Industry Glossary

Granular material such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone used in construction. Can be natural or manufactured. Common sizes include #57, #67, and #89 stone.

Off-road haul truck with a hinge between cab and dump body for improved maneuverability on rough terrain. Capacity 25-40 tons.

American Society for Testing and Materials standards that define testing methods and specifications for soils, aggregates, and construction materials.

Material used to refill an excavated area, typically around foundations, retaining walls, utilities, or trenches. Placed in lifts and compacted.

Excavation equipment with a digging bucket on the back and loader bucket on front. Versatile for trenching, loading, and small excavation.

Volume measurement of material in its natural, undisturbed state before excavation. The baseline for earthwork calculations.

A trailer that unloads material through clamshell gates in the bottom, allowing material to spread in a windrow as the truck moves forward.

Creating horizontal steps or terraces in a slope to prevent erosion, provide stability, and allow safe access on steep grades.

An excavation site where material (fill dirt, gravel, sand) is removed for use at another construction location.

Track-mounted equipment with a front blade for pushing, spreading, and rough grading material. Sizes range from D3 to D11.

Uncontaminated natural materials like soil, rock, sand, or gravel that are free of debris, hazardous substances, and pollutants. Must meet local environmental standards.

Documentation confirming that fill material meets environmental standards and is free from contamination.

Removal of trees, brush, vegetation, and surface debris from a construction site before earthwork begins.

Volume measurement of material after it has been placed and compacted. Typically 80-90% of loose volume depending on material.

The mechanical process of increasing soil density by reducing air voids. Done with rollers, plate compactors, or rammers. Measured as percentage of maximum density.

Equipment used to compact soil or aggregate. Types include smooth drum, padfoot, vibratory, and plate compactors.

Stabilized access point where trucks enter and exit a construction site. Designed to minimize tracking of mud and debris.

Multiplier used to convert between BCY, LCY, and CCY. Based on swell and shrinkage factors for specific materials.

Mechanically broken rock that has been sized by screening. Used for road base, drainage, and construction. Sizes typically range from dust to 4+ inches.

Earthmoving process where material is excavated (cut) from high areas and placed (fill) in low areas to achieve desired grades and elevations.

Field test to verify that compacted fill meets the required density specification, usually expressed as a percentage of Proctor maximum.

Removing groundwater or surface water from a construction site using pumps, wells, or drains to allow excavation and construction to proceed.

Vehicle for transporting bulk materials with a hydraulic bed that tilts to dump loads. Types include tandem, tri-axle, and quad-axle.

A truck or trailer that unloads by raising the bed to dump material out the rear. Most common type of dump truck.

Fill material that has been tested and placed according to engineering specifications for structural support. Requires compaction testing and documentation.

Document detailing measures to prevent soil erosion and sedimentation during construction. Often required by permit.

The process of removing earth, rock, or other materials from a site using mechanical equipment. Types include mass, trench, and foundation excavation.

Track or wheel-mounted equipment with a boom, stick, and bucket for digging, trenching, and loading. Sizes range from mini to mining class.

Subsoil material used to fill holes, level land, or create foundations. Contains no organic matter and is more stable than topsoil.

Government authorization required to place fill material on a property. May include volume limits and material specifications.

The final grading operation that establishes precise elevations and slopes within tight tolerances, typically within 0.1 feet of design grade.

Permeable synthetic fabric used to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain soils in construction applications. Prevents mixing of soil layers.

Sieve analysis to determine the particle size distribution of soil or aggregate. Results shown on a gradation curve.

Equipment with a long blade between the axles used for fine grading, road maintenance, and creating precise slopes.

The process of adjusting the slope and elevation of land to achieve proper drainage, a level surface, or specific design contours.

Local government authorization required before beginning earthwork operations. Specifies allowed cut/fill volumes and drainage requirements.

Loose aggregation of small water-worn or pounded stones. Sizes typically 1/4" to 3". Used for drainage, driveways, and landscaping.

Removal of stumps, roots, and organic material from a site after clearing. Required before fill placement.

Transportation of fill material, aggregate, or spoils between locations using dump trucks, trailers, or other vehicles.

Designated area on a construction site for material storage, equipment staging, and fabrication activities.

A single horizontal layer of fill material placed and compacted before adding the next layer. Typical lifts are 6-12 inches loose, depending on material and equipment.

Method of measuring material quantity by counting truck loads and multiplying by average load size.

Wheeled or tracked equipment with a front bucket for loading trucks, moving material, and stockpiling. Also called front-end loader.

Soil composed of roughly equal parts sand, silt, and clay with organic matter. Ideal for gardening and landscaping applications.

Volume measurement of material after excavation, accounting for swell. Typically 20-30% more than bank volume.

Large-scale removal of earth material from a site, typically for building foundations, parking structures, or site grading.

The amount of water in soil expressed as a percentage of dry weight. Critical factor in achieving proper compaction.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit required for stormwater discharge from construction sites over 1 acre.

Device that uses radioactive sources to quickly measure in-place soil density and moisture content during compaction testing.

The moisture content at which soil achieves maximum density during compaction. Determined by Proctor test.

Soil or rock material that must be removed before accessing the desired material underneath, such as in mining or quarrying operations.

Small, rounded stones approximately 1/4" to 3/8" in diameter. Used for drainage, walkways, and decorative landscaping.

Field test measuring how quickly water drains through soil. Required for septic system design and stormwater management.

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment - a review of historical records, site inspection, and interviews to identify potential environmental contamination.

Phase II Environmental Site Assessment - involves actual sampling and laboratory analysis of soil, groundwater, and materials to confirm contamination.

Walk-behind or attachment compaction equipment using a vibrating steel plate. Used for confined areas and granular soils.

Laboratory test (Standard or Modified) to determine the optimal moisture content and maximum dry density of soil for compaction.

Process of calculating the quantities of materials needed for a project from plans and specifications.

A site where stone, rock, or aggregate is extracted through blasting and crushing operations. Source of crushed stone products.

Location where fill material is delivered and placed. The destination for hauled material.

Large rocks or stones (typically 6" to 36") used to armor slopes, streambeds, bridge abutments, and shorelines against erosion and scour.

Crushed aggregate material (often called CR-6 or ABC stone) used as the foundation layer under asphalt or concrete roads.

Initial grading to establish approximate elevations and drainage patterns. Typically within 0.5 feet of final grade.

Granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. Types include concrete sand, mason sand, fill sand, and play sand.

Field method to measure in-place soil density by excavating a hole and measuring the volume with calibrated sand.

Loosening or breaking up compacted soil surface using rippers or disc harrows before adding new fill or recompacting.

Self-loading equipment that cuts, loads, hauls, and spreads material in one operation. Efficient for moving large volumes.

Topsoil that has been processed through a mechanical screen (typically 1/2" to 1") to remove rocks, roots, and debris.

The percentage decrease in volume when loose material is compacted. Varies by material type.

Compact, maneuverable loader with lift arms that can accept many attachments. Ideal for confined spaces and varied tasks.

Methods used to prevent slope failure and erosion, including benching, retaining walls, geotextiles, and vegetation.

Drilling to collect soil samples at various depths for laboratory testing. Used for geotechnical investigations.

Excess material generated from excavation, dredging, or tunneling that needs to be disposed of, stockpiled, or repurposed.

Temporary area used for equipment parking, material storage, and construction preparation activities.

Temporary storage of excavated material, topsoil, or aggregate on site for later use or disposal.

Removal and stockpiling of topsoil before construction. Required to preserve topsoil for later site restoration.

Fill material specifically selected and placed to support structures. Must meet engineering specifications for density and stability.

The layer of aggregate material placed directly under the base course in road or pavement construction. Provides drainage and load distribution.

The native soil or prepared soil surface that directly supports a structure, pavement, or fill. The uppermost layer of existing ground.

The layer of soil beneath the topsoil, containing less organic matter. Often used as fill material due to its stability.

The percentage increase in volume when soil is excavated and loosened. Typically 20-30% for most soils, up to 50% for rock.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan - document outlining best management practices to prevent pollution from construction sites.

A dump truck with two rear axles, typically carrying 10-14 cubic yards or 12-16 tons of material.

Weight measurement (2,000 lbs) commonly used for purchasing aggregate, stone, and sand. Conversion from cubic yards depends on material density.

The uppermost layer of soil (typically 2-8 inches) containing organic matter and nutrients. Used for landscaping, gardens, and lawn establishment.

Narrow excavation below ground surface where depth exceeds width. Used for utilities, foundations, and drainage.

A dump truck with three axles (one front, two rear), carrying 14-18 cubic yards or 20-26 tons of material.

Compaction equipment that uses vibration combined with static weight to achieve higher density. Available in smooth and padfoot drums.

Natural material that has not been previously used, processed, recycled, or contaminated. Required for many structural applications.

Actions required to compensate for impacts to wetlands, often including creation of new wetland areas.

The actual volume of material obtained per unit of source material. Affected by processing losses and moisture content.