Which operation involves forming small hills of earth during grading?

In grading operations, stockpiling refers to the process of gathering and accumulating soil or other materials in a specific area to create small hills or mounds. This technique is often utilized to manage excess earth moved during the grading process, allowing for better drainage, access for later use, or to create specific landscape features. Stockpiling is essential when there is more material available than necessary for immediate use in leveling or other tasks.

Pushing, clearing, and leveling typically involve different actions. Pushing involves moving soil or materials from one place to another without necessarily creating distinct mounds. Clearing focuses on removing obstacles like trees and debris from a site. Leveling aims to create a flat surface rather than forming hills. Thus, stockpiling is the operation directly linked to the formation of small hills of earth during grading.