CARRY OUT EARTHWORK ACTIVITIES

13.3.2.2 Information Sheet No13/LO1 Carry out Earthwork Activities

Introduction to learning outcome
This learning outcome covers various learning activities such as interpreting
drawings,
determining volumes of cut and fill and operating and maintaining construction tools
with
the end goal of learning how to carry out earthwork activities which is part of road
construction works.
Definition of key terms
Earthwork resources; earth filling or excavation of soil or rocks from one area to
another
by, hauling, dumping, crushing and compaction of soil
Site clearance and demolition activities; this involves removal of old infrastructure,
removal of top soil, cut and fill.
Statutory requirements; verified documents used for the road construction.

Content/Procedures/Methods/Illustrations
1.1 Obtain Relevant legal documents as per the contract requirement
Legal document: it is an official document required by law that binds the client and
the
contractor
Types of legal document
• Scope of work: work is clearly defined including the materials to be used.
• Construction schedule: it helps the clients and contractors to know how and when
the project will be completed.
• Conditions: involving general and specified conditions, general is rights for each
party while specified is conditions for a given work and certain circumstances.
• Bill of quantities: this is the part of contraction project which includes labour, list
of materials etc.
• Drawings: all contracts require drawings this include actual blueprints
For project.
Steps of obtaining relevant Legal documents
• Obtaining surveying plan: this is to confirm if the land is the exact one and proof
of the land ownership
• Obtain project report from (NEMA): this is to approve environmental impact of the
project
• Obtain approval of the architectural plans: drawings are approved
• Obtain stamps on architectural and structural plans.
1.2 Identify and mobilize Earthwork resources as per the contract document
This is the process of determining the resources required and getting the necessary
finance
to acquire these resources.
Types of Earthwork resources
• Bulldozer: heavy tractor which assist in digging, pushing, excavating and levelling
• Hoe, mattock, pick axe, crowbar, spade: used for excavating materials
• Basket, stretcher, shovel, wheelbarrow: used for removing materials
• Rake, spreader, hoe: used for spreading
• Hand hammer: used for compaction
• Excavators: used to dig and load materials in a tractor
• Trenchers: used to dig trenches in the ground
Steps of Identifying and mobilizing the necessary resources
(i) Determine the particular earthwork activity to be carried out at the site. This is
done
so as to determine the type of earthwork resource required for the particular activity.
(ii) Acquire the necessary permits and financial resource to mobilize these resources.
(iii)Mobilize the earthwork resources from whichever location you identified as per
the
standard specifications of the contract documents.
1.3 Carry out site clearance and demolition activities based on contract
document and
construction procedure
Site clearance is the process or removing unnecessary vegetation and structures along
the
route planned for construction of the road. This is done so as to get a clear and
workable
site. It involves the removal and disposal of all bush, trees, roots, grass and top soil.
This
activity must be done before any construction of the roadway starts. Unless the
Engineer
agrees in writing otherwise, all materials including trees, grass, crops and structures,
which
fall within the road alignment must be removed.
Figure 133: Clearing and Grubbing
Source: Construction practices and procedures manual May 2001
1.4 Interpret Drawings as per construction procedures
For easier interpretation and understanding of a drawing one should follow the
following
steps
• Commencing with the title block, which shows you the title of the drawing and
what the drawing is all about
• Understand the basic symbols on the drawing
• Identify specific abbreviations and try to understand what they mean

1.5 Conduct setting out for earthworks based on design output

Setting out process is used to establish the boundaries and marks for excavation of
earthworks and is based on the design output. It enables construction to be carried out
as it
has been planned according to dimensions specified in layout drawings. Setting out
can be
done using various methods the most common being the profile board method.
Steps of Setting out Using the Profile Board Method
This method uses several profile boards and a string line level so as to provide control
levels when constructing. A series of level boards are placed along where excavation
will
take place.
(i) The level boards have to be a meter above the excavation level.
(ii) Between 2 subsequent profile boards, a third profile board, called a traveler is
used
to control the depth of excavation. It has a fixed height and is put between the line
of sight and the 2 profile boards. If it is below the line of sight, the excavation has
been done too deep. If it is above the line of sight, more excavation is required.
(iii)Slots are established using the traveler where the right depth of excavation should
be done. They are made at regular intervals of 4 to 5 meters along the line of sight.
(iv)Excavation is then done by joining the slots.
The traveler is then used to ensure that there are no too high or too low points.
A line level is used to control the level of the profile boards in the following ways:
a. Transferring the exact level of one profile board to another thus ensuring uniform
level.
b. Measuring higher or lower from the horizontal level to set another profile board at
a different level.
c. Measuring the slope between two fixed profile boards.
1.6 Obtain Statutory requirements based on contract document and standard
construction procedures
Statutory requirements are the standard needs requires in carrying out road
construction
activities. These are required by the state.
Examples of Statutory requirements
• Bill of Quantities
• Drawings
• Contract Documents
• Practicing licenses
Reasons for obtaining statutory requirements
• These are legally binding documents which are necessary as per the contract terms

Steps of Obtaining Statutory requirements.

• Determine the activities to be conducted and the necessary statutory requirements
for each specific activity.
• Acquire the statutory documents from the respective offices as per the Kenyan
standard specifications on road construction
1.7 Establish Road formation based on standard construction procedures
A road formation is the surface of finished earthworks where the road pavement will
be
constructed. It includes the shape of the road, the basic drainage infrastructure but
excludes
storm water infrastructure.
Steps of establishing Road formation
Step 1: preparation of subgrade- This is the lowest layer of the pavement and is the
first to
be constructed.
Step 2: construction of sub-base- This a layer laid on the subgrade and is made up of
mainly
aggregates
Step 3: construction of base: This is the structural layer of the pavement and
standards
must be followed to the later during its construction
Step 4: Construction of Surfacing: This is made of mainly asphalt for flexible
pavements
Step 4: preparation of wearing course- This layer is mainly made of aggregates that
acts
as a layer that induces friction to the tyres.
Step 5: construction of shoulders
Step 6: opening traffic
All construction standards and procedures must be followed as per the Design
manuals and
the contract terms.
1.8 Take and document Ground levels according to SOPs
SOP is a procedure that provides clear instructions to how teams operate for
completion of
certain processes. The ground level is the level of the ground as defined in a field
survey
authorized by a qualified surveyor. For road construction, ground levels are
established by
the process of levelling. Levelling is done using the following equipment:
• Dumpy level/ optical level
• Tilting level
• Automatic level
• Laser level
• Digital level
• Water level

The levels observed are booked in a levelling book. The steps followed when booking
include:
(i) A new page should be used for a new job
(ii) Details are to be entered at the top of the page.
(iii)Observations that are booked should be legible and any mistakes should be
crossed
out. Avoid overwriting.
(iv)One line should be used for each position of the staff
(v) An entry should always be made in the remarks’ column.
(vi)Work should be appropriately spread.
1.9 Determine Volumes of cut and fill materials in accordance with contract
document
This is a procedure of achieving the standard level by removing some material in
raised
parts and adding standard material to sloppy parts. There are three major methods to
compute volume of earthworks; cross-section method, spot height method and
contours
method. Volume from cross-section has four methods: mid-cross-section method,
mean
area method, end area method and prismoid formula.
Procedure of obtaining volume of cut and fill
• Calculate cross-section areas at given intervals along he projects
• Calculate area of cut and fill between areas of proposed formations
• Calculate aggregates algebraic volume for each section
• Longitudinal section along the proposed centerline is plotted proposed level
included
• Axes of mass haul are drawn underneath the longitudinal profile
• Mass haul curve as the aggregates volume on the coordinates is plotted
1.10 Carry out Haulage and disposal of waste material as per the standard
construction procedures
Haul is the total volume of material multiplied by the distance the material has been
moved.
Waste is the volume of the materials which is disposed due to unsuitability.
Disposal of waste materials
• Landfilling; the ground is covered with soil for use
• Incineration; burning at high temperatures
• Reuse; using materials which attain the standards required
• Compositing; waste is dumped in a pit
1.11 Operate and maintain Construction tools and equipment are as per the
SOPs
Equipment’s are classified into two types, hand tools and machineries. Hand tools are
generally used in small depths of excavations.

Machinery tools
• Excavators; used to remove materials from ground
• Bulldozer: used to push
• Trenchers: used to dig trenches in the ground
Construction tools
• Hoe; used for soft soil
• Forked hoe; used for hard soil or stony
• Pick axe; used for hard stony soil
• Crow bar; stony soil
• Mattock;
Maintenance of tools
• Cutting tools are maintained sharpening
• Clean all the tools after use
• Store in dry and secure places
• Make sure all the tools are in there initial packaging
• Moving parts should be oiled
Conclusion
This learning outcome covered various learning activities such as, determining
volumes of
cut and with the end goal of learning how to carry out earthwork activities which is
part of
Road construction works.
Further Reading
Read more on:
Constructing the rise and fall and calculations involved.
Setting out of curves and their calculation.
From J. Uren, W.F.Price (2010), surveying for engineers, Fifth Edition Publishes by
Palgrave Macmillan curves and mass haul diagram