VOLUME / CUT-FILL

Cut and Fill Volume Calculation

STREAM computes earthwork cut and fill directly on your DEM. Choose the reference — the real terrain, a flat design level, or another surface — and get cut and fill volumes with a clear heat map showing where material is added or removed.

What is cut and fill?

Cut and fill is the volume of earth that must be removed (cut) or added (fill) to reach a target surface. It is the core quantity in grading, road and mining earthworks.

The result depends entirely on the reference you compare against. STREAM lets you pick the reference explicitly so the numbers match your design intent.

Cut and Fill Software in STREAM

Three reference modes

Compute cut/fill against the real terrain, a flat level (or its minimum), or a comparative reference surface — you choose the datum.

Cut/fill heat map

See exactly where cut and fill occur as a color overlay on the terrain, not just a single number.

Between two scenarios

Compare two terrain states (before/after) and get the net volume difference with cut and fill separated.

Export the result

Save the cut/fill heat map as a GeoTIFF raster or export figures for your report.

Frequently asked questions

What can I compute cut and fill against in STREAM?

Against the real terrain, a flat design level (or its minimum), or a comparative reference surface. You choose the reference so the result matches your design.

Can I compare two surveys for volume change?

Yes. Select two terrain scenarios and STREAM reports the net volume difference with cut and fill separated — useful for progress and earthwork tracking.

Is the calculation done on the DEM?

Yes. Cut and fill is computed directly on the DEM surface, so the result reflects the real ground.

Try Cut and Fill in STREAM

Free beta for Windows x64. Works fully offline with GeoTIFF, LAS/LAZ and DXF.

Download STREAM free