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The dirt Uncovered
The Dirt Uncovered shares real-world perspectives on earthwork, risk, assumptions and the decisions that shape land development—drawn from decades of experience in the dirt.
When Two Earthwork Numbers Don’t Match
When two earthwork estimates don't match, the difference may have more to do with assumptions than calculations. Here are a few places to look first.
EARTH TEK GPS
Sep 22
How Much Do You Need to Know?
How much information do land teams really need to understand earthwork during due diligence? Issue 003 explores the middle ground between limited information and full engineering.
EARTH TEK GPS
Sep 8
Why a “Balanced” Site Can Still Need a Lot of Dirt
A site has 200,000 cubic yards of cut and 200,000 cubic yards of fill. Balanced, right? Not necessarily. One of the easiest mistakes to make when evaluating earthwork is treating raw cut and fill as the final answer. The dirt has characteristics. The plans have assumptions. And what comes out of the ground isn't necessarily what ultimately goes back into compacted fill. Compaction Changes the Equation Excavated soil and compacted soil don't necessarily occupy the same volume.
EARTH TEK GPS
Sep 2
When Should a Land Team Bring Earthwork Into the Deal?
When Should a Land Team Bring Earthwork Into the Deal? There is a natural tendency to think of earthwork as something that gets figured out once the engineers have finished designing the site.
By then, however, some of the most important decisions may already have been made.
The land has been pursued.The budget has developed.The deal has progressed.And the design may already be moving toward decisions that become increasingly difficult to change.
EARTH TEK GPS
Sep 2
How Early Can You Really Evaluate Earthwork During Land Due Diligence?
How Early Can You Really Evaluate Earthwork During Land Due Diligence? One of the biggest misconceptions about early earthwork evaluation is that you need a complete civil plan set before you can learn anything meaningful.
You don't.
But you do need enough information to establish two things: where the ground is today and some reasonable basis for where the proposed site needs to go.
EARTH TEK GPS
Sep 2
When 'Good Enough' isn't Good Enough
The biggest earthwork costs often begin long before construction. Issue 002 explores how questioning key assumptions during due diligence can help land teams make better decisions before those assumptions become expensive commitments.
EARTH TEK GPS
Aug 13
Before the Budget Is Locked
Small earthwork assumptions can create major financial impacts. Issue 001 of The Dirt Uncovered explores why understanding the assumptions behind an early site budget can lead to better land decisions.
EARTH TEK GPS
Jul 15
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How Much Do You Need to Know?
How much information do land teams really need to understand earthwork during due diligence? Issue 003 explores the middle ground between limited information and full engineering.
When 'Good Enough' isn't Good Enough
The biggest earthwork costs often begin long before construction. Issue 002 explores how questioning key assumptions during due diligence can help land teams make better decisions before those assumptions become expensive commitments.
Before the Budget Is Locked
Small earthwork assumptions can create major financial impacts. Issue 001 of The Dirt Uncovered explores why understanding the assumptions behind an early site budget can lead to better land decisions.
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