Earthwork volume calculations

Earthwork volume calculation means determining, in cubic metres, how much soil has been excavated or placed, how much material has been extracted from a quarry, or how much cement, sand, gravel or coal is held in a stockpile. These numbers translate straight into money: contractor payments, haulage costs, inventory and budget planning all rely on them.

The service is used by developers, building and road contractors, quarries and construction material suppliers, and clients who want an independent check of the quantities they are paying for. The most common request is to compare surveys taken before and after excavation to confirm the actual volume removed. This prevents disputes and gives both parties a transparent basis.

Surfaces are captured with GNSS RTK (±1–2 cm), a total station, or a 3D laser scanner for irregular stockpiles. The data is turned into a TIN surface model in Civil 3D and Credo and compared with the design or original ground, with cut and fill volumes calculated separately.

Results are delivered as a colour cut-fill map, cross-sections and volume tables so everyone can see exactly how the figures were obtained.

When you need it

• Before and after basement excavation
• Site grading with cut and fill
• Checking quantities claimed by a contractor
• Periodic accounting of quarry production
• Inventory of bulk materials in storage yards

What's included

• Survey of original ground
• Post-work or periodic repeat survey
• Laser scanning of stockpiles and quarries where needed
• TIN surface modelling in Civil 3D/Credo
• Separate calculation of cut and fill volumes
• Cut-fill map and cross-sections

How we work

1. Defining the purpose and reference surface
2. Field survey of the surface
3. Building and checking the surface model
4. Volume calculation
5. Delivery of cut-fill map and report

Deliverables

• Volume table (cut/fill)
• Colour cut-fill map
• Cross-sections
• 3D surface model (DWG, LandXML)