Surveying

Volume Calculations

Eng. Anas Al-Hares

Zarqa University
Engineering and Technology
Civil Engineering

INTRODUCTION
Persons engaged in surveying (geomatics) are often called on
to determine volumes of various types of material.
The most common unit of volume is a cube having edges of
unit length.
Cubic feet, cubic yards, and cubic meters are used in surveying
calculations.

1 yd3 = 27 ft3
1 m3 = 35.3144 ft3

METHODS OF VOLUME MEASUREMENT

Direct measurement of volumes is rarely made in surveying.

Instead,
Indirect measurements are obtained by measuring lines and
areas that have a relationship to the volume desired.
Three principal systems are used:

the cross-section method.

the unit area (or borrow-pit) method
the contour-area method.

THE CROSS-SECTION METHOD

The cross-section method is employed almost exclusively for
computing volumes on linear construction projects such as
highways, railroads, and canals.
cross sections usually at intervals of full or half stations if the
English system of units is being used,
or at perhaps 10, 20, 30, or 40 m if the metric system is being
employed.
Cross-sectioning consists of observing ground elevations and
their corresponding distances left and right perpendicular to the
centerline.

THE CROSS-SECTION METHOD

After cross sections have been taken and plotted, design
templates are superimposed on each plot to define the
excavation or embankment to be constructed at each crosssection location.
Areas of these sections, called end areas, are obtained by
computation or by planimeter.
From the end areas, volumes are determined by the averageend-area, or prismoidal formula.

THE CROSS-SECTION METHOD

TYPES OF CROSS SECTIONS

There are many types of cross sections commonly used on route
surveys.
In flat terrain the level section is suitable

The three-level section is generally used where ordinary ground

conditions prevail.

TYPES OF CROSS SECTIONS

Rough topography may require a five-level section

or more practically an irregular section

TYPES OF CROSS SECTIONS

A transition section and a side-hill section occur when passing
from cut to fill and on side-hill locations.

AVERAGE-END-AREA FORMULA
The following Figure illustrates the concept of computing
volumes by the average-end area method.

A1 and A2 are end areas at two stations separated by a

horizontal distance L.
he volume between the two stations is equal to the average of
the end areas multiplied by the horizontal distance L between
them.

AVERAGE-END-AREA FORMULA

In first eq.
Ve : is the average-end-area volume in cubic yards.
A1 and A2 are in square feet.
and L is in feet.
In second eq.
Ve : is the average-end-area volume in cubic meter.
A1 and A2 are in square meter.
and L is in meter.
If L is 100 ft., as for full stations in the English system of units, first Equation
becomes