Earthwork is the first element in construction projects of all kinds that require cleared land and flat graded surface to begin.
To turn any parcel of raw land into a plot that can be used in different ways, it is sometimes necessary to excavate, relocate, and grade as part of the initial site preparation.
Some projects that require extensive earthwork are probably obvious, like clearing ground and digging for a foundation to put up a new building while others are not so obvious.
Soil Stabilization and Compaction
Some building sites require the soil to be built up and then compacted to form a solid base that can be built on.
Using heavy machinery to bring in more soil and then compact it, this is possible.
Road Building
Great roads start out with nice, level paving sites.
Earthwork including clearing, grading, and leveling is all required when paving new roads, clearing access roads to construction sites, widening existing roads, etc.
Frost Layers
When roads, buildings, and other structures are built on soil that naturally contains a high amount of moisture, frost protection layers may be necessary.
This process involves the layering of dirt and crushed rock to keep moisture away from the surface where freezing water can cause serious damage to paving and foundations.
Dam Building
Although dams are made from strong concrete, the installation of these huge structures requires carefully-planned earthwork to put in aggregate to support them.
Rocks, gravel, and soil are put in place so the dam can withstand the weight of containing waterways.
Military Infrastructures
Military bases, forts, and other infrastructure that require solid, secure foundations and perimeters, many of which require excavating, trenching, and paving.
Routing and Extracting
Routing, a method of removing soil without blasting, is used by construction crews when blasting is not possible due to proximity and safety concerns.
Using excavating, drilling, and mining equipment, crews can break up and remove soil, rocks, and other material like limestone and slate, without having to resort to dangerous blasting.
Grading and Landscaping
The final steps for any building or paving project, grading is done to smooth and finish off the ground surface and landscaping to prevent erosion.
Sod, grass, trees, and bushes are all protective to the land afterward, helping to control flooding and prevent the soil from washing away.
Naturally, landscaping can also be decorative.
In Summary
A critical first step in these, and other construction projects, it is easy to see how none of them could be started, let alone completed, without the services of skilled equipment operators to take care of all the earthwork!