Grading: An Introduction

In most projects, grading is a necessary step to lay out the groundwork for the rest of the project. But what exactly is grading?

Grading is one of the main steps in preparing a site. In this steps, many excavation tools move large amounts of ground and shape the surface of a site. Through this process, engineers intend to shape the ground so that the ground can hold the weight of structures, and reduce the risks of uneven ground. Also, grading is meant to shape the ground for the effective drainage of water. Effective grading allows water to flow away from the structures and into drainage systems. Also, this control of water movement allows for the effective removal of pollutants from a site and into a drainage system.

But what are the different kinds of grading?

Architectural grading is the process of changing the overall topography of a site. This change of topography and contours will allow for the effective drainage of a project, or remove elevations that may hinder future development.

Rough grading is the process of adding to a site and providing a base. This involves adding material such as topsoil to create the shape of a site, and ensure that elevations are balanced.

Finish grading is the final process of grading, and creates the final shape of a project site. This involves adding desired materials on a site, such as soil, dirt, or concrete so that the project is ready for construction or planting.

So what role does a civil engineer play in grading?

Civil engineers create grading plans, which lay out the groundwork for the different stages. There are many different parts to a grading plan, but these plans typically point out the initial topography of a site. Then, this plan includes the desired elevations of slopes of a plan, and proposes the final topography of a site.

Grading is one of the most vital, and complex parts, of a project. It is necessary for engineers, and anyone else involved in a project, to be aware of this process, so that a site is effectively prepared for construction.