With due consideration in the field of construction, the movement of large quantities of the earth is given. This has led to the categorization of this type of construction work as Earthworks. More than the usual connotation of handling soil, Earthworks involve a multi-step process in the movement of earth.
What are earthworks?
The processes involved in this construction process involve the loosening of soil, the safe removal of the loosened soil, and the proper movement of large quantities of soil from the construction site.
This is one of the more critical parts of the construction process as the proper removal and movement of the soil in the site. It allows for the proper setup of the building foundations. Earthworks in particular allow for the creation of level ground and properly graded slopes for the construction of drainages in the site.
Because of the sheer amount of effort, it would take to move a large amount of soil with the processes outlined. Earthworks are among the costliest parts of the construction phase. The movement of soil for the construction needs often costs more than half of the allotted construction budget.
Why it is important?
Aside from the movement of the earth in the construction site, the categorization of earthworks involves computations and several other processes. The processes are as follows:
- Computations of volumes
- Excavations
- Loading
- Filling
Each process has other categorizations that detail the other parts of earthworks such as the compaction of soil for construction. It is also essential in spreading for the properly leveling of the site.
Due to the importance of the earthworks in construction, it becomes important that construction sites adequately manage the process. Modern construction management allows for the computation and quantification of Earthworks as a construction process.
This allows you to identify how much effort is needed to excavate and move the earth by volume. This step also allows for the computation of the budget that can be allotted to the entire process.