Cut & Fill estimating

  • Cut & Fill estimating

    Posted by Troy DeGroot on February 19, 2021 at 10:00 pm

    Just wanted to share an idea I thought of for estimating Cut Fill quantities. Let me know what you think.
    https://youtu.be/jGIpTxQTgJE

    Vince replied 2 years, 4 months ago 4 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • Andrew Veggian

    Member
    March 16, 2021 at 4:33 am
    Points: 2,608
    Rank: UC2 Brainery Orange Belt UC2 Brainery Orange Belt Rank

    This method is close, but your example assumes that the existing grade is terraced and that your fill is exactly 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, and 5′ all the way down, but the existing grade is sloped. If you were to draw a cut section through there, it would be a diagonal line, not stepped. A simple solution would be using the average depth between the two lines for your cut and fill. For example, if you’re filling between the 4′ and 5′ line your depth should be the average (4.5′).

    Here’s another solution that doesn’t require creating a bunch of tools with different depths. You would need a custom column to enter the depth on the high side (Dh), depth of the low side (Dl), and then a custom formula to calculate the cut/fill. Using this method you could use a single AREA measurement since you have to manually enter the depths each time.

    Measurement*((Dl+Dh)/2)

    For fill, I would enter positive depths, and cuts I would enter negative depths.

    • Don Walke

      Member
      August 9, 2022 at 11:48 am
      Points: 5,399
      Rank: UC2 Brainery Purple Belt UC2 Brainery Purple Belt Rank

      I’ve done this hundreds of times as an estimator for a heavy & highway contractor using pencils and a calculator. Choose a grid, say 10′ x 10′ and create a tool such as a text box that you could input the existing grade as a value in a custom column and also the proposed grade as a value in a custom column. This markup would be added at each intersection of the grid. Another custom column with a formula could subtract the existing grade from the proposed grade and multiply by 100sf then divide by 27 to get the bank measure of the cut or fill in cubic yards. I suppose you could also sort by the result and determine the total cut (negative numbers) and fill (positive numbers) to show how much dirt is to be moved on site and if there is excess or import required. Applying specific compaction and truck measure factors and there you have it.

      • Troy DeGroot

        Organizer
        August 9, 2022 at 12:34 pm
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        Rank: UC2 Brainery Brown Belt III UC2 Brainery Brown Belt III

        Love this idea @dhwalkellc

        Thanks for sharing!

        • Vince

          Member
          August 9, 2022 at 1:25 pm
          Points: 13,692
          Rank: UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III

          A set-up using Bluebeam and Excel for slightly bigger areas – well it’s what I do! 😂

          Use Bluebeam to grid up the drawing and then use Excel to enter the existing and proposed levels from the grid.

          • Don Walke

            Member
            August 12, 2022 at 4:48 pm
            Points: 5,399
            Rank: UC2 Brainery Purple Belt UC2 Brainery Purple Belt Rank

            Still miss using a planimeter (not really). It was my first year out of UF Building Construction in 1977, Highway contractors were the only ones hiring.

            • Vince

              Member
              August 13, 2022 at 1:33 am
              Points: 13,692
              Rank: UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III

              @dhwalkellc I never got to use one of those!

            • Vince

              Member
              August 13, 2022 at 1:38 am
              Points: 13,692
              Rank: UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III

              @dhwalkellc I do have a spreadsheet for measuring the cut & fill to roads if the long sections are available though…😆

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