B .

M Assignment

EARTHWORKS : Measurement
 Breadth (m/ft.)

Earthworks are measured in cu.m / cu.ft. Ht.

(m/ft.)

Length (m/ft)

Earthworks of different kinds are measured as separate items:

1. in foundations
2. in trenches
3. in filling in plinth
4. in banking

Earthwork in different kinds of soil need to be

classified separately and measured under separate
item. E.g. Hard soil, ordinary soil, ordinary rock,
hard rock.

Excavation includes throwing excavated

earth min. 1m away from edge of excavation. min.1m

Dressing/Trimming and Leveling/Grading, Ramming and Consolidation thickness of

each layer shall be described and included in the item of earthwork.
Measurement of excavation or trenches or borrow pits
shall be taken for average dimensions.
Avg. Dimension for trenches

When ground is fairly uniform, “Deadmen” are left at suitable intervals to

determine average depth of excavation.
For uneven or sloping ground diagonal “Telltales” are left.
No deduction is made for deadmen or telltales as they are removed after
measurements have been taken and checking is completed.

When ground is uneven, levels shall be After excavation

taken before the start and after the
completion of the earthwork by leveling Uneven Ground
instrument and the average depth of
excavation or filling shall be determined
from these levels.

In Case of Filling
When it is inconvenient to make measurements from cutting the filling or banking,
measurement is done through deduction for shrinkage or voids (“settlement
allowances”) from actual measured cubic contents depending on the nature of the soil
and methods of consolidation.
Deductions: 5%- by Heavy machinery, 10%- Ordinary Fill Consolidation
Lead/30m Top width

For road earthwork in banking, profile or fill measurement may be Ht.

taken and usual settlement or shrinkage allowances given. Length

Vol./ Quantity = Length X ½ ( Top Width + Bottom Width ) X Height

Bottom
No separate measurement is taken for setting out works, profiles, site width
clearance, deadmen, stepping, removal of slips or falls, bailing out water from
Spoil Heap
rains. These are included in the rate.
Lead and Lift : The measurement shall be taken
separately for every 30m(100’) lead/distance and every
1.5m(5’) lift/height/depth. The lead shall be measured Lead/30m
from the centre of the area of excavation to the centre
of spoil heap. Lift is measured centre of excavation to Lift/1.5m
the centre of spoil heap.
Shortest route/50m
Excavation
Trench
Normal rate: for ach unit of 30m lead or 1.5m lift.
For greater lead/lift : varying rates for every 30m lead or 1.5m lift.
I.S.I specifies the unit of lead as 50m, measured over the shortest practicable
route.
Foundation Trench : Measured in cu.m for rectangular section.
Bottom width – width of concrete
Depth – vertical (though excavation with sloping sides)
Vertical ht

Width Length
Return, fill & ram : Returning, filling and ramming
excavated earth calculated in cu.m/cu.ft as separate 20cm(8”) depth
items. It includes spreading in layers of 20cm(8”) depth
for watering, ramming and leveling.

Puddling : Clay puddle work taken in cu.m/cu.ft and shall

be described including supply of clay, its preparation,
placing in layers of 15 cm (6”), ramming etc. 15cm(6”) depth

15cm(6”) depth
Surface Dressing : Trimming and dressing of
natural ground to remove vegetation and small
irregularities not more than 15cm (6”) deep
shall be calculated as “Surface Dressing” in
sq.m/sq.ft .
 Surface Dressing : Cutting down trees more than 30
cm(12”) girth shall be enumerated stating the girth at 1m(3’) Girth>30cm(12”)
above ground and paid separately.
1m(3’) height

Surface Excavation : Excavation exceeding Depth<30 cm

1.5m width and 10 sq.m in plan also but not more
than 30 cm in depth is called “Surface Excavation”
and measured in sq.m .
Width> 1.5m Area>10 sq.m

Pumping : When spring water requires pumping, the work of pumping and
dewatering shall be mentioned as separate items .

Timbering : Timbering or “Planking and Struting” for Depth

protecting the sides of trench or loose earth shall be
measured in sq.m of face supported, and is classified
separately as:  depth < 1.5m
1.5m< depth < 5m Length
Loose earth area measured according Length X Depth
 depth > 5m
Both sides of trench taken as 1 side area and is equal to Length X Depth of timbering.

Timbering includes all necessary timber work : walls, struts, poling boards etc.