Creating a Grading Area

The grader object helps to balance the cut and fill so that the site does not require earth to be moved in or out. A grader applies an even thickness of fill for the site over its area. Graders can be drawn with the Site Modifier tool, or by drawing a polyline and then selecting the Objects from Polyline command (see Creating Objects from Polylines).

To create a grading area:

1.	Create the site model and add any modifiers, such as pads and roads, and update the proposed site model by clicking Update from the Object Info palette of the selected site model.

2.	The initial cut and fill volumes are displayed in the Object Info palette (see Site Model Properties).

3.	Click the Site Modifier tool from the Site Planning tool set.

4.	Draw the grader area.

If this is the first time the Site Modifier tool has been used, the Object Preferences dialog box opens. Accept the defaults and click OK.

5.	In the Object Info palette, select Grader from the Config field. Adjust the elevation of the grader up or down depending on whether fill is required or excess fill is present.

 

Parameter	Description
Config	Indicates the type of modifier object
Elevation	Sets the reference elevation of the grader

6.	Select the site model and click Update from the Object Info palette.

7.	Evaluate the results of the grader by checking the Net C&F Volume results in the Object Info palette of the selected site model. If the grader value needs adjustment, select the grader and enter a new Elevation value in the Object Info palette.

8.	Continue adjusting the grader elevation until a balanced cut and fill volume is achieved.