How land is made flat at scale











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For building something like a big building or a parking garage, there is a need for a large flat surface of concrete. Wondering how they make the dirt and the concrete flat. It's hard to make a tiny flat surface at the beach in sand let along thousands of square feet. Wondering what sorts of machines tools or techniques are used at a high level.










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    down vote

    favorite












    For building something like a big building or a parking garage, there is a need for a large flat surface of concrete. Wondering how they make the dirt and the concrete flat. It's hard to make a tiny flat surface at the beach in sand let along thousands of square feet. Wondering what sorts of machines tools or techniques are used at a high level.










    share|improve this question







    New contributor




    Lance Pollard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.






















      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite











      For building something like a big building or a parking garage, there is a need for a large flat surface of concrete. Wondering how they make the dirt and the concrete flat. It's hard to make a tiny flat surface at the beach in sand let along thousands of square feet. Wondering what sorts of machines tools or techniques are used at a high level.










      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Lance Pollard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      For building something like a big building or a parking garage, there is a need for a large flat surface of concrete. Wondering how they make the dirt and the concrete flat. It's hard to make a tiny flat surface at the beach in sand let along thousands of square feet. Wondering what sorts of machines tools or techniques are used at a high level.







      surface-preparation






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      Lance Pollard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      Lance Pollard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      asked 8 hours ago









      Lance Pollard

      1184




      1184




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          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

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          up vote
          3
          down vote



          accepted










          Tear it up:
          dozer



          Smooth it out:
          grader



          John Deere makes similar equipment, too. See here and here



          The concrete is either poured in sections or pre-cast and delivered on-site. So the traditional techniques still work at scale.






          share|improve this answer





















          • What about the leveling part, making sure it is level. Maybe just a string at two points, and then the handheld leveler device at each end. But that doesn't account for bumps or small arcs in between. Wondering if it is just done by eyeing it.
            – Lance Pollard
            5 hours ago












          • @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
            – Solar Mike
            2 hours ago


















          up vote
          4
          down vote













          For big constructions, there is a survey plan and a few bench marks marked and cemented by the surveyor. Then at the time of excavation there are auto rotating laser levels that cast a level moving beam which is easy to see and follow. there are reflecting mirrors and elevation readers.



          Excavation is done in stages, from rough to fine contours using different heavy machinery depending on the type and configuration of the site. Many jobs call for presence of soils engineer at intervals to test the soils and determine their properties and if they match the projects soils report.



          Concrete slabs can be leveled with vibrating, moving, or, rotating screeds or operator driven motorized finishers or manually. There are plastic stakes that mark the finish level and the have fittings for long aluminum levels.



          Structural drawing s usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.






          share|improve this answer




























            up vote
            1
            down vote













            Regarding Kamran's citation of laser leveling, note that this technique is also used to produce rice fields covering tens to hundreds of acres with very precise drainage slopes. In this case, the earth moving machine receives the light flashes from the rotating laser mirror and lifts or lowers the grading blade in response. The machine operator then simply drags the grader blade back and forth across the field to be leveled and as long as the laser can be seen by the grader, the required slope is produced.






            share|improve this answer





















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              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes








              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes








              up vote
              3
              down vote



              accepted










              Tear it up:
              dozer



              Smooth it out:
              grader



              John Deere makes similar equipment, too. See here and here



              The concrete is either poured in sections or pre-cast and delivered on-site. So the traditional techniques still work at scale.






              share|improve this answer





















              • What about the leveling part, making sure it is level. Maybe just a string at two points, and then the handheld leveler device at each end. But that doesn't account for bumps or small arcs in between. Wondering if it is just done by eyeing it.
                – Lance Pollard
                5 hours ago












              • @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                – Solar Mike
                2 hours ago















              up vote
              3
              down vote



              accepted










              Tear it up:
              dozer



              Smooth it out:
              grader



              John Deere makes similar equipment, too. See here and here



              The concrete is either poured in sections or pre-cast and delivered on-site. So the traditional techniques still work at scale.






              share|improve this answer





















              • What about the leveling part, making sure it is level. Maybe just a string at two points, and then the handheld leveler device at each end. But that doesn't account for bumps or small arcs in between. Wondering if it is just done by eyeing it.
                – Lance Pollard
                5 hours ago












              • @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                – Solar Mike
                2 hours ago













              up vote
              3
              down vote



              accepted







              up vote
              3
              down vote



              accepted






              Tear it up:
              dozer



              Smooth it out:
              grader



              John Deere makes similar equipment, too. See here and here



              The concrete is either poured in sections or pre-cast and delivered on-site. So the traditional techniques still work at scale.






              share|improve this answer












              Tear it up:
              dozer



              Smooth it out:
              grader



              John Deere makes similar equipment, too. See here and here



              The concrete is either poured in sections or pre-cast and delivered on-site. So the traditional techniques still work at scale.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 6 hours ago









              GlenH7

              4,24332344




              4,24332344












              • What about the leveling part, making sure it is level. Maybe just a string at two points, and then the handheld leveler device at each end. But that doesn't account for bumps or small arcs in between. Wondering if it is just done by eyeing it.
                – Lance Pollard
                5 hours ago












              • @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                – Solar Mike
                2 hours ago


















              • What about the leveling part, making sure it is level. Maybe just a string at two points, and then the handheld leveler device at each end. But that doesn't account for bumps or small arcs in between. Wondering if it is just done by eyeing it.
                – Lance Pollard
                5 hours ago












              • @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                – Solar Mike
                2 hours ago
















              What about the leveling part, making sure it is level. Maybe just a string at two points, and then the handheld leveler device at each end. But that doesn't account for bumps or small arcs in between. Wondering if it is just done by eyeing it.
              – Lance Pollard
              5 hours ago






              What about the leveling part, making sure it is level. Maybe just a string at two points, and then the handheld leveler device at each end. But that doesn't account for bumps or small arcs in between. Wondering if it is just done by eyeing it.
              – Lance Pollard
              5 hours ago














              @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
              – Solar Mike
              2 hours ago




              @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
              – Solar Mike
              2 hours ago










              up vote
              4
              down vote













              For big constructions, there is a survey plan and a few bench marks marked and cemented by the surveyor. Then at the time of excavation there are auto rotating laser levels that cast a level moving beam which is easy to see and follow. there are reflecting mirrors and elevation readers.



              Excavation is done in stages, from rough to fine contours using different heavy machinery depending on the type and configuration of the site. Many jobs call for presence of soils engineer at intervals to test the soils and determine their properties and if they match the projects soils report.



              Concrete slabs can be leveled with vibrating, moving, or, rotating screeds or operator driven motorized finishers or manually. There are plastic stakes that mark the finish level and the have fittings for long aluminum levels.



              Structural drawing s usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                4
                down vote













                For big constructions, there is a survey plan and a few bench marks marked and cemented by the surveyor. Then at the time of excavation there are auto rotating laser levels that cast a level moving beam which is easy to see and follow. there are reflecting mirrors and elevation readers.



                Excavation is done in stages, from rough to fine contours using different heavy machinery depending on the type and configuration of the site. Many jobs call for presence of soils engineer at intervals to test the soils and determine their properties and if they match the projects soils report.



                Concrete slabs can be leveled with vibrating, moving, or, rotating screeds or operator driven motorized finishers or manually. There are plastic stakes that mark the finish level and the have fittings for long aluminum levels.



                Structural drawing s usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.






                share|improve this answer























                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote









                  For big constructions, there is a survey plan and a few bench marks marked and cemented by the surveyor. Then at the time of excavation there are auto rotating laser levels that cast a level moving beam which is easy to see and follow. there are reflecting mirrors and elevation readers.



                  Excavation is done in stages, from rough to fine contours using different heavy machinery depending on the type and configuration of the site. Many jobs call for presence of soils engineer at intervals to test the soils and determine their properties and if they match the projects soils report.



                  Concrete slabs can be leveled with vibrating, moving, or, rotating screeds or operator driven motorized finishers or manually. There are plastic stakes that mark the finish level and the have fittings for long aluminum levels.



                  Structural drawing s usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.






                  share|improve this answer












                  For big constructions, there is a survey plan and a few bench marks marked and cemented by the surveyor. Then at the time of excavation there are auto rotating laser levels that cast a level moving beam which is easy to see and follow. there are reflecting mirrors and elevation readers.



                  Excavation is done in stages, from rough to fine contours using different heavy machinery depending on the type and configuration of the site. Many jobs call for presence of soils engineer at intervals to test the soils and determine their properties and if they match the projects soils report.



                  Concrete slabs can be leveled with vibrating, moving, or, rotating screeds or operator driven motorized finishers or manually. There are plastic stakes that mark the finish level and the have fittings for long aluminum levels.



                  Structural drawing s usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 4 hours ago









                  kamran

                  3,3541410




                  3,3541410






















                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote













                      Regarding Kamran's citation of laser leveling, note that this technique is also used to produce rice fields covering tens to hundreds of acres with very precise drainage slopes. In this case, the earth moving machine receives the light flashes from the rotating laser mirror and lifts or lowers the grading blade in response. The machine operator then simply drags the grader blade back and forth across the field to be leveled and as long as the laser can be seen by the grader, the required slope is produced.






                      share|improve this answer

























                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        Regarding Kamran's citation of laser leveling, note that this technique is also used to produce rice fields covering tens to hundreds of acres with very precise drainage slopes. In this case, the earth moving machine receives the light flashes from the rotating laser mirror and lifts or lowers the grading blade in response. The machine operator then simply drags the grader blade back and forth across the field to be leveled and as long as the laser can be seen by the grader, the required slope is produced.






                        share|improve this answer























                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote









                          Regarding Kamran's citation of laser leveling, note that this technique is also used to produce rice fields covering tens to hundreds of acres with very precise drainage slopes. In this case, the earth moving machine receives the light flashes from the rotating laser mirror and lifts or lowers the grading blade in response. The machine operator then simply drags the grader blade back and forth across the field to be leveled and as long as the laser can be seen by the grader, the required slope is produced.






                          share|improve this answer












                          Regarding Kamran's citation of laser leveling, note that this technique is also used to produce rice fields covering tens to hundreds of acres with very precise drainage slopes. In this case, the earth moving machine receives the light flashes from the rotating laser mirror and lifts or lowers the grading blade in response. The machine operator then simply drags the grader blade back and forth across the field to be leveled and as long as the laser can be seen by the grader, the required slope is produced.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 1 hour ago









                          niels nielsen

                          3,2601210




                          3,2601210






















                              Lance Pollard is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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