Book excerpt: This manual shows you, in simple, easy -to-understand language, how to calculate the amount of dirt you'll have to move, the cost of owning and operating the machines you'll do it with, and finally, how to assign bid prices to each part of the job. Using clear, detailed illustrations and examples, the author makes it easy to follow and duplicate his system. The book ends with a complete sample estimate, from the take-off to completing the bid sheet.Included in this book: -- How to set up & use an organized & logical estimating system -- How to read plans & specs -- Why a site visit is mandatory -- How to assess accessibility & job difficulty -- How soil haracteristics can affect your estimate -- The best ways to evaluate subsurface conditions -- Figuring your overhead -- How to get the information you need from contour maps -- When you have to undercut -- Dealing with irregular regions and odd areas -- Factors for estimating swell and shrinkage -- Balancing the job: spoil & borrow -- Calculating machine owning & operating costs -- The two common methods of estimating earthwork quantities