Volume Surveys

Volume surveys are a special type of topographic survey used to calculate a volume of material during construction. Typically, the soil owner needs to know how much fill was removed from a site in order to pay the soil purchaser. (Counting the number of trucks is a good estimate but the volume will probably be under counted since the trucks may not be filled to capacity).

Typically, total station or GPS measurements are taken across the initial pile (before soil is removed). (Large sites or complicated piles will be measured by drones or laser scanners). The data is then processed in the office using software tools to produce a three-dimensional model that will calculate the volume of the stockpile.

Once the soil is removed, the same area is measured again and a new volume will be prepared. The difference between the two volumes is the soil removed and a certificate will be prepared.

Accuracy of data is ensured through establishment of elevation benchmarks onsite away from the volume to be calculated and enough redundant measurements are made to ensure that correct elevations are used to prepare the model.