EARTHWORKS

Grid Point have built up a great reputation with its Earthworks Consultancy over the years.
Our client list includes Consulting Engineers, Architects, Main Contractors and Specialist Contractors - we welcome an opportunity to discuss your requirements.
Benefits of using Grid Point:
  • Eliminate unnecessary costs and provide certainty with volume calculations
  • Information delivered in a clear, concise, easy to understand format
  • Accurate tender submittals for earthwork volumes
  • True cost earthwork valuations
  • Effectively plan and forecast material movement on site
  • Proactive sequencing of works
  • A high level of confidence in your earthwork costings
  • Value engineering – balancing a projects cut & fill
Get In Touch

Our Services

We offer a wide range of Earthwork Consultancy services to meet all requirements.

Pre-Tender Cut & Fill Identifying Commercial Risk

Detailed cut and fill information - complete with a desktop study - helps to create accurate tenders, provide certainty and reduce commercial exposure. The information Grid Point generates will also provide assistance with the proactive programming and sequencing of works.
Grid Point are able to validate the existing design provided to our customers. Grid Point recently prevented a client from being commercially exposed to a £500,000 error due to a design discrepancy, the error was identified and the earthworks value engineered by re-designing the projects levels.

Identifying and Calculating Volumes of Different Material Stratas Pre-Tender

Using the bore hole log data from the site investigation reports, Grid Point can determine the volumes for the various stratas. By substantiating the volume of each material, accurate costings can be identified at the tender stage allowing for these costs to be highlighted upfront and eliminating unknown expenditure once the project has commenced i.e. contaminated or hazardous material.

Value Engineering 
Balancing Cut & Fill

Grid Point have assisted clients at the pre-construction stage by balancing the cut and fill on many projects. Optimising the volume of cut and fill eliminates the requirement to import or export material, this exercise can significantly enhance cost savings. Grid Point are available to attend design team meetings in order to facilitate the above.

Interim Measurements 
Weekly/Monthly Updates

Grid Point assists clients with interim updates on their projects earthwork activity. By combining our in-house site engineers with the latest survey technology we can monitor progress on site and provide a “countdown” volume of material movement. Substantiating the volume of material moved on site helps to ensure payments are easily agreed with the client. Interim measurements also assist quantity surveyors with cost valuation reports at progress meetings.

Digital Terrain Modelling and Machine Control

Digital Terrain Models (DTM) provide 3D data that can be combined with the use of machine control. DTM’s and machine control eliminate the need for additional labour, profile boards and rotating lasers resulting in a significant increase in productivity.
What Our Clients Say
“Grid Point played a significant role on the Benenden Hospital project assisting all of the site team providing their expertise in most areas predominantly the Site Engineering, Design and CAD/3D volumetric carried out to assist the commercial team. Grid Point prevented Willmott Dixon from being exposed commercially by providing information gained from experience within Earthworks/Civil Engineering and their exceptional knowledge of AutoCAD making it easier for Willmott Dixon to actively forecast final volumes and costs - the visual drawings produced were extremely beneficial in helping to accurately substantiate works completed”
 
Chris Yates BSc (HONS) MCIOB 
Operations Manager for Willmott Dixon
“Grid Point were appointed by Civils Contracting Ltd to undertake the complex modelling of the earthworks and ground remediation strategy for a new aircraft hangar for Biggin Hill Airport. Grid Point were instrumental in assisting with the development of a cost effective solution. Having understood our requirements they created 3D computer models and consulted with our commercial team to substantiate and effectively tender the project with a clear understanding of costs and quantities. Not only did we have a clear understanding of the earthworks package and financials, Grid Point provided our contractor with a 3D model that was loaded into their plant (CAT D6) enabling the contractor to cut and fill the site without any fuss. It was a great deal safer and faster than using traditional surveying method, it also eliminated the need for us to have additional resources.  
Thank you Grid Point – very professional, coupled with impeccable service!”
 
Nick Weaver 
Director of Civils Contracting 
“Grid Point were appointed by Countryside Properties as our Earthworks Specialists to provide an Earthworks strategy for our development. Grid Point were able to provide a cost effective solution and a feasible Earthworks Strategy all within a tight deadline and budget. Providing such a high level of service enabled Countryside to progress to the releasing of approved working drawings. One of the benefits of taking these services out of the scope of the Civil Engineer is that the Earthworks strategy can be developed ahead of working drawings stage allowing the Stage 4+ design to proceed without question marks over levels and reduces risk of delay to the design programme or rushed last minute changes or otherwise avoidable retaining walls, muck away etc. 

Grid Point communicated well with both planning and working drawing engineers smoothing out the design process while reducing groundworks risk and potential groundworks delay due to working in an un-profiled site. Thank you Grid Point for providing reassurance, eliminating the unknown risks and removing the potential for unnecessary costs”
 
Micheal Fisher
Countryside Properties (UK) Limited
FAQs
  • What is a cut and fill?

    A cut and fill exercise is the process of excavating and filling of material on a project to reach the designed levels. Determining the volume of material that is to be excavated or filled is key to providing a competitive tender and prevent unnecessary costs. In some instances, there may be a requirement for either importing additional fill or exporting surplus material – with both of these scenarios the contractor will incur additional costs. Understanding the volume of cut and fill will assist in the sequencing of the works. Having an accurate cut and fill undertaken will pave the way for a competitive tender and mitigate commercial risk or disputes later on in the project. 

  • Why not just let our estimators or Quantity Surveyors carry out a cut and fill calculation in the traditional way?

    Manually calculated methods for carrying out a cut and fill can be time consuming on larger projects, have the potential for user error and cannot be exported in to earthwork modelling software programmes or BIM. Substantiating volumes using traditional methods is a dark art and can be difficult especially when incorporating design changes. Our earthwork consultancy team carries out accurate cut and fill calculations using the latest earthwork modelling software – client deliverables can be paper drawings, .pdf and .dwg digital files. The information is presented in a way that is both logical and easy to understand and our team are always on hand to answer any questions you may have.

  • How much does this cost?

    Costs are dependent on the size of the project, available information and client requirements – Grid Point usually quotes on a fixed fee after we have discussed the client’s requirements and looked at the available information. 

  • What are the benefits?
    • Eliminate unnecessary costs
    • Be competitive at tender stage
    • Understanding the volume of material required facilitates the programming for the sequencing of works 
    • Provide certainty with earthwork quantities
    • Information is delivered in a clear, concise, easy to understand format
    • A high level of confidence in your earthwork costings
    • Identify and mitigate commercial risk 
  • The volumes of cut and fill are provided by our client. Why do we need to carry out a cut and fill ourselves?

    Grid Point identified a 15,000mᶟ difference between the client and Grid Point’s cut and fill exercise at tender stage due to superseded information and incorrect topographical data on a lump sum all risk contract. We would advise that a third-party check is carried out by a company that specialises in Earthworks Consultancy and not by the Consulting Engineers performing the cut and fill as a box ticking exercise. The information we provide will prevent commercial disputes later on in the project as the volume calculations can be easily substantiated if queried. 

  • As a groundworks and civil engineering contractor, I can make more money by adding a commercial “risk factor” on the cut and fill quantities - why would I want to work to tighter margins from an accurate cut and fill?

    Due to the advances in technology, many Groundwork and Civil Engineering companies are adopting our services and will have the correct volume of cut and fill when tendering, if you have added a risk factor to your tender, the chances are you may have unnecessarily priced yourself out of the project that will be in turn awarded  to a competitor.

  • Do you consider bulking factors?

    Bulking factors can be applied if we are provided with the bulking factors and directly instructed to do so. 

  • Do you consider construction arising’s?

    Construction arising’s can be calculated and incorporated into the cut and fill if required. 

  • How do I know the information Grid Point provide is correct?

    Grid Point will issue both .PDF and .DWG information that can be substantiated and checked. Grid Point will discuss any queries you may have both during and after the work has been completed - we are committed to providing a professional service.