Earthworks - Short Course

Sneak Peek

Understanding earthworks is critical in many industries, from civil engineering to building construction and landscaping to farm and natural resource management.

Earthworks are an important part of work carried out for:
- Preparing sites for construction of buildings
- Building roads
- Providing water, power, gas and other services to homes and commercial properties
- Landscape construction – from home gardens and parks to golf courses and sportsgrounds
- Dams and reservoirs
- Drainage, erosion and flood control
- Farm and natural resource management
- Waste management (eg. tipping garbage)
- This course may be used by anyone working or hoping to work in any of these areas.

THE CONTENTS OF THE COURSE

LESSON 1 SCOPE & NATURE OF EARTHWORKS
Nature of Earthworks
Earthworks Applications 
Review what you have been learning

LESSON 2 SITE PREPARATION
Surveying and Levelling 
Site Investigation, Soil and Subsoil 
Land Clearing 
Review what you have been learning

LESSON 3 GROUND SURFACE SHAPING 
Earth Forming 
Ground Shapes
Creating Mounds 
How To Build a Raised Garden Bed
Review what you have been learning

LESSON 4 GRADING & EARTHMOVING
Grading Principles and Methods 
Site Grading 
Earthmoving Tools 
Earthmoving Machinery 
Earthmoving 
Review what you have been learning

LESSON 5 EARTHWORKS CALCULATIONS
Cut & Fill Calculations 
Drainage Considerations 
Review what you have been learning 

LESSON 6 STABILISING METHODS 
Compaction 
Surface Treatments 
Drainage 
Improving Surface Drainage After Construction 
Points To Remember When Designing a Drainage System 
Drainage Effectiveness 
Rate of Excess Water Reaching Soil 
Review what you have been learning 

LESSON 7 SOIL STORAGE & FILLING
Removal, Storage and Reinstatement of Topsoil
Filling Materials
Working With Filled Land
Review what you have been learning
Final Assessment