Check the boundary and the levels
A reliable starting point is a survey that places the intended building and external works in relation to the actual site. Boundary information and ground levels answer different questions and should not be confused. The design team needs to understand both where construction is intended and how high or low each part will sit. On a sloping plot, a small change in the proposed floor level can alter excavation, retaining work and access gradients. Before machinery arrives, confirm which drawing defines the setting out and who is responsible for resolving any discrepancy between the documents and the site.
Collect information about the ground
The appearance of the surface does not tell the whole story beneath it. Soil layers, previous filling, groundwater and nearby construction can affect excavation and foundation decisions. The responsible professionals should determine what investigation is needed for the project. Existing information about a neighbouring plot may be useful context, but it is not automatically a substitute for information about your own site. Share reports and known history with the project team. Former structures, buried tanks or areas of uncontrolled fill are examples of facts that can matter even when they are not visible during an ordinary visit.
Look at the route to the work area
Delivery vehicles and excavators need a practical route from the public road to the working platform. Review width, turning space, slopes, overhead obstacles and any restrictions on the approach. A plot may appear spacious while its entrance prevents the intended machinery from reaching it. The team should also consider where materials will be stored and how vehicles will leave without interfering with other users. If temporary access work is needed, include it in the scope. An access arrangement is not only a transport issue; it can determine the order in which different parts of the plot are prepared.
Identify services and water routes
Gather the available information about existing water, drainage, electricity and other buried services. Records may be incomplete, so the project should define what confirmation is needed before excavation. Also observe where rainwater currently flows and where it might go after levels change. A temporary stockpile or access ramp can redirect water towards a neighbouring property or a newly excavated area. The construction sequence should account for this, especially when the site will be exposed between stages. Do not assume that the final drainage design automatically solves all temporary drainage conditions during construction.
Plan what happens to excavated material
The amount of material excavated is not necessarily the amount that can be reused. Suitability depends on the material and the intended filling operation, while the relevant management requirements must also be considered. Separate the estimate of excavation from assumptions about loading, transport, acceptance and compacted fill. Loose material occupies a different volume from material in the ground, so a single volume figure can be misleading if its basis is not stated. Establish where stockpiles can be placed without obstructing access, drainage or later work. The waste and soil handling arrangements should be clear before the excavation programme is confirmed.
Build a pre-start checklist with the project team
Collect the current survey, setting-out information, ground reports, access photographs and available service records. Note the intended working levels and identify any unresolved decisions about retaining structures or drainage. Ask who will review unexpected conditions and how a change in scope will be documented. This is more useful than asking for a universal excavation price based only on the area of the plot. ECOSTA can assess an earthworks enquiry in Girona when the location, objectives and available information are described. The resulting discussion can then focus on the actual operations and constraints rather than assumptions that have not been checked.
A practical question for the pre-start meeting
Ask the team to describe the first week on the plot: how machinery arrives, where material goes, how levels are checked and what happens if an unknown service or unexpected ground is encountered. This short explanation can reveal missing information more effectively than a general assurance that the site is ready. Record who resolves each open point. The purpose is not to predict every event, but to establish a usable decision process before the excavation starts.