PREDICTION OF ROCK EXCAVATION QUANTITIES USING CONVENTIONAL AND GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATION METHODS

Boreholes, test pits, and geophysical seismic refraction surveys were used to estimate quantities of soil excavation and rock requiring ripping or blasting for site grading at a power plant project construction site. These quantities were compared to the actual excavated, ripped and blast quantities measured during construction, including comparison of the relative positions of the 3D surfaces generated using the results of the different test methods and the actual measured surfaces. This paper presents the results of the comparison, and discussed the relative merits of the site investigation used to develop the quantity estimates.