How land is made flat at scale












3












$begingroup$


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









$endgroup$

















    3












    $begingroup$


    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









    $endgroup$















      3












      3








      3





      $begingroup$


      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









      $endgroup$




      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






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Dec 17 '18 at 23:01









      Lance PollardLance Pollard

      1216




      1216






















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          6












          $begingroup$

          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 project's 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 drawings usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$





















            3












            $begingroup$

            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









            $endgroup$













            • $begingroup$
              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.
              $endgroup$
              – Lance Pollard
              Dec 18 '18 at 1:44












            • $begingroup$
              @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
              $endgroup$
              – Solar Mike
              Dec 18 '18 at 4:53



















            3












            $begingroup$

            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









            $endgroup$





















              0












              $begingroup$

              Easier done than thought.



              "Grading" and "levelling" are carried out in stages of approximation.



              A grading machine or a common dozer can work up an even surface (horizontal or uniform gradient).



              As for the good question, "It's hard to make a tiny flat surface at the beach in sand let alone thousands of square feet. Wondering what sorts of machines tools or techniques are used at a high level.": Remember that the surface of a liquid is always horizontal. A layer of concrete usually evens out the minor variations (bumps and pits), giving you a horizontal "flat" surface.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$













                Your Answer





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                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

                votes








                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes









                6












                $begingroup$

                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 project's 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 drawings usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.






                share|improve this answer











                $endgroup$


















                  6












                  $begingroup$

                  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 project's 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 drawings usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.






                  share|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$
















                    6












                    6








                    6





                    $begingroup$

                    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 project's 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 drawings usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.






                    share|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$



                    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 project's 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 drawings usually call for 1/8" to 1/16" tolerance in slabs level.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Dec 18 '18 at 7:19

























                    answered Dec 18 '18 at 2:20









                    kamrankamran

                    4,5002511




                    4,5002511























                        3












                        $begingroup$

                        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









                        $endgroup$













                        • $begingroup$
                          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.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Lance Pollard
                          Dec 18 '18 at 1:44












                        • $begingroup$
                          @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                          $endgroup$
                          – Solar Mike
                          Dec 18 '18 at 4:53
















                        3












                        $begingroup$

                        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









                        $endgroup$













                        • $begingroup$
                          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.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Lance Pollard
                          Dec 18 '18 at 1:44












                        • $begingroup$
                          @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                          $endgroup$
                          – Solar Mike
                          Dec 18 '18 at 4:53














                        3












                        3








                        3





                        $begingroup$

                        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









                        $endgroup$



                        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 Dec 18 '18 at 0:28









                        GlenH7GlenH7

                        4,26332544




                        4,26332544












                        • $begingroup$
                          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.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Lance Pollard
                          Dec 18 '18 at 1:44












                        • $begingroup$
                          @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                          $endgroup$
                          – Solar Mike
                          Dec 18 '18 at 4:53


















                        • $begingroup$
                          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.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Lance Pollard
                          Dec 18 '18 at 1:44












                        • $begingroup$
                          @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                          $endgroup$
                          – Solar Mike
                          Dec 18 '18 at 4:53
















                        $begingroup$
                        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.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Lance Pollard
                        Dec 18 '18 at 1:44






                        $begingroup$
                        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.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Lance Pollard
                        Dec 18 '18 at 1:44














                        $begingroup$
                        @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                        $endgroup$
                        – Solar Mike
                        Dec 18 '18 at 4:53




                        $begingroup$
                        @LancePollard for level one way was a water filled pipe - water finds it’s own level...
                        $endgroup$
                        – Solar Mike
                        Dec 18 '18 at 4:53











                        3












                        $begingroup$

                        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









                        $endgroup$


















                          3












                          $begingroup$

                          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









                          $endgroup$
















                            3












                            3








                            3





                            $begingroup$

                            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









                            $endgroup$



                            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 Dec 18 '18 at 5:39









                            niels nielsenniels nielsen

                            3,4851211




                            3,4851211























                                0












                                $begingroup$

                                Easier done than thought.



                                "Grading" and "levelling" are carried out in stages of approximation.



                                A grading machine or a common dozer can work up an even surface (horizontal or uniform gradient).



                                As for the good question, "It's hard to make a tiny flat surface at the beach in sand let alone thousands of square feet. Wondering what sorts of machines tools or techniques are used at a high level.": Remember that the surface of a liquid is always horizontal. A layer of concrete usually evens out the minor variations (bumps and pits), giving you a horizontal "flat" surface.






                                share|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$


















                                  0












                                  $begingroup$

                                  Easier done than thought.



                                  "Grading" and "levelling" are carried out in stages of approximation.



                                  A grading machine or a common dozer can work up an even surface (horizontal or uniform gradient).



                                  As for the good question, "It's hard to make a tiny flat surface at the beach in sand let alone thousands of square feet. Wondering what sorts of machines tools or techniques are used at a high level.": Remember that the surface of a liquid is always horizontal. A layer of concrete usually evens out the minor variations (bumps and pits), giving you a horizontal "flat" surface.






                                  share|improve this answer









                                  $endgroup$
















                                    0












                                    0








                                    0





                                    $begingroup$

                                    Easier done than thought.



                                    "Grading" and "levelling" are carried out in stages of approximation.



                                    A grading machine or a common dozer can work up an even surface (horizontal or uniform gradient).



                                    As for the good question, "It's hard to make a tiny flat surface at the beach in sand let alone thousands of square feet. Wondering what sorts of machines tools or techniques are used at a high level.": Remember that the surface of a liquid is always horizontal. A layer of concrete usually evens out the minor variations (bumps and pits), giving you a horizontal "flat" surface.






                                    share|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$



                                    Easier done than thought.



                                    "Grading" and "levelling" are carried out in stages of approximation.



                                    A grading machine or a common dozer can work up an even surface (horizontal or uniform gradient).



                                    As for the good question, "It's hard to make a tiny flat surface at the beach in sand let alone thousands of square feet. Wondering what sorts of machines tools or techniques are used at a high level.": Remember that the surface of a liquid is always horizontal. A layer of concrete usually evens out the minor variations (bumps and pits), giving you a horizontal "flat" surface.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered Dec 18 '18 at 10:47









                                    KrisKris

                                    101




                                    101






























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