Three Types of Surveys That You Might Need a Land Surveyor to Carry Out
Land surveyors are vital for any large construction project. However, the type of survey you need will depend upon your project and how far along you are. Here is a quick guide to some of the more common types of surveys.
Topographic survey
The first type of survey you might need is a topographic survey. This is a large-scale survey of all the features in a landscape — both natural and artificial. The surveyor will therefore want to detail the natural contours of the land and any features such as streams or large trees. They will also note any buildings, bridges, fences, railway tracks and anything else large enough to affect the landscape. This type of survey is needed when you are looking to develop a piece of land, as you will need to know what obstacles might be in the way. It is usually carried out by a combination of aerial photography and ground-based observation.
Construction survey
A construction survey is carried out after permission for new building has been granted and the designs have been drawn up. The surveyor will now plot out on the land the exact location that the building will occupy. This is usually done by staking out the important parts of the design, such as walls, boundaries and the locations of utilities. The various tradespeople involved with the construction will then know exactly where they are working. This type of survey can also be used during the construction itself to see how the actual work compares with the original plans and determine if it has been carried out accurately.
Boundary survey
A third type of survey is a boundary survey. This is used to determine the physical location of the boundaries of a property. In this case the surveyor will begin by researching the records of the land, such as its plans and any previous survey information that has been carried out. They will then locate the boundaries on the ground itself, staking out markers so that owners or developers can see exactly where the limits or the land are in reality. This is necessary if you want to set up new fencing on the boundary line.
There are many other types of surveys that you may need, depending on the work you are doing. To find out more, just get in touch with a land surveyor who will be able to advise you on what needs to be done.