A computer program for calculating and teaching earth work

This creative project was a research effort in order to develop a computer program which could be of assistance to students learning the design process and the calculation of earth work cut and fill volumes. Two programs which calculate cut and fill volumes were analyzed. The first by Mark Lindult: 1980, and the second by E. Bruce MacDougal: 1981. Points of weakness were carefully studied and taken into consideration while developing the CATE program.CATE program (Calculating And Teaching Earth Work) has two major purposes. The first is to teach the grid method for calculating earth work. The second is to calculate cut and fill volumes using this method. It presents accurate results especially in basement and walls studies. The program is designed to be used by students who have no background in computers. The program has been tested twice to prove its abilities in teaching and calculating earth work.Department of Landscape ArchitectureThesis (M.L.A.