Ground Preparation

Definition

A general term used to describe activities needed at a site that will undergo earthwork, grading, fill placement, or construction of foundations for a structure, including a building, dam, pipeline, tank, or other facility.

Site preparation includes ground preparation, as well as development of access roads, laydown and staging areas, water supply, power supply, waste handling and disposal, and other necessary utilities.

Ground preparation for site grading intended to prepare a level area, or a series of level terraces separated by intermediate slopes or walls, for construction of a building begins with clearing and grubbing (Coduto et al. 2011), which consists of removal of vegetation, trash, buried objects, construction debris, highly organic soils, large rocks, and other undesirable or deleterious materials (Figs. 1 and 2). Once the initial clearing has been accomplished, additional ground preparation activities include scarifying the ground surface to a depth of 150–200...