Construction Staking

What is a slope stake?

Stake marking where cut or fill slope intersects existing ground, typically at right-of-way edge.

What is a blue top?

Stake driven to finished grade elevation with top painted blue. Used for fine grading.

What is a grade stake?

Stake indicating required elevation for construction, marked with cut or fill information.

What is a guard stake?

Tall stake placed near hub for protection and visibility. Often marked with offset information.

What is a reference hub?

Stake at known offset from actual point, allowing reestablishment after construction disturbance.

What is a catch point?

Point where cut or fill slope meets existing grade. Same as slope stake location.

What is a hinge point?

Point where road template slope changes, typically at edge of pavement or shoulder.

What is grade rod?

Rod reading obtained when bottom of rod is at proposed grade elevation.

How do you calculate cut or fill?

Cut/Fill = Ground elevation - Design elevation Positive = Cut (remove material) Negative = Fill (add material)

What is the average end area method?

Volume = (A1 + A2)/2 × L A1, A2 = cross-section areas L = distance between sections

What is the prismoidal formula?

V = L(A1 + 4Am + A2)/6 More accurate than average end area Am = area of middle cross section

What is a mass diagram?

Graph plotting cumulative cut and fill volumes along route to analyze earthwork balance and haul distances.

What is free haul?

Specified distance within which earth movement is included in base grading price.

What is overhaul?

Earth movement beyond free haul distance, paid at additional rate per station-yard.

What is shrinkage factor?

Volume decrease when loose material is compacted. Native soil typically shrinks 10-25%.

What is swell factor?

Volume increase when material is excavated from natural state. Opposite of shrinkage.

What is a balance point?

Location on mass diagram where cumulative cut equals fill, indicating earthwork equilibrium.

What are batter boards?

Horizontal boards at fixed elevation and distance from construction to guide excavation or concrete placement.

What is a string line?

Taut line between batter boards or stakes guiding construction work to proper line and grade.

What is invert elevation?

Inside bottom of pipe. Used for gravity flow design and pipe installation.

How do you calculate pipe invert from surface?

Invert = Surface elevation - (cover depth + pipe OD) or Invert = Design elevation at flow line

What is a cross section template?

Design pattern showing typical roadway section: lanes, shoulders, slopes, ditches at any station.

What information goes on a grade stake?

• Station • Offset distance and direction • Cut or Fill amount • Slope ratio (if slope stake)

What is foundation layout?

Establishing building corner locations and elevations for foundation construction.

What is column layout?

Surveying to establish precise positions for structural columns using coordinate grid.

What is optical plumbing?

Transferring horizontal positions vertically through multiple floors using optical instruments.

What is AMG?

Automated Machine Guidance - technology providing real-time position and grade information to equipment operators.

What is borrow material?

Additional material from outside project limits to supplement cut volume for fills.

What is waste material?

Excess cut removed from project when fill requirements are exceeded.

What is laser pipe setting?

Using pipe laser to establish line and grade for pipe installation in trenches.