CE 524 TECHNICAL

ELECTIVE 2
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
MANAGEMENT

CONSTRUCTION COST
ENGINEERING
EXCAVATION AND SITEWORKS
In building construction, site work normally connotes clearing
and grubbing while excavation means. These items are
construction starters and considered as one of the most
costly items of construction especially in rough terrain or
foundation of basement floors. Estimates of quantities and
prices for excavation and site works demand the careful
investigation and evaluation of several soil parameters.
For Excavation
1. Type of soil to be excavated
2. Method of digging (manual or by the use of equipment)
3. Method of supporting side slopes against cave-in,
4. Hauling of bringing-in borrow fill,
5. Spreading and compacting of fill,
6. Backfill in footing, drainage and water line trenches
For Site works
1. Site conditions such as ground water level, drainage, existing
structures, and access of pedestrians and equipments,
2. Layout and the quantity of batter-boards,
3. Clearing and grubbing (to root out by digging),
4. Disposal of excess and waste materials,
5. Demolition of existing structures,
6. Grading

SOIL CLASSIFICATION
The type of to be excavated and moved must be evaluated and
ascertained for estimate of labor and/or equipment. The
grain-size distribution test is used for soil classification.
However, for estimate purposes, soil classification maybe
based on visual inspection during field work, soil classification
maybe based on visual inspection during field work. Below
are lists of soil formations and their classification.
1. Boulders – pieces of rock usually 250 to 300 mm (10-12
in.) or more in dimensions.
2. Gravel – pieces of rock from about 50 mm (2 in.) maximum
to less than 6 mm (0.25 in.) minimum size; (ASTM, 2.0 to
60.0 mm).
3. Sand – mineral particles smaller than gravel from about
0.05 mm to 0.075 mm; (ASTM, 0.06 mm to 2.0 mm).
4. Silt – mineral particles ranging in size from 0.005 to 0.006
mm; (ASTM, 0.002 to 0.06 mm).
5. Clay – mineral particles smaller than silt size of about
0.001 mm minimum,; (ASTM, less than 0.002 mm). If the
particles are smaller than 0.001 mm, they may be called
colloids.
TYPES OF EXCAVATION
1. Building-construction excavation,
2. Drainage and canal excavation, (trenching),
3. Road-construction excavation,
4. Borrow pit excavation (for earth fill),
5. Water and power supply excavation,
6. Tunneling.

Building Excavation – is the excavation required for the building

foundation and basement. The major items of building excavation
are:
a. Wall and column footings excavation,
b. Excavation for basements,
c. Backfill along wall and on column footings,
d. Septic tank excavation,
e. Borrow fills (to bring in additional soil for filling, slab on grade)
f. Grading and leveling, and compacting of borrow fill and
g. Excavation for storm sewer and drainage
Site Excavation – is the excavation required for leveling, grading
or shaping the existing ground before building excavation
begins. This includes shaping the ground inside and outside the
proposed total building area for better mobility of workmen and
opening or grading access road for delivery trucks and service
vehicles. The items under site excavation include:
a. Site cut and fill
b. Stockpiling topsoil,
c. Spreading topsoil and
d. Final grade, leveling and compacting.
Site excavation estimate shall substantiated by field survey
data and earthwork computation.
Site excavation, normally, involves surveying work in the
preparation of contour lines or topographic map which is
necessary in quantity estimate of soil volume. It is preferred
to take pictures of the site before and after site excavation
to serve as physical evidence for site excavation work and
be made reference for estimate.