What Is Geometrical Evaluation of an excavation ?

Gidget: I'm a civil engineer. Geometrical evaluation means to measure the excavation, usually to compute the volume of earth removed from a borrow pit and used for fill somewhere else. A survey method called cross-sectioning is used to measure large excavations. If one is using optical survey instruments, this method involves laying out a grid in and around the excavation. Measurements are then made along the grid lines and at critical points called breaklines and break points, such as the edges of the excavation and any hills or pits inside the excavation, respectively. Field procedures are briefly described in the New Jersey DOT surveying manual at the link below. Volume computations are then made from the measurements, typically using the prismoidal formula if done by hand or spreadsheet. Digital terrain modeling (DTM) software is more commonly used to compute volumes. Most DTM software will accept data directly from an electronic survey instrument, and data from an optical survey ...  more