, but have since switched to digitizer software. Digitizers break down and Earth has bailed me out on several occasions. Check their web site.
The Land Estimator

 

[lburgos79]

Hi, I would like to know how to calculate how many triaxles I would need in order to excavate a 10000 cubic foot basement. I don't know how the "fluff" factor works or what how to determine the numeric coefficients.

 

[Wasdifferent]

lburgos79,
I could use some more info, but I'll take a stab at it for you. For a 22 ton truck, figure about 30 loads, but check with your excavator, or your trucking outfit first.


-Mike

http://www.sewellconstruction.org

 

[66engineer]

Iburgos79, michaeldouglasswell's estimate looks about right. 10,000 CF is 370 CY. For a clean sand material, assume about 15% swell or 425CY (about 27 tri-axle dump trucks) or for a lumpy, clay material, assume about 25% swell or 462 CY (29 tri-axle loads).