Excavation refers to the process of digging holes. It can be undertaken for various reasons, such as preparing for construction or exploring historical sites. Best way to find the Excavating Chicago.
William Baker Nickerson is believed to have developed the “Chicago Method” of excavation as an amateur archaeologist, having learned from Frederic Putnam how to conduct mound explorations throughout the Upper Midwest for many years.
Excavation
Excavation involves digging and clearing away soil or rock to form the basis for new construction projects, whether by hand or heavy machinery. Excavators must pay careful attention when excavating, monitoring, and documenting their work to ensure it runs according to plan.
After the site survey is complete and permits and approvals are obtained, excavation work may commence. This may involve excavating trenches for underground utilities to be installed. To ensure its success, excavation should only be undertaken by licensed, qualified professionals. It should also be closely monitored to prevent damage to underground facilities during excavation work.
An archaeological preservation specialist should supervise and record all finds and artifacts to give insights into the area and its people’s past. Each finding should be numbered and noted in its exact location for future researchers to use as valuable data.
Preparation
Preparation is the foundation of every excavation project. This step includes conducting an in-depth site survey, creating an excavation plan, and obtaining any necessary permits or approvals. When appropriately executed, preparation can help ensure worker safety as well as minimize mistakes during excavation.
Excavation is used to dig trenches for underground utilities like water and sewer pipes, electrical cables, and gas lines. Additionally, excavation can help prepare building sites by clearing away dirt and rock and may also uncover artifacts of historical or archaeological interest.
Contractors must protect and preserve utility markings during excavation work to prevent unnecessary calls to DIGGER and improve locator efficiency. Once work is complete, it’s crucial that contractors quickly backfill and restore the surface of the ground – this step ensures the structure remains stable and secure, reduces soil collapse risks that could cause serious injuries, and restores its appearance quickly – either using heavy machinery or hand tools depending on project size.
Permits and approvals
Chicago offers various permit processes depending on the nature of the work being completed. A Department of Buildings (DOB) representative can assist with selecting an appropriate permitting route; alternatively, plans and specifications must be submitted for review at this stage in your project.
The Department of Buildings requires that any excavation project, including demolition, include a written statement from its architect or structural engineer of record that details techniques and methods of the excavation work and how these methods protect below-grade utility lines. Additionally, this statement must name a contractor or trade professional responsible for assuring compliance with all City construction codes during excavation or demolition operations.
The Department of Building (DOB) requires that permits be stamped by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer prior to submission. Depending on the project scope, an engineer may also need to peer review the drawings and documents. Once reviewed by both, an Illinois-licensed architect expeditor will upload all relevant files into the City’s e-plan system.
Work
Excavation is an integral step of construction projects. Excavation may be used to prepare the ground for a building or unearth historical artifacts that shed light on an area’s past and culture; either way, excavation can be an extensive and labor-intensive task, depending on its scope.
Once all necessary permits and approvals are in place, excavation work can start in earnest. This may involve hand excavation or heavy machinery. Careful monitoring and documentation throughout this process is vital in order to ensure safe excavation that adheres to the plan.
Before beginning excavation or demolition work, individuals must obtain a dig number from 811 Chicago. Additionally, they must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1 Million per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage or an equivalent policy approved by the City. It’s also essential that once excavation work has concluded, backfilling must take place, as otherwise, the ground may sink or become unstable.
Monitoring and documentation
Careful monitoring and documentation during excavation processes, such as regular inspections, air quality checks, and keeping detailed records of completed work, are of the utmost importance.
Excavation is often used to unearth objects of historical or archaeological interest that help us better understand an area’s past and bring new insight into people who once resided there. This practice helps shed light on their lives while providing us with insights into life in that region.
Once plans have been finalized, excavation work can commence. This may involve manually digging by hand or using heavy machinery, depending on what materials need to be excavated and their location.
Excavators seeking dig tickets must observe all time/marking requirements and take all reasonable precautions to prevent damage to underground facilities, which could result in costly repairs, relocations, or disruptions. Contractors requesting dig tickets are also required to provide their utility locator contact details when requesting one; this will speed up utility marking and response processes while decreasing calls to DIGGER, increasing locator efficiency, and decreasing downtime for construction crews.
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