1.

7 EARTHWORK IN ROADS
The quantities of earthwork in excavation and embankments of roads are
calculated by finding the areas of a number of equidistant cross-sections,by the
ordinary methods of mensuration . As the cross-section, of a road or a canal is
in filling or in cutting or both in cutting and filling and is usually in the form of
trapezium, th quantity of earthwork is calculated by multiplying the average
areas of cross-sections into the lengths of the various distances and the results in
cubic contents (i.e., in cubic metre ) are found.

For the calculation of earthwork in a road, longitudinal section, longitudinal

section, cross-sections of the ground at different intervals are drawn from the
field data and the formation line is fixed as perdesign. From the longitudinal
section and formation line of the road , the height of embankment and depth of
cutting are calculated, from the difference of RL ground, RL of formation line
or from R.L. of bed of the cahnnel.

Thus for the plain country centre line levels ae considered, assuming the ground
as level across i.e., having no cross slope and the earthwork is calculated by
parts in between two consecutive cros-sections and for that length. The process
is continued unti whole length is covered.

While preparing any project on earth work care should ve taken to follow such
an alignment so that the exacvated earth from cutting portion should be utilised
for the embankment portion with in limits for economy.

1.8 METHODS OF MEASUREMENT OF

EARTHWORK.
As per IS:1200(Part 1)-1974 earthwork shall be calculated in cu.m. The lengths,
breadth or width and height or depth or thickness shall be measured to get the
cubic content. Unless other-wise stated all works shall be measured as given
below:

(a) Each dimension shall be measured to the nearest 0.01 m,where any
dimension is more than 25 metres it should be measured to the nearest 0.1
metre;

(b) Areas shall be worked out to the nearest 0.01 m2 and

(c) Cubical contents shall be worked out to the nearest 0.001 m3.

Note :

1. Dressing or trimming sides of excavations and levelling and ramming of

bottoms shall be described with the items of excavation.

2. Excavation shall include throwing the excavated earth at least one metres or
1/3 depth of excavation whichever is more clear of the edge of excavation.

3. The subsequent disposal of surplus ecavated material shall either be stated as

a separte item or included with the item of excavation stating the lead.

4. The planking and strutting required to uphold the face of excavated earth etc.
Shall be measured in square metres of face supported and gruouped; separately
in stages of 1.5 m.

5. Clearing of shrubs, small trees not exceeding 30 cm girth to 100 cm girth

shall be taken as one item. The cutting down of tree exceeding 100 cm girth
shall be enumerated starting the girth. The girth shall be measured one metre
above ground level. The item shall include removal of branches and disposal.

7. Cutting down hedges and removal of fences shall be measured in running

metres and the item shall include disposal also.

1.8.1 LEAD AND LIFT

Where high embankments of canals, roads and railways are to be constructed
and extra rate for lead and lift is t be added in the normal sanctioned schedule of
rate of earthwork, for carrying the earth beyond certain limit, for which the rate
is inclusive. Normally upto a horizontal distance of 30 m and lift of 1.5 m, no
extra rate is provided. Beyond the above mentioned distances, rates will be
different for every unit of 30 m lead and for every unit of 1.5 m lift or fraction
thereof.

Lead
When excavated earth is carried on a level ground horizontally from borrow pits
to the site of work or work in hand, the horizantal distance is called lead.

The lead shall be measured from the centre of the are of excavation to the centre
of the area of the placed earth
The distance for removal of earthwork shall be measured over the shortest route
and in linear units as pre pre-accepted lengths.

Lift:
Vertical distance through which the excavated earth is lifted beyond a certain
depth is called lift. Excavation upto 1.5m depth below ground level and
depositing excavated material on the ground shall be included in the item of
earthwork as specified. Extra lift shall be measured in unit of 1.5 m or as per
pre-accepted conditions.

The lift shall be measured from the C.G. of the excavated earth to that of the
position where earth is deposited. This shall constitute mean lift for that section.
Whenever earth has to be carried over a spoil bank and dumped beyond it, the
mean lift would be the difference in level between the C.G. of the excavated
earth and top of the spoil bank omitting the dowel.

Converting Lift into Lead

The lift is converted into horizontal distance by the following rules.

I. The lift upto 3.6 m depth is multiplied by 10, to calculate horizontal lead.
II. Lift upto 3.6 m and less than 6 m is covered into horizontal lead by
squaring the lift and then multiplying by 3.3.

Lift mor than 6 m is converted into lead by multiplying by 20.

BORROW PITS
When extra earth is required the same is taken from outside by digging the dug
portion is called a borrow pit.

No borrow pit should be dug within 5 m of the toe of the final section of the
embankment after making due allowance for further development. All borrow
pits should be dug up to uniform depth and preferably not more than 30 or 35
cm deep. In exceptional circumstances where heavy filling is required, borrow
pits more than 35 cm depth may be dug and in such cases the distance from
the toe to the top edge of the pit shall not be less than 6 m.
While excavating earth for the measurement of average depth a portion of earth
unexcavated called Deadmen or Matams or tell tales shall be left at suitable
intervals. For uneven or sloping ground, diagonal strips of unexcavated earth
shall be left. After the measurement is over, these portions shall not be dug
continuously. Ridges of not less than 3 m width shall be left at intervals of
length not exceeding 30 m or so and small drains may be cut in ridges to
facilitate drainage.

1.9 CALCULATION OF EARTHWORK BY

AVERAGE DEPTH METHOD
In this method, the average depth or height is found at the mid-section, if the
depth of cutting or filling are different at the two ends of the section and the
ground has more or less longitudinal slope.

The area of the mid-section is then worked out.

Therefore, quantity of earthwork = Area of mid section length.

Let d1 and d2 be the heights of bank at two ends of the section of an

embankment having L as length.

B = The formation width and

1+2
S:1 (horizontal: vertical)= say equal to dm
2
Therfore Quanitity of earthwork = Area of

the trapezium average depths

From the figure at the mid-section if B is the

Top width, side slopes are S:1 and dm in the

height of bank then base of the trapezium is equal to

B+Sdm+ Sdm =B+2 Sdm

Area of trapezium =
2

++2 2+2 2
= = dm= (b=Sdm) dm=[Bdm+ Sdm2]
2 2 2

Now,

Quantity of earthwork =[Bdm+S(dm)2]L cubic units

In general, Q = (Bd+Sd2)L

Where d stands for average depth.

 CONTENTS
S.NO TOPIC
1 LEVELLING

1.1 INSTRUMENTS IN LEVELLING

1.2 PARTS OF LEVEL

1.3 TERMS USED IN LEVELLING

1.5 INSTRUCTIONS FOR A STAFF MAN

1.6 INSTRUCTIONS FOR A LEVEL MAN

1.7 EARTHWORK IN ROADS

1.8 METHODS OF MEASUREMENT OF EARTHWORK.

1.8.1 LEAD AND LIFT

1.9 CALCULATION OF EARTHWORK BY AVERAGE

DEPTH METHOD
2.0 READINGS

2.1 ESTIMATION

2.2 ABSTRACT