ABSTRACT
Landscape grading is the artistic manipulation of land using basic mathematics and scientific principles. In construction, there are two stages of grading, rough or coarse grading, which moves large quantities of earth based on cut and fill calculations, and fine or finish grading, which is the art of meeting proposed spot elevations as shown on a civil and/or landscape architecture grading plan. To begin grading anything, one need to understand and be comfortable with spot elevations and how to determine them. Spot elevations are identifying numerical marks on a site plan or topographical survey. In addition to general spot elevations, there are several naming conventions used to highlight specific site elements. Spot elevations are created by surveyors and are measured in a grid format. They provide the most accurate vertical information about a site.
