Organising an Earth-Moving Operation
Barrows, workers and timings for excavation, with an apparatus for drawing well-water
Leonardo works out the logistics of an excavation carried up an embankment. In 90 units of time, 41 barrow-loads are moved along a route 205 braccia long rising 12 braccia, with a barrow stationed every 5 braccia and 30 braccia of level ground; along the nearly elliptical path a-b, earth is dug at b by 40 workers and dumped at a, ten barrows always at the bottom and five shovelfuls to a barrow. A column of arithmetic (205, 41, 5) checks the figures, and an upside-down sketch shows an apparatus for drawing water from a well.
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Timing an earth-moving haul up an embankment
The operation moves 41 barrow-loads in 90 units of time. The load rises 12 braccia and lies 32 braccia from the site where the earth is raised; a barrow stands every 5 braccia, the journey to the embankment measures 205 braccia, and 30 braccia of level ground complete the road.
The route a-b and its workers
Along a nearly elliptical route lettered a and b, earth is dug at b by 40 workers and dumped at a. Ten barrows are always at the bottom, with five shovelfuls loaded to each barrow.
Arithmetical calculation
A short column of figures (205, 41, 55, 5, 205) works the numbers behind the haul, tallying loads, spacing and the length of the route.
Apparatus for drawing water from a well
An upside-down sketch shows a framed device with an axle and drum for drawing water from a well. It sits below and apart from the excavation notes.