Use this record for
inspection observations at exposed subgrade or formation before the next work stage, linked to approved drawings, geotechnical direction and survey records.
Outside this record: founding-capacity certification, geotechnical design, proof-roll or density results unless separately recorded from an approved procedure, and universal tolerances or release authority.
Blank field record. Record the observed condition and actual survey/test evidence against the project documents. Visual observations do not establish bearing capacity or certify geotechnical suitability. A named project role must resolve conditions requiring engineering judgement.
Collect these project inputs first
- Approved earthworks, pavement/foundation and set-out drawings
- Identify work limits, intended formation level, datum, crossfall and next-stage interface.
- Geotechnical report and written directions
- Identify project-specific ground model, observation limits, treatment triggers and assigned decision role.
- Survey control and field records
- Link measured levels and as-built survey to the same area and datum.
- Inspection and release schedule
- Identify any project notice, witness, hold, or next-stage release obligation.
- Water management and nonconformance process
- Route wet, soft, disturbed, variable or unexpected ground for disposition.
How to use the checklist
- Define the inspection area and current drawing/report revisions before recording observations.
- Separate design level/reference from actual measured level; include datum, location and survey evidence.
- Describe material and visible condition at the time observed. Do not infer strength or bearing capacity from appearance.
- Link any proofing, testing, treatment or engineer direction to the original report and affected area.
- Record open conditions and the assigned disposition before handover to the next activity.
Checks and the records they need
Fill project criteria from approved documents before inspection. The fields below show what the downloaded form asks you to record; the web page does not save or approve site results.
Subgrade observation and formation handover log for repeat entries
One row per defined inspection area or event. Record observed condition separately from design criteria. Link survey, test, photo and direction documents; this log cannot certify bearing capacity or authorize release.
- Date / time
- Area / chainage / grid
- Drawing / datum ref
- Observed material / condition
- Level / unit / survey ref
- Proofing / test evidence
- Issue / treatment / decision
- Status / handover role
- Recorder / date / signature
The files provide 8 blank entry rows. Continue on another blank copy as needed; the web page does not record site entries.
SG-01 · Area identity, boundaries and current design references
Work area limits, chainage/grid, formation type, drawing/detail revision and level datum.
- How to check
- Mark the inspected extent and reconcile its identity to current approved plans and survey control before describing condition.
- What defines acceptance
- The area and reference revision are identifiable, and recorded comparisons use the design reference and datum assigned to that same extent.
- Project document to cite
- Approved earthworks and next-stage drawings, survey control and inspection plan.
If a discrepancy is found: Drawing, datum or extent conflict remains open; reconcile with survey/design role before handover.
Topic references: Cavoren earthworks baseline; Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, MRTS04 General Earthworks (March 2025); Hutchies 010 Groundworks Report (public Word example).
- Inspection area / chainage
- Grid / lot / extent ref
- Drawing revision / survey datum
- Result, inspector and date; issue and recheck reference
SG-02 · Exposed material and visible condition
Observed material description, variability, inclusions, organics, loose/disturbed areas and limits of any change.
- How to check
- Describe only what was exposed and observed; map transitions or suspect zones and cross-reference photos or geotechnical direction.
- What defines acceptance
- The record identifies observed conditions and their locations; visual description is not a strength, classification or bearing-capacity result.
- Project document to cite
- Geotechnical report, approved earthworks specification and site observation/photo records.
If a discrepancy is found: Map the affected extent and request geotechnical direction where appearance or material differs from the project basis.
Topic references: Cavoren earthworks baseline; Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, MRTS04 General Earthworks (March 2025); Hutchies 010 Groundworks Report (public Word example).
- Material description
- Observed zone / limits
- Geotechnical direction / evidence ref
- Result, inspector and date; issue and recheck reference
SG-03 · Water, drainage and surface condition
Standing water, seepage, runoff path, ponding, erosion, contamination or conditions affecting inspection.
- How to check
- Record location, extent and observed condition at inspection time; link water-control action and follow-up observations.
- What defines acceptance
- Conditions affecting visibility, stability or planned work are identified and referred through the project water-management process.
- Project document to cite
- Project drainage/environment controls, geotechnical directions and dated field photos.
If a discrepancy is found: Keep affected zone open for project review and document any required removal, drying, drainage or reinspection.
Topic references: Cavoren earthworks baseline; Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, MRTS04 General Earthworks (March 2025); Hutchies 010 Groundworks Report (public Word example).
- Water condition / location
- Drainage action ref
- Condition recheck / evidence ref
- Result, inspector and date; issue and recheck reference
SG-04 · Formation geometry and survey evidence
Actual measured levels or geometry, measurement locations, datum, instrument/survey record and comparison reference.
- How to check
- Transcribe survey output and units without rounding or translating datum; compare only to the approved project criterion entered on the record.
- What defines acceptance
- Each measurement can be traced to a location, unit, datum, survey record and applicable project criterion; this sheet sets no tolerance.
- Project document to cite
- Current approved levels/sections, survey control and as-built or field survey record.
If a discrepancy is found: Resolve unmatched datum, out-of-range or missing points under the survey and nonconformance process before covering.
Topic references: Cavoren earthworks baseline; Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, MRTS04 General Earthworks (March 2025); Hutchies 010 Groundworks Report (public Word example).
- Measurement point
- Design level / criterion
- Actual level / datum
- Unit / survey ref
- Result, inspector and date; issue and recheck reference
SG-05 · Proofing, testing or geotechnical direction (if specified)
Required method/procedure, test or observation report, represented area and written project/geotechnical decision.
- How to check
- Link original signed/issued report and its limits; preserve any anomalous observation and decision as separate evidence.
- What defines acceptance
- Only the project-specified method and assigned role determine suitability; no result, test rate or bearing capacity is implied by this entry.
- Project document to cite
- Project specification, geotechnical report, approved procedure, report and written direction.
If a discrepancy is found: Keep status Pending until the required report and written disposition are linked for the represented area.
Topic references: Cavoren earthworks baseline; Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, MRTS04 General Earthworks (March 2025); Hutchies 010 Groundworks Report (public Word example).
- Test method / report
- Represented area
- Written direction / reviewer
- Result, inspector and date; issue and recheck reference
SG-06 · Formation treatment, protection and next-stage handover
Treatment or repair references, reinspection evidence, exposure/weather after inspection and next-stage notice/release references.
- How to check
- Trace each open item to affected location, action, recheck and the project-assigned handover role; record later events in the event log.
- What defines acceptance
- Handover status reflects linked evidence and open items only. The form does not approve design, certify ground capacity or grant contractual release.
- Project document to cite
- Project earthworks ITP, treatment direction, NCR workflow and contractual inspection/release schedule.
If a discrepancy is found: Keep unresolved area identified and obtain documented disposition through the project process before the next activity.
Topic references: Cavoren earthworks baseline; Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, MRTS04 General Earthworks (March 2025); Hutchies 010 Groundworks Report (public Word example).
- Treatment / repair ref
- Reinspection evidence
- Open issue / disposition
- Handover role / ref
- Result, inspector and date; issue and recheck reference
When a check cannot be closed
| Situation | What to record or resolve |
|---|---|
| Observed ground is soft, pumping, wet, disturbed or materially different across the area. | Map the extent, record conditions and evidence, keep the affected area open, and request the assigned geotechnical/project decision. |
| Survey datum, design reference or boundary of the inspected area is unclear. | Mark the record Pending and reconcile the approved drawing, survey control and area limits before comparing measurements. |
| Someone requests bearing capacity or suitability certification from this visual sheet. | Refer to the geotechnical report, specified investigation/test, and named qualified decision role; this record contains no bearing-capacity determination. |
| A treatment or proofing result is required but not available. | Link the required procedure and report when completed; retain the formation disposition as open until project evidence is reviewed. |
Formation observation handover
This record documents observations and traceable measurements only. It does not determine bearing capacity, certify geotechnical suitability or grant a contractual release.
Record handover status options in the blank record:
- Observation recorded; linked evidence filed
- Treatment, reinspection or project decision remains open
- Assigned project/geotechnical disposition required
Record the assigned roles: Field observer / role / date; Surveyor / record reference; Assigned geotechnical/project reviewer / decision ref; Open treatment / NCR / reinspection references; Next-stage notice or handover reference, if required.
Fictional area reference — no ground result
Fictional teaching example only. These are illustrative document references, not a real project, engineering values or completed inspection results.
Illustrative area FG-00 on drawing C-00 revision A, datum D-00. No material observation, level or geotechnical result is represented.
- Requirement to carry into the record
- Link each observed zone to the current drawing, datum and geotechnical decision trail.
- Illustrative reference
- Fictional identifiers only.
- What the site record should capture
- All actual conditions, values, status, dates and signatures remain blank.
Source notes and limits
- Cavoren earthworks baseline
Scope context only; not a project specification, design or acceptance criteria. Read: Original reusable topic baseline for earthworks field records; process and evidence prompts only. Checked 2026-10-07.
- Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, MRTS04 General Earthworks (March 2025)
Conditional topic reference for Queensland roadworks/bridgeworks where this edition is adopted. No numeric compaction target, layer thickness, test rate, tolerance, test method or hold/witness point from MRTS04 is generalized into this form. Read: March 2025, Clauses 1.1–1.2 (roadworks/bridgeworks scope); 13.3.3.4 (bottom of confined excavation); 15.1–15.3 and Tables 15.2–15.3 (compaction methods, layers and compliance testing); 19.1–19.3 including 19.3.4 (backfill adjacent to assets and pipe culverts); 21.1–21.1.2 (subgrade construction and levels); Appendix A (testing frequencies). Checked 2026-10-07.
- Hutchies 010 Groundworks Report (public Word example)
Contractor-specific example for record structure and work stages only; blank fields do not establish universal criteria. No source wording or values are reproduced. Read: Public report template. Broad sequence and evidence concepts: set-out, excavation/founding, fill/backfill, compaction/density, beds and final review. Checked 2026-10-07.
Continue the work sequence
This field record documents checks after they are carried out. An ITP sets the work sequence, project criteria, responsibilities and required records before the work starts.
Need your ITP prepared for this project?
Send your drawings, specifications and contractor requirements. Receive a project-specific ITP and matching blank site records in Excel, Word and PDF.
USD 99 per defined work package · Within 24 hours after payment and the required project files are complete.