AASHTO Publications Earthwork Series: Grades and Grading (3 PDHs) TC3CN023-15-T1

This course offers professional development hours (PDHs). You will see the PDHs on your course completion certificate, which also serves as documentation of your attendance. PDH requirements vary, therefore, it is up to you to determine whether or not this particular course qualifies under your State or board requirements. Course overview: Grades and Grading is the third part of the five-part Earthwork Series. It is designed to prepare technical frontline workers for what they can expect to see during actual project inspection. Topics covered include an overview of the plans that pertain to earthwork and earthwork quantities, grade stakes that will be encountered and their meanings, how Global Positioning System (GPS) works and its functions in the field, and verifying and documenting grade information. The introductory lesson covers an overview of the plan sheets that deal with earthwork and earthwork quantities, topographical images and their meaning, stationing and control points, and profile/section sheets. The second lesson covers the typical grade stakes used throughout a project and their meaning. The third lesson discusses the history of GPS in construction and how it relates to current projects. And the final lesson covers how to verify the grade and what information is needed in the documentation from the inspector. This course provides the frontline technical inspector with the proper tools to assure that the project is built on a stable platform. Training level: This training is recommended for the Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council levels II through IV. Target audience: This training is targeted to both agency and industry technicians that will be using earth materials as engineering materials on an earthwork project. This training is beneficial to anyone working on the project but is targeted to the intermediate to advanced technician. Learning outcomes: Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to: • Describe the process of plan reading; • Identify the purpose of grade stakes; • Explain how Global Positioning System (GPS) works; and • Describe requirements for grade verification and documentation.