| Unlike many land surveys, done before buildings or | | | | an important tool to manage the building as it is |
| other improvements are added to the land or | | | | under construction and after it has been |
| after these additions are complete, as-built | | | | completed. As such, they may be requested by |
| surveys are utilized during the middle of a | | | | the project supervisor or others who are |
| construction project. Requested by many | | | | invested in the completion of this project. They |
| industries, as-built show improvements to the land, | | | | may be used to document what has been |
| as they appeared in a particular point of time. | | | | completed by a specific date or work out |
| As-built surveys may be used for commercial or | | | | payments to contractors, for example. Often |
| residential properties. Surveys are crucial tools in | | | | they are used to verify the floor plan and |
| the construction industry from the planning stage | | | | evacuation plans, utility and cabling plans, or other |
| to the actual construction and future maintenance. | | | | subsequent steps in the building process. |
| A construction project begins with a site plan or | | | | Unlike many other land survey types, as-built |
| plot plan, laying out the plan for the project from | | | | surveys are often three-dimensional, rather than |
| beginning to end. This plan incorporates any | | | | flat maps. Also known as "field verification of |
| conditions already imposed on a given site. | | | | as-existing conditions," as-built surveys have |
| As-built surveys are conducted several times | | | | proven invaluable to those in many different |
| throughout the duration of a construction project. | | | | positions responsible for the space in question. |
| Their frequency and the number of surveys | | | | As-built surveys can provide the basis for |
| undertaken depends on the scope of the | | | | reconciling the drawings and other site plan |
| construction project. The purpose of an as-built | | | | information against actual field conditions and the |
| survey is to verify to local and state boards that | | | | work that has been completed to date. |
| the construction work authorized has been | | | | Many forms of construction surveys, including |
| completed according to the same specifications | | | | some as-builts, are considered civil engineering, |
| set during the planning stage and shown in the | | | | which may require additional degrees in addition to |
| site plan. The as-built survey is most often used | | | | certification as a land surveyor. Within the field of |
| to show the building inspector that a project | | | | as-built surveys, there are several survey types |
| under construction is conforming with zoning | | | | undertaken for very specific purposes. For |
| regulations. As-built surveys may be required for | | | | example, a foundation survey ensures that the |
| nearly every type of land project, from roads | | | | foundation is constructed in the right location on |
| and trails to utility improvements and building | | | | the plot of land, and has been built in the manner |
| construction. | | | | outlined in the site plan. Once the project is under |
| Accurate as-builts are important not only as a | | | | construction or after it has been finished, a |
| bureaucratic measure. An as-built survey shows | | | | Deformation Survey can determine if it is |
| exactly what has been completed to date, a | | | | changing shape or moving over time by creating a |
| useful tool in adjusting the schedule of a large | | | | three-dimensional image of the structure at two |
| construction project. An as-built survey provides | | | | different points in time. |