Greenroads Manual v1.

5 Materials & Resources

MR-3 Earthwork Balance
EARTHWORK BALANCE
GOAL
Reduceneedfortransportofearthenmaterialsbybalancingcutandfillquantities.
CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
Minimizeearthworkcut(excavation)andfill(embankment)volumessuchthatthe
percentdifferencebetweencutandfillislessthanorequalto10%oftheaveragetotal
volumeofmaterialmoved.Forpurposesofthiscredit,usethemethodanddefinitions
detailedinChapter8(Earthwork)oftheRoadDesignManualfromtheSouthDakota
DepartmentofTransportation(SDDOT),orequivalent,tocomputecutandfillvolumes.
Includemiscellaneousadditionalcutandfillsuchasoutletditchesandmuck
excavations(seedefinitionsinChapter8oftheManual)andaccountformoistureand
densityaswellasshrinkandswell.
Balancecutandfillmaterialvolumes:
A=VolumeofCrossSectionCut
B=VolumeofCrossSectionFill
C=VolumeofMiscellaneousCut
D=VolumeofMiscellaneousFill

Forpoints,showthatdesignvolumesANDactualconstructionvolumesmeet:

Notethatforpurposesofthiscredit,allvolumesarepositivequantities.SDDOTs
Chapter8isavailablehere:
http://www.sddot.com/pe/roaddesign/plans_rdmanual.asp
Details
Projectswithminimalearthworkorwithnoearthworkdonotqualifyforthis
credit.Minimalearthworkmeansthatthetotalexcavatedcutorimportedfill
volumeislessthanonefulldumptruckvolume,basedonthesmallestdump
truckusedontheproject.
Wheresoilstabilizermaterialsorothersoiladditivesareused,includethe
volumeofthosematerialsinthetotalimports.Mechanicalstabilizerssuchas
rockboltsandgeotextilefabricmaterialsdonotneedtobeincludedinvolume
calculations.
Removedtopsoilmaterialsmustbeincludedincalculations.
Unusedcutorimportedfillmaterialsplacedinstockpilesthatservenopurpose
ontheprojectmustbetreatedasexportedmaterialsandmaynotbeusedto
counttowardthefinalbalancedsectionforpurposesofcalculatingthiscredit.
Sometimesthispracticeiscalledsoilbankingsincethesematerialsareoften
placedinembankmentsthatmaybeusedatsomelatertime,oftenondifferent
nearbysites.Thispracticeoftenhelpssuccessfullyavoidimportofnew
materials,soitstillmayqualifyfor1point.
Structuralaggregateforbasecoursesinpavements,foundations,or
MR-3
1 POINT
RELATED CREDITS
PR8LowImpact
Development
MR2Pavement
Reuse
MR4Recycled
Materials
MR5Regional
Materials
SUSTAINABILITY
COMPONENTS
Ecology
Economy
Extent
Experience
BENEFITS
ReducesFossilFuel
Use
ReducesAir
Emissions
ReducesGreenhouse
Gases
ReducesSolidWaste
ReducesManmade
Footprint
ReducesFirstCosts
ReducesLifecycle
Costs
Materials & Resources Greenroads Manual v1.5
Earthwork Balance MR-3
superstructuressuchasbridgesneednotbeincludedinthetotalvolumecalculations.
Structuralbackfillanddrainrockspecificallyintendedforutilitytrenchesandstormwaterinfrastructure
neednotbeincludedinthetotalvolumecalculations.
Rock(StableRock,definedbytheOccupationalHealthandSafetyAdministration)cutssourcedwithinthe
projectboundarythatareintendedforuseasstructuralaggregatewithintheprojectboundarydonot
counttowardthetotalcutvolumeofmaterials.
DOCUMENTATION
Copyofthegradingplan.Thegradingplanmustreporttotalcutandfillquantities,totalmiscellaneouscut/fill,
andshowthattheyarewithin10%ofoneanother.
Calculateandreportactualconstructionearthworkvolumefortheproject.Thiscalculationshallshowthe
following:
Actualcutandfillvolumesduringconstruction.
Actualvolumeofunusedembankmentmaterials(includeexcessimportandexcesscutmaterials)
Actualvolumeofearthworkmaterialimportedtotheprojectsite.
Actualvolumeofearthworkmaterialexportedfromthesite.
Showthat:
(A +C) - (B +D)
1
2
(A +C +B+D)
1uu% 1u%
APPROACHES & STRATEGIES
Useaprojectdesignthatbalancescutandfillvolumes.Thisassumesthatcutmaterialfromoneareaofthe
projectsiteissuitableforuseasfillmaterialinanother.Thismaynotalwaysbepossible.
Usesoilimprovementorstabilizationtechniquesinanefforttoavoidremovingexistingsoil.
Applybindingagents,additivesandotherprocessestounsuitablesoilssuchthattheybecomesuitablefor
use.Thisofteninvolvesimprovingtheirbearingcapacitysotheycanacceptoverburdenorstructures.
Useinsitumitigationtechniquestosolveproblemswithunsuitablesoilsthroughgroundimprovement
solutionssuch.Usuallythisinvolvesformsofcompacting,preloading,installeddrains(tolowermoisture
levels)orothersimilarmethods.
Improveloadbearingcapacityofsoilsbyplacinggeosyntheticsoverthem.Thiscanforcethepotential
bearingcapacityfailuresurfacetodevelopalongalternate,higherstrengthsurfaces.
Userecycledmaterialfromotherstructures(e.g.,crushedrecycledconcretematerialRCMorreclaimed
asphaltpavementRAP).
Usedesignsoftwareandcomputeraideddrawings(CAD)tocalculatethedesignvolumesofearthworktobe
reportedinrelationtothiscredit.Notethatthesedrawingsandcalculationswillbesupersededbyfinalvolume
calculationsinthefieldintheeventthattheydiffer.
Example: Sample Calculation
TheSouthDakotaDepartmentofTransportationRoadDesignManual,Chapter8,containsadetailedexample
ofbalancingcutandfillvolumesusingcomputersoftware,titledExampleofEarthworkQuantitieswith
Moisture&DensityControl(Undercut)(p.86).Theexamplebelowshowshowthecalculationcanbedoneby
handforthiscredit.Thereareanumberofadditionalsamplecalculationsinthereferencedchapter.
Variable Description Volume(cy)
A Normalcrosssectionexcavation 54,889
Greenroads Manual v1.5 Materials & Resources
MR-3 Earthwork Balance
A Adjustmentformoistureanddensity 9,233
C Miscellaneousextraexcavation(unstable
materialbelowundercut)
805
B Normalcrosssectionembankment 49426
B Adjustment formoistureanddensity 11079
D Miscellaneousadditionalembankment
(unstablematerialbelowundercut)
1490
D Adjustmentformoistureanddensity 298
A+C Totalvolumeofexcavatedmaterials 64927
B+D Totalvolumeofembankmentmaterials 62993
(A+B+C+D) Averagetotalvolumeofmaterials 63557

64927 -6299S
6SSS7
1uu% = 3. 4% 1u% Pioject qualifies foi 1 point

Example: OHare Airport Modernization Program Phase 1

TheChicagoOHareAirportModernizationProgram(OMP),whichwasongoingasofearly2010,madea
substantialefforttobemoresustainableintheirapproachtoairportdesignandconstruction.Oneofthe
featuresoftheirsustainabilityeffortsisbalancedearthwork.Phase1moved15millioncubicyardsofsoilunder
abalancedearthworkplanthatreportedlysavedover$100millionbyreducingtrucktripsandfeesfor
dumpingatlandfills.

FigureMR3.1:Runway10C28CPavingandElectrical(West):ExcavationinAreaG5
(PhotoCourtesyChicagoOHareModerizationProgram)
Materials & Resources Greenroads Manual v1.5
Earthwork Balance MR-3

FigureMR1.2:June2010Runway10C28CPavingandElectrical(West):PlacingandcompactingBitconcrete
basecourseontaxiway(PhotoCourtesyChicagoOHareModerizationProgram)

Example: Wattstown Business Park Road Extension

TheWattstownBusinessParkRoadExtensionProjectinColeraine,Irelandimplementedabalancedcutandfill
strategythatallowedalloftheexcavatedmaterialstobereusedonsiteincludingexcavatedtopsoilsinorder
tominimizewasteandhauling.Theverticalalignmentoftheroadwasalsokepttoaminimuminorderto
minimizeearthwork.

FigureMR3.3:WattstownBusinessPark(CEEQUAL,n.d.)

Example: Kicking Horse Canyon British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
TheKickingHorseCanyonprojectnearGolden,BritishColumbia,isa26kmcorridorupgradethatbegan
constructionin2002.Oneoftheprojectgoalswastominimizetheneedforearthworkalongtheentirecorridor
inordertoreducegreenhousegasemissionsfromhaulingtrips(andtosavemoney)inaccordancewith
Greenroads Manual v1.5 Materials & Resources
MR-3 Earthwork Balance
objectivesoftheBritishColumbiaMinistryofTransportation(BCMoT)ClimateActionProgram.Thisbalanced
earthworkprogramalsoincludedaddressingsafetyconcernsontheproject,whichcalledforimprovementsto
slopestabilityonroadwayexcavationsaswellasavalanchecontrolandrockfallprotectioninseverallocations
alongthecorridorsnewalignments.
SlopestabilizationonPhase2oftheprojectwasaccomplishedinsomesteepareasusing11,000m
3
ofhigh
tensilestrengthsteelmeshthatalsoallowedforseedingtogrow,whichcanaddstabilitytouppersoillayers
(BCMOT,n.d.).Themeshistiedtorocklayersbelowtheslopetostabilizethehillside(seeFigure4).Rockfall
areasareprotectedbyapproximately20,000m
3
ofdraperymesh(BCMOT,n.d.).Excessfillsoilswerealso
stockpiledwithinthecorridorforfuturelanesofhighway(BCMOT,2006).ConstructionofPhase3EastBrake
ChecktoYohoNationalPark(underway)isalsofollowingabalancedearthworkdesignprogram(seeFigures
MR3.6andMR3.7).

FigureMR3.2:Teccohighstrengthsteelmeshusedforslopereinforcement.(BCMOT,2010)

FigureMR3.3:WestAlignmentofPhase2,KickinghorseCanyon,showingapproximatecutandfillboundaryfor
corridorsegment(BCMOT,2006)
Materials & Resources Greenroads Manual v1.5
Earthwork Balance MR-3

FigureMR3.4:Phase3ofTheKickingHorseProject:Excavationonnorthsideofthehighway(BCMOT,2010)

FigureMR3.5:Phase3earthworkoneastsideofhighway(BCMOT,2010)

Example: Software Tools for Designers

Themoststraightforwardmeansofbalancingearthworkistodesignandconstructtheprojectsuchthatthe
volumeofcutwithintheprojectisequaltothevolumeoffill.Fordesignersandcontractorsthereare
numeroussoftwarepackagesthatcanprovideexactand/orestimatedearthworkquantities.Thefollowingare
examplesofsoftwarepackagingthatcanbeusedtoachievebalancedcutandfill.
Greenroads Manual v1.5 Materials & Resources
MR-3 Earthwork Balance
TrakwareInc.EarthworksSoftware
PizerInc.EARTHSoftware
TrimbleInc.PaydirtSoftware
VertigraphInc.SiteWorx/OS
RoctekInc.WinExMasterSoftware
POTENTIAL ISSUES
1. Whenusingstabilizationmaterialitispossiblethatthelifecycleinputsforsuchmaterial(e.g.,energyuseand
emissionsassociatedwiththeirmanufacture,transportanduse)maybegreaterthanthatassociatedwith
movingsoilassociatedwithunbalancedearthwork.
2. Subsurfaceconditionsmaynotbewellknownfortheprojectsite.Therefore,abalancedearthworkdesignthat
assumesacertainsoiltypeandcharacteristicsmaynotbefeasibleif,duringearthwork,differentsoiltypes,
moistureconditionsorothercharacteristicsarefound.
3. Geosyntheticsandstabilizationadditivesmayaddsignificantcostoverconventionalmethods.
4. Contractorfamiliarityandexperiencewithalternativemethodsandmaterialscanbehighlyvariable.
5. Someroadworkdoesnotlenditselftoabalancedearthworkplan.Forinstance,workinanurbanareamaynot
workbecausetheprimaryconcernistypicallymaintainingexistingelevation.Therefore,ifathickerpavement
sectionisplaced,someearthmustberemoved.
6. Inawaterwaycorridor(areanearariverorotherwaterway)balancedearthworkmaynotbesufficient.Itis
moreimportanttoensurethatearthworkdoesnotreduceeitherthefloodstorageorfloodcarryingcapacityof
thewaterwayarea(CityofBrisbane,n.d.).
7. Raineventsorprolongedwetperiodscanrenderonsitematerialunsuitableforfilluntilitissufficientlydried.
Theremaynotbeenoughtimeintheconstructionscheduletoallowadequatedryingtime.
8. Designersmayneglecttoconsiderorpoorlyestimateshrinkorswellofsoilmaterial.
9. Earthworkonaphasedprojectmaynotbecompletedbythesamecontractor.
10. Effortsacrossphasesmaybedifficulttocoordinatewithoutcleardocumentationofintentofstockpiled
materials.
RESEARCH
Mostroadwayconstructioninvolvessomeearthwork(movingofsoilmassfromonelocationtoanother).
Earthworkcanrepresentasignificantprojectexpense,especiallyinroadwayprojects.Becauseofthecostof
landfillandtrucktransportmostroadwaydesignsseektominimizeearthworkasmuchaspossible.Whenother
ecologicalcostsareadded(i.e.,landfilledwaste,fueluse,truckemissions)theincentivetominimizeearthwork
grows.Thus,thegoalistominimizetheearthmovedandtominimizethedistanceitismoved.Ideally,abalanced
earthworkprojectisonethatmatchescutandfillvolumesandthereforedoesnotrequiredcutexportorfill
import.Thissectionreviewstypicalmethodsusedtoachievebalancedearthwork.
BalancingEarthwork
Themoststraightforwardmeansofbalancingearthworkistodesignandconstructtheprojectsuchthatthe
volumeofcutwithintheprojectisequaltothevolumeoffill.Inruralprojectsthiscanoftenbeaccomplishedby
choosingtheappropriategradeline(roadwayprofile)sothatcutvolumesareroughlyequaltofillvolumes.For
urbanenvironments,thismaybemoredifficultasurbanprojectsareoftenseverelyconstrainedbyrightofwayor
requiredtomatchexistingabuttingelevations(e.g.,otherstreets,parks,drainageconveyances,etc.).For
designersandcontractorstherearenumeroussoftwarepackagesthatcanprovideexactand/orestimated
earthworkquantities.
Onceinconstruction,abalancedearthworkdesignmaynotbeachievableforseveralreasons.First,earthwork
ofteninvolvesunknownquantities.Althoughgeotechnicalengineerscanattempttocharacterizeexistingsoilwith
testpits,soilboringsandlaboratorytests,thesecharacterizationsareusuallyonlydoneonafewlocationswithin
theprojectsiteandcannotguaranteetheconditionofuntestedlocations.Therefore,itispossiblethatunexpected
soilisencounteredthatwhenexcavatedisunsuitableforuseasfillelsewhere.Second,environmentalconditions
Materials & Resources Greenroads Manual v1.5
Earthwork Balance MR-3
canchangecausingpreviouslyacceptablesoiltobecomeunacceptable.Forinstanceprecipitationcansubstantially
alterthemoisturecontentofinsitumaterialmakingitunsuitableforuseasfillelsewhere.Finally,design
estimationmaybeinaccurateor,morelikely,changestothedesignduringconstructionmayaddcutorfill
quantitiessuchthattheoveralleffectisunbalancedearthwork.
UnsuitableMaterial
Oneofthemostcommonimpedimentstobalancedearthworkisinsitumaterialthatiseither(1)unsuitabletobe
usedasfillelsewhere,or(2)unsuitabletobeusedasafoundationforotheritemssuchasstructures(bridges,
walls,etc.)andpavements.Themoststraightforwardoptioninthesecasesisoftentoremovetheunsuitable
materialandreplaceitwithsuitablefill.Whilethisisfeasible,itmayresultinunbalancedearthwork.Itmaybe
advantageoustotreattheinsitusoilratherthanremoveandreplaceit.Thissectiondiscussesseveraltreatment
options.
TraditionalSoilStabilization
Soilstabilizationistheprocessofimprovingtheengineeringpropertiesofsoilsthroughtheuseofadditives
thataremixedintothesoil(Army,Navy,AirForce,1994).Theseimprovedengineeringpropertiescaninclude:
Reducedplasticity
Drying
Reducedswelling
Improvedstability
Stabilizationcanbedonebymixingsoilsoftwodifferentgradationstoachievedesirablequalities(mechanical
stabilization)orbyaddingbindingmaterials(additivestabilization).Thissectionbrieflyreviewsthreecommon
soilstabilizationadditives.TheArmy,NavyandAirForceSoilStabilizationforPavements(1994)offersameans
tochoosebetweenportlandcement,limeandasphaltassoilstabilizationadditives.
Portlandcement.Whenaddedwithwater,portlandcementhydratesandbindsadjacentsoilparticles
togetherresultinginastifferandperhapsstrongerstabilizedmaterial.Portlandcementcangenerallybe
usedwithwellgradedgranularmaterialswithsufficientfinestomixwiththeportlandcement(Army,Navy,
AirForce,1994).
Lime.Addedintheformofquicklime(CaO),hydratedlime(Ca[OH]
2
)orlimeslurry.Limedoesthreebasic
things:drying(throughhydrationwithexistingwaterinthesoil),modification(Caionsmigratetoclay
particlesurfacesanddisplacewatermakingthesoilmoregranular),stabilization(increasesthepHofthe
soilcausingclayparticlestobreakdown).TheNationalLimeAssociation(2004)states,Whenaddedwith
Ingeneral,finegrainedclaysoils(withaminimumof25percentpassingthe#200sieve(74mm)anda
PlasticityIndexgreaterthan10)areconsideredtobegoodcandidatesforstabilization.
Asphaltemulsions.Mostsuitableforsiltysandandgranularmaterialssincethesearemorelikelytohave
allparticlesfullycoatedbytheemulsion.
EcologicalImpactsofSoilStabilization
Mrouehetal.(2001)reviewedseveraldifferentcombinationsofindustrialbyproductsforuseinearthwork.
Resultsgenerallyshowthatsoilstabilization(asMrouehetal.describeitthisinvolvescementstabilization)
generallyhasahigherenvironmentalloadingthansimplesoilreplacementinmostallareas(e.g.,fueluse,
energy,CO,particulate,SO
2
,CO
2
,VOC)excepttheamountofnaturalmaterialsused.
GLOSSARY
Additives Manufacturedcommercialproductsthat,whenaddedtothesoilintheproperquantities,
improvesomeengineeringcharacteristicsofthesoilsuchasstrength,texture,workability,and
plasticity(Army,Navy,AirForce1994).
Greenroads Manual v1.5 Materials & Resources
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REFERENCES
BritishColumbiaMinistryofTransportationandInfrastructure.(2010).KickingHorseCanyonProjectFactSheet.
Accessed14August2010.Availableathttp://www.th.gov.bc.ca/kickinghorse/updates/KHCP_Fact_Sheet.pdf.
BritishColumbiaMinistryofTransportationandInfrastructure.(2010).KickingHorseCanyonProject:Photo
GalleryPhase3EastConstruction.Accessed14August2010.Availableat
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/kickinghorse/khc_gallery01Phase3_east.htm
BritishColumbiaMinistryofTransportationandInfrastructure.(2010).KickingHorseCanyonProject.Accessed14
August2010.Availableathttp://www.th.gov.bc.ca/kickinghorse/index.htm
BritishColumbiaMinistryofTransportationandInfrastructureandPartnershipsBritishColumbia.(2006,June).
ProjectReport:AchievingValueforMoneyKickingHorseCanyonPhase2Project.Availableat
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/kickinghorse/reports/0606_PBCKickingHorse.pdf
BritishColumbiaMinistryofTransportation.(n.d.).DidYouKnow?AccessedAugust15,2010.Availableat
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/kickinghorse/documents/KHCP_Did_You_Know_080304.pdf
CEEQUAL.(2010).WattstownBusinessParkRoadExtension:InterimClientandOutlineDesignAward.Accessed13
August2010.Availableathttp://www.ceequal.co.uk/awards_063.htm
CityofBrisbane.(n.d.).CompensatoryEarthworkPlanningSchemePolicy.Accessed12January2010.Availableat
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/bccwr/lib181/appendix2_compensatoryearthworks_psp.pdf.
CityofChicago,Aviation.(2010).CityofChicago:ConstructionProgress.AccessedAugust16,2010.Availableat
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/doa/provdrs/omp/svcs/blank.html
DepartmentoftheArmy,theNavyandtheAirForce.(1994).SoilStabilizationforPavements.ARMYTM582214,
AIRFORCEAFJMAN321019.
Mroueh,UM.,Eskola,P.&LaineYlijoki,J.(2001).Lifecycleimpactsoftheuseofindustrialbyproductsinroad
andearthconstruction.WasteManagement,21,271277.
NationalLimeAssociation.(2004).LimeTreatedSoilConstructionManual:LimeStabilizationandLime
Modification.NationalLimeAssociation.
PizerInc.EARTH:EarthworkQuantitySoftware.Accessed14August2010.Availableat
http://www.earthworksoftware.com/
RoctekInc.Excavation/CutandFill:WinExMaster.Availableathttp://www.roctek.com/
TrakwareInc.EarthworksExcavationSoftware.Accessed14August2010.Availableathttp://www.trakware1.com/
TrimbleInc.TrimblePaydirt.Accessed14August2010.Availableathttp://www.trimble.com/paydirt.shtml
VertigraphInc.SiteWorx/OS.Accessed14August2010.Availableat
http://www.interworldna.com/vertigraph/siteworx_os.php
Stabilization Processofblendingandmixingmaterialswithasoiltoimprovecertainpropertiesofthesoil.Can
bedonemechanically(blendinggradationsofsoils)orbyusingadditives(Army,Navy,AirForce
1994).
Materials & Resources Greenroads Manual v1.5
Earthwork Balance MR-3