Cut & Fill Calculation by ArcGIS

 This tutorial explains how to calculate cut and fill volumes using ArcGIS with a Digital Terrain Model (TIN) workflow. Follow these steps, and insert your screenshots alongside the steps for clarity.

Step 1: Add Your XYZ File to ArcGIS

• Use the “Add XY Data” tool to load your survey points (CSV or TXT format).

• Ensure your coordinate system is correctly defined (e.g., UTM WGS 84).

• Save the event layer as a shapefile for further processing.

Step 3: Create TINs for Both Surfaces

• You need two TINs:

  1. Existing Ground Surface TIN

  2. Design or Proposed Surface TIN

Repeat the same "Create TIN" steps for the design levels file.

Step 4: Convert TINs to Raster

• Use 3D Analyst Tools > Conversion > From TIN > TIN to Raster.

• Choose "LINEAR" interpolation.

• Set appropriate cell size (e.g., 1m or 2m depending on detail level).

Step 5: Create Contour Lines

• Use Spatial Analyst Tools > Surface > Contour.

• Generate contours from the raster surface.

• This helps visualize the terrain shape and plan design levels.

Step 6: Smooth the Contour Lines

• Use Cartography Tools > Generalization > Smooth Line.

• Select “PAEK” or “Bezier” method to smooth jagged contour lines.

Step 7: Create Reference Surface (Design Level)

• Prepare an Excel file with your proposed/reference level values (e.g., flat platform or sloped design).

• Columns: X, Y, Z (same format as original XYZ).

• Import this Excel file using Add XY Data, export it as a shapefile.

• Then create a TIN and convert it to a Raster like before.

Step 8: Clip the Area of Interest

• Use a polygon (e.g., building footprint or area boundary).

• Clip both existing and reference raster surfaces using Extract by Mask.

Step 9: Use the Cut Fill Tool

• Navigate to 3D Analyst Tools > Functional Surface > Cut Fill.

• Input Surface 1: Existing Raster

• Input Surface 2: Design Raster

• Output: Cut Fill raster layer showing cut (positive) and fill (negative) areas.

Step 10: Symbolize and Analyze the Results

• Apply a diverging color scheme (e.g., blue for cut, redfor fill). It can change as you want.

• Right-click the output layer > Properties > Symbology to visualize depth.

• Open the attribute table or use Zonal Statistics to calculate cut/fill volumes.