Product Overview

This advanced course looks at how reliable earthworks estimates are built when ground conditions, excavation depth, and site access start to shape the entire approach. It builds on the fundamentals and shows how geotechnical findings, groundwater behaviour, environmental limits, and project location influence quantities, methods, and unit costs.

The course works through excavation and backfill planning for both shallow and deep cuts, including scenarios in congested or restricted areas where productivity and equipment choices shift. It also covers material handling and haul logistics, haul route optimization, slope protection and stability considerations, dewatering needs, and the ground improvement techniques commonly required on civil and infrastructure projects.

Participants will develop productivity-based crew and equipment models, assess indirect costs, and perform risk-based contingency modelling. Emphasis is placed on understanding how sequencing, site access, material source location, and environmental restrictions affect both costs and schedules.

Mandatory Prerequisites

Who Should Attend:

The course is intended for construction professionals involved in civil and infrastructure works who contribute to earthworks estimating. It suits estimators and cost engineers responsible for complex earthworks scopes, along with project managers and construction managers who oversee daily earthworks operations. It also suits field engineers and superintendents whose site experience guides quantity development, sequencing decisions, and realistic productivity expectations.

Industry Credits

This course is a CCA Gold Seal Certified Course. Students will receive 4 Credits towards the program.

Course Format

Live, Online, Instructor-led training. This is a highly interactive course facilitated by the instructor on a video platform.
You will be expected to have your webcam on during the whole class and participate in break-out rooms, small-group discussions, and other activities with your instructor and classmates during the course.
Course access information will be provided to you in advance of the training by your instructor
Full attendance and participation in all sessions is mandatory for course completion. If a student misses a class session, we are unable to transfer registration or provide a partial refund of the registration fees.

Course Requirements (Technology & Participation)

This course requires full face-to-face interaction and participation from both the instructor and students. In order to attend, you’ll must make sure you have the following:

Computer or laptop with webcam (webcams are mandatory): This course will involve 100% on-screen interaction with your instructor and classmates, reading/viewing on-screen content like slides or videos, and interacting via typing with questions or responses. For this reason, you must have a webcam and use a full computer/laptop, and we do not permit students to attend using a tablet or cell phone.
A quiet space with minimal distractions: Please plan to be fully engaged in the class, and clear your work schedule just as you would for attendance in an in-class program.

Refunds or Transfers:

Five (5) or more business days before the course start date: Full refund of registration fees or can be transfers to a different course date.
Less than five (5) business days before the course start date and course no-shows: No refunds or transfers to future course dates.
For a complete document on the NRCA Education Policies, click here.

Other Policies

Substitution of another member of your company/team is permitted up to the course start date for no additional fee.
Unless otherwise stated, every person able to see, hear, and observe the virtual course sessions must be a paid participant. Non-compliance of this requirement will result in removal from the course. Refunds will not be issued to students who are removed from the course for non-compliance of this requirement.
If the NRCA has to postpone or cancel courses due to insufficient enrolment, NRCA will refund the registration fee or, if possible, the attendee may choose to move to an identical session in the future.