Digging in the Dirt: Estimating Construction Costs for Earthwork and Site Utility Construction
DISCLAIMER
Before purchasing, review the rules of your licensing or certifying entity. It is your responsibility to confirm this course meets your CE requirements. See the credit tab on the course page for details.
What’s Included: Full webinar recording, written course materials, expert instruction, a mandatory quiz, and a certificate upon completion.
Deliverability Timeline: All courses are generally available within 1-2 weeks after the live presentation.
CE Credits: AIA and/or LA/CES accreditation is available by request for courses recorded prior to March 11, 2026. All courses after that date include those accreditations by default, if applicable. With these accreditations, our courses qualify for credit in nearly all states for engineers, surveyors, architects, and landscape architects.
Learn more about the on-demand format in our FAQ or contact us at (715) 835-5900 or customerservice@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.
Friday, August 21, 2026
8:30 am – 4:30 pm EDT
In-Person Seminar Location
Courtyard by Marriott Columbus Worthington
7411 Vantage Drive
Columbus, Ohio, 43235
614-436-7070
(Complimentary coffee/decaf/tea/breakfast breads)
Agenda:
Presented by Daniel Frondorf, CPE, CDT
Introduction to Sitework Construction Cost Estimating
- Definitions
- Document review, takeoffs, and scope determination
- Reviewing geotech reports
- Levels of cost estimates
- Incidental costs and use of subs and suppliers
Mass Earthwork
- Site demolition, clearing and surface stripping
- Understanding cuts and fills
- Understanding subgrade preparation
- Understanding shrink and swell
Break
Final Earthwork and Overall Earthwork Costs
- Finish grading
- Topsoil replacement
- Consideration of adjacent trade contractors
- Determining earthwork costs
Lunch
Overview of Site Utility Estimating
- Stormwater drainage
- Stormwater detention
- Sanitary sewers
- Domestic and fire water services
Determining Site Utility Costs
- Materials – piping, structures, backfills
- Understanding hauling costs and cycle times
- Determining crew compositions
- Existing utilities: avoiding and connecting to them
Break
Cost Estimating Exercises
- Bulk earthwork (cut to fill onsite) exercise
- Finish grading exercise
- Sanitary pipe and manhole exercise
- Stormwater detention exercise
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS
Web Browser:
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions)
Microsoft Edge (most recent 3 versions)
Internet connection: 1 Mbps or better
Hardware: 2GB of RAM (minimum), 4GB or more of RAM (recommended)
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Engineers
6.5 PDHs
Architects
6.5 HSW CE Hours
AIA - American Institute of Architects
6.5 HSW LUs
Landscape Architects
6.5 HSW CE Hours
LACES - Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System
6.5 HSW PDHs
ICC - International Code Council
0.65 CEUs (Sitework)
This course is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.5 PDHs for professional engineers and 6.5 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects in Ohio. The Ohio Board of Engineers and Surveyors do not pre-approve course providers or courses; the Ohio Architects Board recognizes courses approved by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as acceptable activities.
The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.5 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.
The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.5 HSW PDHs. Only full participation is reportable to the LA CES.
The International Code Council has approved this event for .65 CEUs in the specialty area of Sitework (Preferred Provider No. 1232).
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
*On-Demand Credits*
The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate. The following pre-approvals may be available for the on-demand format upon request:
6.5 HSW LUs (AIA)
6.5 HSW PDHs (LA CES)
Speakers
Daniel Frondorf, CPE, CDT
DG Frondorf and Associates LLC, CincinnatiMr. Frondorf owns and operates Cincinnati-based DG Frondorf and Associates LLC, a construction cost estimating consulting firm. He is a member of Consulting Estimator’s Round Table (CERT), AACE, and the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE). He has 25 years of service as a construction estimator, and has presented several seminars on estimating practices and ethical bidding topics to trade associations and at industry events. Mr. Frondorf is also a past instructor of construction estimating at the University of Cincinnati and has guest lectured there and at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. He has also written several articles on estimating related topics in Estimating Today and Design Cost Data magazines.
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: Digging in the Dirt: Estimating Construction Costs for Earthwork and Site Utility Construction
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This 6.5-hour course examines the principles and methods of construction cost estimating for earthwork and site utility work, from document review and geotechnical report analysis through mass grading, finish earthwork, and underground utility systems. Instruction includes estimating exercises involving bulk earthwork, finish grading, sanitary pipe and manholes, and stormwater detention.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to explain how accurate sitework and utility cost estimating supports sound construction design and practices, including document review, scope determination, levels of estimates, and the use of subcontractors and suppliers.
Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to calculate mass earthwork costs by analyzing cuts and fills, shrink and swell factors, subgrade preparation, and site demolition and clearing requirements.
Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to determine final earthwork costs, including finish grading, topsoil replacement, and coordination with adjacent trade contractors.
Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to estimate site utility costs for stormwater drainage, sanitary sewers, and water services, accounting for materials, hauling, and existing utility conditions.
LUs: 6.5
LU Type: LU|HSWs
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 07/09/2029
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.
6.5 Knowledge Points
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(Account login required. Knowledge Points can only be redeemed by the owner of the points. Cannot be combined with any other forms of payment)