Grading consists of excavation inside the R/W and above which other element?

Grading typically involves shaping and leveling the ground to prepare it for construction and ensure proper drainage, as well as stability for any structures that will be built. The finished grading template refers to the final contour of the surface after grading is completed. This template defines how the land should look once all grading operations are finished, ensuring that the surface meets design requirements, such as proper slopes for drainage and aesthetics.

In the context of grading operations, excavation inside the right-of-way (R/W) is often done to achieve this finished grade. By focusing on the finished grading template, one ensures that all subsequent construction activities, such as paving or landscaping, can occur as intended without further significant earth-moving work. It is the critical standard that grading aims to achieve, making it essential in the grading process.

The other options, while related to grading, do not capture this aspect of achieving a designed and functional surface. The natural ground line indicates the pre-existing surface before any alteration, whereas the embankment surface relates to material placed to increase ground elevation, and drainage ditches pertain to the specific infrastructure for water management rather than the overall grading of the land.