EW3D

Operational Manual
Version 2.7

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Fax +603-5885 1251

Copyright © 2009-2013 MES Innovation Sdn Bhd. All rights reserved

Disclaimer

Before using EW3D, kindly carefully read the License Agreement. The user or licensee is
required to check all calculations and drawings produced by EW3D for accuracy and
suitability for purpose.

Both this physical document and the right to use it are owned exclusively by MES Innovation
Sdn Bhd. This document may not be reproduced in any form either in part or in whole
without the express written consent of MES Innovation Sdn Bhd. Use of this document by
others is licensed by MES Innovation Sdn Bhd under the terms of the EW3D Software
License Agreement.

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Contents
Welcome

Chapter 1 Survey CAD Drawing Import 1

1.1 CAD Drawing 1
1.2 CAD Drawing Import 5
1.3 Alternative of Loading CAD Drawing as Tracing 10

Chapter 2 Tracing 11
2.1 Object Tracing 11

Chapter 3 Parameter Setting 13

3.1 Pixel Size 13
3.2 Grid Cluster 15
3.3 Offset Distance 16
3.4 Swell Factor & Shrink Factor 18

Chapter 4 Survey Points 19

4.1 Survey Points Checking 19
4.2 Survey Points Group Colour 20

Chapter 5 Boundary 21
5.1 Boundary Input 21
5.2 Boundary Editing 21
5.3 Boundary Properties 22

Chapter 6 Platform 23
6.1 Platform Input 23
6.2 Platform Editing 23
6.3 Platform Properties 26

Chapter 7 Cut Section 29

7.1 Input & Modification 29
7.2 Cut Section Labels 31
7.3 End Area Method 32

Chapter 8 Strings/Contours 33
8.1 String Lines 33
8.2 Contour Lines 34

Chapter 9 Grid Method 35

9.1 Create Grid System 35
9.2 Create Area Element 36
9.3 Reorder Area Element 36

Chapter 10 Analyse 39
10.1 Auto Balancing 39
10.2 Auto Slopes & Retaining Walls 40
10.3 As-built calculation 46
Chapter 11 Results 48
11.1 Excel Report 48
11.2 Cut/Fill Contour 49
11.3 Cut Section 50
11.4 3D View 51
11.5 3D PL View 52
11.6 Export & Batch Export 53
11.7 Why Actual Earthworks Differ from Estimation 53

Chapter 12 Backup 54
Chapter 1 Survey CAD Drawing Import

1.1 CAD Drawing

MiTS-Earthworks can directly generate an existing ground digital terrain
model from the surveyor CAD drawing imported. The surveyor CAD drawing
can in ANY of the following form:
a. Contour lines
b. Points
c. Texts

A) Contour Lines

Note:
Contour lines that are having incorrect Z value or elevation are not
useable.

B) Text Spot Levels

i. Spot Levels with Single Text

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ii. Spot Levels with Two Separated Texts
A spot level with two separated texts

A spot level with two separated texts which fulfil the following
criteria will be accepted during survey point import:

Criteria 1:
The two separated texts of a spot level have the same Y-coordinate.

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Criteria 2:
Distance between two separated texts of a spot level is less than or
equal to the value specify in setting.

The texts ‘724’ and ‘52’ have the same Y-coordinate. The distance
between two separated is 6563mm which is less than 10 000mm,
therefore application will regard ‘724’ and ‘52’ as a single spot
level.

Touch Up Before Separated Sport Level Import:

1. Open the drawing in CAD application, delete overlapping texts.
If AutoCAD is use, command OVERKILL can be used to
automatically delete overlapping objects.

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 2. Make sure the user coordinate system (UCS) is as below; not
rotated:

3. Text alignment is horizontal.

C) Points

Note:
Points that have incorrect ‘Position Z’ value are not useable.

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1.2 CAD Drawing Import

1.2.1 Prior Requirements for Import

a. Drawing in Full Scale

The surveyor CAD drawing must be in full scale (1:1mm) in order to
generate a Digital Terrain Model with a set of true topography data.
The import of scaled drawing will lead to generation of mini Digital
Terrain Model.

b. Layers for Import

Users must have prior knowledge of which layers in the drawing are
needed to be imported.
Select ONLY the layers needed for the surveyor drawing import:

c. Contour Lines Stored Correct Z Value (Height)

For the drawing with contour lines import, the contour lines must carry
correct Z values. Users are advice to have prior checking on the
contour lines in CAD program by right-click on the lines and select
‘Properties’ then view the ‘Elevation’ or ‘Z value’ value of the lines.
The Elevation or Z value unit has to be in millimeter (mm) for import.

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d. Texts Unit
For the import of drawing with Texts, check the text and make sure the
value in the ‘Contents’ is an acceptable numeric or alphanumeric text.
(Refer to below)

The command ‘FIND’ in CAD program can be used to replace all the
alphabet or symbol to an acceptable format.

There are five unit conversions for Texts; the Texts can be either in
millimeter, meter, kilometer, inch or feet in the drawing. Application
will only accept and import IL, INV, and SIL alphanumeric texts, the
rest will be discarded.

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Accepted alphanumeric texts:

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1.2.2 Steps to Import Survey Data
i. Click the “Import” button from file menu.

ii. Select and open the CAD drawing

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iii. Name the survey points group at ‘Point Group Name’, select/tick the
layers which ONLY relevant to survey data and click ‘Save’ & ‘OK’.

Note:
a. Saved survey points group can be deleted by click button
‘Delete’.
b. Survey point groups with different colours can be created via
changing the colour box located at the right of ‘Point Group
Name’ before clicking ‘Save’
c. If there have spot levels with separated two texts being
imported into application, kindly ensure the checkbox of the
‘Import survey point with two separated texts’ is ticked.

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 iv. Platforms Import (if any)
Choose the respective layers ONLY for platforms import in
‘Platform’ tab & click OK.

Note:
There have same criteria need to meet before import platforms into
application:
a. The platforms draw in CAD program must be CLOSED
POLYGON.
b. There must have Proposed Level Text inside the polygon in
order to generate the correct proposed level after imported.

1.3 Alternative of Loading CAD Drawing

CAD drawing and survey points will automatically be loaded to MiTS-
Earthworks if the project is continued from MiTS-Road.

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Chapter 2 Tracing

Development drawing can be superimposed on MiTS-Earthworks by using Tracing

feature. The tracing is automatically loaded in MiTS-Earthworks after the surveyor
drawing is successfully imported. Tracing layers can be selectively turned ‘On’ or
‘Off’. Object snapping ability which will ease the input of platforms.

2.1 Object Snapping

Object snapping setting can be called out by clicking on ‘Snap’ button. Click once on
‘Input’ screen to activate snapping.

Before tracing, the screen shows all the surveyor points generated from import.

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After tracing, surveyor drawing is superimposed on the surveyor points.

Note:
User can turn ‘On’ or ‘Off’ the snapping function by press the ‘F3’ button at keyboard
or click ‘Snap (F3)’ at the left down corner of the application.

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Chapter 3 Parameter Settings

3.1 Pixel Size

‘Pixel Size’ is located at Option >>Parameters >>Analysis >>Pixel Size

a. Functionality
If the corner of platforms or the intersecting points of platforms are
less than specified ‘Pixel Size’, those points will be reduced to become
a common point between platforms. Snapshots below show the
functionality:-

View before enlarged:

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View after enlarged:

After ‘Pixel Size’ took effect:

The corner point of platforms is much closed to each other and is less
than the value of specified ‘Pixel Size’. Therefore after analysis, these
corner will be reduced to become a common corner point between
platforms.

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 b. How to use
If a platform is very small until all of its corner points distance is less
than the specified value of ‘Pixel Size’, it will cause the platform to
become a dot which is having only one corner point. This scenario will
cause the below dialog to appear after proceed to Analysis.

To solve this matter, users have to gradually reduce ‘Pixel Size’.

3.2 Grid Cluster

‘Grid Cluster’ is located at Option >>Parameters >>Analysis >>Grid Cluster.

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 a. Functionality
If imported survey points have similar elevation and too close to each
other, a cluster point will be create to represent these points. The
clustering method being using is grid. The example below shows a grid
with purple dot as the cluster point.

b. How to use
If ‘Grid Cluster’ = 2000, this indicate the area that covers all survey
points will be mapped to 2000 square grids. Each grid will go through
clustering algorithm. Higher the value of ‘Grid Cluster’ will produce
better triangulation and in the same time will require more memory
from computer.

3.3 Offset Distance

‘Offset Distance’ is located at Option >>Parameters >>Detailing >>Offset
Distance.

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Functionality
Distance in cut section can be preset by user in setting named ‘Offset
Distance’. Snapshot below shows offset distance of 10 meters in cut section.

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3.4 Swell Factor & Shrink Factor
Swell Factor and Shrink Factor are used in EW3D to account for changes in
densities of excavated and compacted earthworks.

Both factors can be modified under Options > >Parameters>>Material:

Both factors value can be based on ASCE recommendation in snapshot below.

However, values below are only for reference, and are within the level of
accuracy typically expected for engineer's cost estimate. Specific field and
laboratory tests are needed to better characterize the changes in densities of the
various earthwork materials.

3.4.1 Formulae
Expanded Cut = Bank Cut * Soil Swell Factor
Volume Needed Before Compacted Fill = Bank Fill * [1+ (1-Soil Shrink
Factor)]
Export/ Import = Expanded Cut - Volume Needed Before Compacted Fill
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Chapter 4 Survey Points

4.1 Survey Points Checking

Users can check the correctness of survey points imported before start the
project modelling through:-

a. Sort the Z elevation column by clicking the arrow ∆ in Survey

Points >> Spread Input.

b. Original ground level terrain generated in Result >> 3D View

Note:
Users can delete incorrect survey points imported by select them in
Survey Points >> Spread Input and press ‘Delete’ button in keyboard.

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4.2 Survey Points Group Colour
A project can have several survey points groups. Users can differentiate the
imported survey point groups by their colour using ‘Point Group’ at property
grid where located at RHS of the application.

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Chapter 5 Boundary

By define boundary(s) for the development project, earthworks volume can calculate
based on the zone.

5.1 Boundary Input

Click the ‘Boundary’ icon to start boundary input. Click once on application
‘Input’ screen to activate snapping, trace the shape to input the boundary. All
boundaries input have to be closed polygon and cannot overlap each other or
itself.

5.2 Boundary Editing

Boundary can be easily edited by using ‘Add/Remove Vertex’ and ‘Move
Corner’.

5.2.1 Add/Remove Vertex

Click the both buttons ‘Boundary’ & ‘Add/Remove Vertex’ and select the
particular boundary.

a. To add vertex:
Click once at the edge of selected boundary to activate the add/remove
vertex operation, and click again to add/locate the vertex. (If adding
vertex fail message is pop out, kindly go to Object Snap Setting, ticked
‘Nearest’ option and re-do the adding vertex operation).

b. To remove vertex:
Double click the particular vertex to remove the vertex.

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5.2.2 Move Corner
Click the both buttons ‘Boundary’ & ‘Move Corner’ and select the particular
boundary. Click on a corner of the boundary and click again to locate the
corner’s new location.

5.3 Boundary Properties

Users can view boundaries properties by click the both button ‘Boundary’ &
‘Spread Input’.

5.3.1 Mark
By default, boundaries are named as Zone 1, Zone 2 …etc. Users can give a
specific name to their project boundary by double click the particular cell and
edit it.

5.3.2 Desired Cut/Fill

The earthwork balance for a defined boundary after Auto-Balancing analysis
is done. A negative value indicates cut while a positive value indicates fill.

5.3.3 Topsoil Depth

The total depth of the soil need to scrub out before earthwork activities is
started.

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Chapter 6 Platform

6.1 Platform Input

Click ‘Platform’ icon to start platform input. For platform with three sides, its
proposed level definition is based on point (corner) while for platform with
four sides or more, its proposed level definition is based on edge.

Click once on application ‘Input’ screen to activate snapping, trace the shape
to input platform. All platforms input have to be closed polygon and should
not overlap each other.

Note:
During input the platform, right click mouse can cancel the previous step and
Shift + right

6.2 Platform Editing

Platform can be easily edited by using ‘Add/Remove Vertex’, ‘Break’ and
‘Move Corner’.

6.2.1 Add/Remove Vertex

Click the both buttons ‘Platform’ & ‘Add/Remove Vertex’ and select the
particular platform.

a. To add vertex:
Click once at the edge of selected platform to activate the add/remove
vertex operation, and click again to add/locate the vertex. (If adding
vertex fail message is pop out, kindly go to Object Snap Setting, ticked
‘Nearest’ option and re-do the adding vertex operation).

b. To remove vertex:
Double click the particular vertex to remove the vertex.

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6.2.2 Break
There are two ways of breaking a platform, either by points or edge break.

a. Break a platform by points

To break a platform by points, just select two points (red circle
represented) from the platform to break.

b. Break a platform by edge

To break a platform by edge, select a reference edge, the reference
edge will move along the mouse, left-mouse click to break.

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 Note:
a. Each platform edge will have its own numbering; parallel edges are
represented by same set of colour while for other edges which don’t
have opposite edge which is parallel, their ‘Height’ or edge numbering
is being highlighted in grey colour and is not editable.
b. To make the edge height editable, either make the opposite edge
become parallel by using ‘Break’ (break a platform by edge) or break
the platform into triangles.

6.2.3 Move Corner

Click buttons ‘Platform’ & ‘Move Corner’ and select the platform, click on a
corner of a platform then click again where the corner is wished to be located/
moved.

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6.2.4 Create Infill
Infill platforms can be created at an empty area but it must be closed and
bounded by platforms. Click buttons ‘Platform’ & ‘Create Infill’ and double
click an empty area which is closed & bounded by platforms.

6.3 Platform Properties

Users can view platforms properties by click the buttons ‘Platform’ & ‘Spread
Input’ or by properties grid at right hand side of the application.

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6.3.1 Index & Mark
‘Index’ number is platform numbering defined by program which is not
editable while ‘Mark’ is platform marking which either can be defined by
users or program in parameter settings. Users can always on off the marking
by change the ‘Yes’ to ‘No’ in ‘Show Mark’ column.

6.3.2 Subgrade or Concrete Thickness

User can input subgrade or concrete thickness in meter unit during project
modelling.

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 The effect of applying subgrade or concrete thickness in project modelling is
shown as below:-

Note:
The calculation of earthworks volume using DTM method is including
autoslope and subgrade/concrete thk while earthworks volume using Grid
method is excluding the autoslope and subgrade/concrete thk.

6.3.3 Height
Height of a platform in software is defined as proposed level of that
corresponding platform. Users can always on off the height label by change
the ‘Yes’ to ‘No’ in ‘Show Height’ column.

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Chapter 7 Cut Section

Cut Section can be drawn at any angle and length by using the icon below. Section
view can be exported out as DWG and DXF format.

7.1 Input & Modification

After a cut line has been drawn, select it and right-click on it to choose “Add
cut Sections” or “Extend Cut Sections”.

If “Add Cut Sections” is being chosen, located the range of cut sections should
be added and enter the interval of the added cut sections.

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Program will auto generate the cut lines according to the interval input.

If “Extend Cut Sections” is being chosen, click the circle at cut line to
lengthen or shorten the cut section.

Tips:
The cut section line can be fully show or not shown.

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7.2 Cut Section Label
Cut Section Label setting is located at Option>> Parameter>> Detailing>>
Label.

Functionality
Labels displayed in a cut section are controlled by this ‘Label’ setting. By
clicking on the ellipsis button at ‘Label’ setting, cut section label dialog will
appear.

Use button ‘Add’ & ‘Remove’ to determine which label to be used. Labels in
‘Current Label’ will be displayed in cut section and by using button ‘Move
Up’ & ‘Move Down’; the order of the labels can be rearranged.

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7.3 End Area Method
Other than Digital Terrain Method (DTM) and Grid Method, software also
provides End Area Method for earthworks volume calculation.

Note:
This method only available after DTM analysis has been done.

Draw a cut line as a reference line of the End Area Method. Select the drew
cut line and right click to select “End Area Method”

If “End Area Method” is being chosen, located the range of cut sections
should be added and enter the interval of the added cut sections and “End Area
Method” earthworks calculation would be generated at Excel Report.

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Chapter 8 Strings/Contours

String lines or contour lines can be show after survey points are imported.

8.1 String Lines

String lines show the mesh for Original Ground Level (OGL) which the mesh
pattern is controlled by meshing method selected in parameter. (Option>>
Parameter>> Analysis)

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 To show the string lines, set “Show String” from ‘NO’ to ‘YES’ at RHS
properties grid.

8.2 Contour Lines

Contour lines can be shown after on its setting in properties grid at RHS of the
software.

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Chapter 9 Grid Method

This software provided few methods to calculate earthworks volume. If Grid Method
is preferred, a Grid System need to be created and grid squares selected will be in
included in Grid Method calculation.

Note:
Earthwork volume calculation using Grid Method does not consider effect of
assigning autoslope, topsoil and subgrade/conc. thk.

9.1 Create Grid System

Click “Grid” button, input corresponding grid system angle and interval (unit
in mm) and click “New”.

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9.2 Create Area Element
Click “Area Element” icon and select the corresponding grid square(s) to be
included in Grid Method calculation. The selected grid square will be assigned
numbering and in purple colour.

Tips:
Click, Drag & release to select or delete a huge number of grid squares. To
delete redundant area element, select corresponding area element and press
“Delete” in keyboard.

9.3 Reorder Area Element

If smaller grid square is needed, double click the selected grid to have equal
square spilt.

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To rearrange the number of area element (grid square), click “Reorder”

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Chapter 10 Analyse

Click “Analyse” button to compute the earthworks volume calculation.

10.1 Auto Balancing

Auto Balancing will balance all the platforms height (platforms proposed level)
which rise and fall the platforms with same height in a zone except the
platforms which height has been “fixed”.

Ticked the checkbox during analyse step to compute Auto Balancing analysis:

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 To define the balancing earthworks volume, kindly refer to Chapter 5.3.2
Desired Cut/Fill.

Note:
a. Auto Balancing is disable when the project does not has a boundary.
b. Auto Balancing is disable when all the platforms height is fixed in a
boundary.
c. Auto Balancing cannot implement together with autoslope.
d. Any platforms which set to fixed height, its proposed level will not be
adjusted during Auto Balancing.

10.2 Auto Slopes & Retaining Walls

Software provides sloping modelling and retaining wall modelling at all the
platforms edges.

In order to allow platform to have autoslope or retaining wall, platform edges

need to be assigned with ‘Yes’ under autoslope/edge slope and retaining
structures column

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10.2.1 Auto Slopes
Change the “No” to “Yes” under Option>> Parameter>> Analysis>> Auto
Slope to or tick the checkbox of “Auto Slope” in the Analysis popup window
to enable autoslope on plan.

Depending on the sloping direction, the starting and stopping point of

autoslope will differ:
Slope out:

Note: The starting point of autoslope is always from the platform edge level

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Slope In:

Slope from Boundary:

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10.2.2 Retaining Walls
User can set retaining wall shape, colour, and other properties based on height
from Platform Level to Existing Ground Level/Autoslope level

Wall shape dimensions can be modified by selecting the associated wall shape
and modifying its values under Parameter>>Retaining Structures>>Wall
Shape.

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Walls are can be shown in cut/fill contour and cut sections

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10.2.3 Retaining Walls & Slope Combination
When a platform edge has been assigned both retaining structure and
autoslope, a retaining structure will only be created at the end of the autoslope
for the following situations below only for slope out and slope from boundary:

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10.3 As-Built Calculations
As built calculations can be carried out by analysis using two survey point
groups. Steps to create survey point group can be referred to under section
1.2.2. Steps to carry out as-built calculations are shown below.

1) Firstly, survey points for existing ground level is imported (as ‘ORI_TOPO’
survey
point group in example
below)

2) Survey points for as-built is imported (as ‘AS BUILT_TOPO’ survey point
group in example below)

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3) When both survey point surfaces have been imported imported, click button
‘Analyse’. In analysis dialog, ‘Base Surface’ shall be the existing ground level
and ‘Comparison Surface’ shall be the as-built level.

After analysis is completed, coverage area of ‘Cut/Fill Contour’ is the area where base
& comparison surfaces overlapped, earthworks volumes computation is based on the
coverage area of cut/fill contour:

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‘Base Surface’ will be used in 3D View & ‘Comparison Surface’ will be used for 3D
PL View:

47
Chapter 11 Results
11.1 Excel Report
Detail & summary reports of earthworks are in tab named “Excel Report”,
which include calculations for DTM, Grid, and End Area Method.

Snapshot of summary of calculation report is shown below.

Terms used in snapshot above are explained below:

Bank Cut or Bank Fill is volume of earthworks in its natural state that will be
cut or filled before disturbance

Expanded Cut is increased volume of earthworks after excavated from its

natural source

Volume Needed before Compacted Fill is volume of loose earthworks that is

needed for the fill before compacted by mechanical equipment

Export is nett Expanded Cut that will be exported out from site

Import is nett volume of loose earthworks needed before the compacted fill
that will be imported into the site

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11.2 Cut/Fill Contour
Cut/Fill contour show the areas where cut and fill take place. The total cut and
fill areas are shown at bottom left. Tracing can also be shown via ticking
‘show tracing’ on right.

Buttons mesh, cut line, retaining wall, and cut/fill grid have the following
functions:-
Mesh: Shows mesh of platforms
Cut line: Shows cut lines drawn in input and allows user to see a cut line via
double-clicking on it
Retaining Wall: Shows retaining wall identified in project, with summary at
bottom of drawing
Cut/fil grid: Shows cut/fill depth at each grid point based on resolution
determined by user

Snapshot below shows all buttons activated.

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11.3 Cut Section
Cut sections can be viewed before or after analysis. Cut section can be viewed
one by one or all at the same time.

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11.4 3D View
3D View can be view before or after analysis. To turn off or on contours,
right-mouse click and select on “Toggle Contour”.

In 3D view, user can perform the actions of Zoom Window, Zoom Realtime,
Pan, Rotate, Zoom Extents, increase or decrease amplitude. The 3D black box
below allows users to control which angle to view the 3D view. The snapshot
below shows view from top.

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11.5 3D PL View
3D PL View shows the terrain with proposed platforms and is available for
view after analysis. Similar to 3D view, user can perform the actions of Zoom
Window, Zoom Realtime, Pan, Rotate, Zoom Extents, increase or decrease
amplitude. The 3D black box below allows users to control which angle to
view the 3D PL view.

Right-mouse click to turn on / off contour.

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11.6 Export & Batch Export
All outputs and input drawing can be exported by using either button ‘Export’
or ‘Batch Export’.

Button ‘Export’ is to export what is currently being seen on screen, while

button ‘Batch Export’ is to export all outputs in a single batch.

11.7 Why Actual Earthworks Differ from Estimation

There are many reasons that actual earthwork quantities of a particular job
differ from the estimated quantities, such as:

Field Conditions Differ from Design Assumptions

Each site has different existing topography and different subsurface conditions
that require different depth of excavation.

Errors in Modelling
Errors can be committed by users during data input. Although earthwork
calculations generated by computer added design software yields better
accuracy, but the results are only as good as the input data.

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Chapter 12 Backup Project
Backup is to make a copy in zip format from a currently opened project. The
backup has to be attached in inquiry email for technical support.

To backup a project, go to tab ‘Main’ and click button ‘Backup’. User will be
prompted whether to backup results as well. If reanalysis is wished to be
avoided, backup results is recommended, otherwise user may choose ‘No’ for
results backup. Lastly select the desired location to save the backup.

Kindly sent the inquiry email with attached backup to support@mes100.com

Inquiry email without sender and company name will not be processed.

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