Chapter 7

Dozers

Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
 LAND CLEARINGS
Clearing of vegetation and trees is
usually necessary before excavating and
embankment operations.
Trees, brush, and even grass make
material handling very difficult. If these
organic materials are allowed to become
mixed into an embankment fill, their
decay over time will cause settlement of
the fill.
 LAND CLEARINGS
Crawler dozers
equipped with
special clearing
blades are
excellent
machines for
land clearing.
 LAND CLEARINGS
Specification may allow
shearing of the vegetation and
trees at the ground line or it
may be necessary to grub --
remove stumps and roots from
below the ground surface.
CLEARING BLADES
Clearing blades are equipped with a
flat sole which allows the blade to
float on top of the ground without
digging in.

Flat sole
CLEARING BLADE
 LAND CLEARINGS
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
Tree-Count Method, using the
Rome Plow Companys formulas:
With these formulas the production
for the two operations
1) cutting (equ. 7.9) and
2) piling (equ. 7.10)
are calculated separately.
 LAND CLEARINGS
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
Many variables can affect clearing
work so all formula driven
estimates should be tempered with
consideration of:
aUnderfoot conditions
aVegetative growth
aJob specifications
 LAND CLEARINGS
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
Underfoot conditions
Grade and terrain greatly affect
the operation of equipment.
Consider:
m Sloping land
m Embedded rocks
m Stony outcroppings
 LAND CLEARINGS
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
Vegetative growth
Consider:

Tree size

Tree count

Wood density

Roots & root mat

Vines & undergrowth
 LAND CLEARINGS
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES

Job specifications
Consider:
Logging

Grubbing

Debris disposal
 LAND CLEARINGS
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES

Tree-Count Method, requires a

detailed reconnaissance and a
tree count.
Step 1. Size of area (in acres)
Step 2. Size and number of
dozers available
 LAND CLEARINGS
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES

Tree-Count Method
Step 3. Determine the average
number of each size tree
on a per acre basis.
This will require a field reconnaissance.
 LAND CLEARINGS
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
Tree-Count Method
Step 4. Basic production factors
Table 7.3
Step 5. Calculate time to clear
one acre, equ. 7.9
Step 6. Calculate total time
 LAND CLEARINGS
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
The Tree-Count Method has no
correction factors for efficiency
or for operator skill.
The values in Table 7.3 are
based on normal efficiency and
average operator skill.
 LAND CLEARINGS
Size of area (in acres)

Acres to be cleared =
width (ft) length (ft)
43,560 sq ft per acre
 LAND CLEARINGS
Exercise
Determine the time required to clear
an area 500 ft wide by one half mile
long with two 335 hp dozers.
Average no. trees/acre 630
80% hardwoods
1-2 ft dia. 120 3-4 ft dia. 5
2-3 ft dia. 60 4-6 ft dia. none
 LAND CLEARINGS
Exercise
Diameter is measured at breast height.
This is usually taken as 4 ft. If the
tree has a buttress, diameter is taken
where the trunk begins to run straight.
 LAND CLEARINGS
Exercise
Step 1. Size of area
500 ft wide by one half mile long
Acres to be cleared =
500 ft 5,280 ft
2
2 30.3 ac
43,560 ft / acre
 LAND CLEARINGS
Exercise
Step 2. Size and number
of dozers available
Two 335 hp dozers
 LAND CLEARINGS
Exercise
Step 3. Determine the average
number of each size
tree on a per acre basis.
Average no. trees/acre 630
1-2 ft dia. 120 3-4 ft dia. 5
2-3 ft dia. 60 4-6 ft dia. none
LAND CLEARINGS
Exercise
Step 4. Basic production factors
Table 7.3, 335 hp
dozers.
Base min./ac = 18.22
M1 = 0.2
M2 = 1.3
M3 = 2.2
M4 = 6.0
 LAND CLEARINGS
Exercise
Step 5. Calculate time to clear
one acre, equ. 7.9
Clearing time =
H A B M1 N1
1.3([2x18.22]+[0.2x120]
M2 N2 M3 N3
+[1.3x60]+[2.2x5])
 LAND CLEARINGS
Exercise
Step 5. Calculate time to clear
one acre, equ. 7.9
Clearing time =
1.3([36.44]+[24]+[78]+[11])
1.3(149.44)
194.27 min/acre
LAND CLEARINGS
Exercise
Step 6. Calculate total time
Total time =
194.27 min / ac 30.3 ac
2 dozers 60 min / hr

49 hours
 LAND CLEARINGS
TRACTORS
Tractors with rakes removing roots.
 LAND CLEARINGS
Equation 7.9 provides the time
required to cut only. If the cut material
must be piled use equ. 7.10.

Rakes used
for removing
roots and
limbs.
 CHOPPERS
Rolling choppers are used to kill
undesirable growth. They are
tractor towed.
They are
often used for
clearing
reservoir
areas.