Question

Which method is not adopted for volume calculating?

(a) From cross-section

(b) From spot level

(c) From contour

(d) From plan

The question was posed to me in an interview for job.

This is a very interesting question from Office, Shop Building in section Methods of Building Estimate & Estimate of Building of Civil Engineering Drawing

Answer 1

Right choice is (d) From plan

To explain: Volume can be measured by a contour map, but the volume calculated by this method is approximate. It cannot be compared with the volume calculated by the cross-section method. As the full ground irregularities are not predicted by contours, and also as the contour intervals are not small, volume calculated from contours is likely to be an approximate one. To calculate volume by this method, general recommendations of contour interval is a maximum of 2 meters for a regular ground surface, and 0.5 meter for an irregular topography.