| A Surveying Abstract | | | | naturally level stretch of ground exactly where |
| Site surveys are conducted for a number of | | | | you want it is highly unlikely, so some amount of |
| reasons. These include the need to produce a | | | | excavation is almost always necessary. Surveyors |
| map of an area, to determine the exact | | | | will plot sight lines, stake out the area that |
| dimensions of an area, and to establish the | | | | requires leveling, and then perform regular checks |
| parameters of a building zone. The process of | | | | as the work progresses. Precision is important, as |
| surveying an unimproved site is one of the first | | | | a building site must be as close to level as |
| things to be done prior to construction, whether | | | | possible-a tolerance of one percent or less is |
| one is planning an office building, a stretch of retail | | | | preferred. Using computer software especially |
| stores, or a housing development. Surveyors are | | | | created for the purpose, surveyors can import |
| called upon to capture an as-is picture of the site | | | | data and calculate the volume of material that |
| in question, noting natural features such as hills and | | | | must be moved from one place to another in |
| slopes, valleys and rifts, and bodies of water. | | | | order to create a level site. |
| Once land developers have completed an initial site | | | | Foundation Placement |
| plan that will accommodate the structure(s) to be | | | | The first step in constructing a building involves |
| built, a survey team is again dispatched to mark | | | | finding the proper location for the foundation. In |
| out areas that require alteration. | | | | home construction, this generally involves digging a |
| Types of Surveys | | | | hole for the basement (if one is to be included) or |
| Several different kinds of surveys are employed | | | | else pouring a slab of concrete upon which the |
| when preparing a site for construction. The first is | | | | house rests. In commercial construction, especially |
| known as the control survey. Specific points are | | | | for a multi-story building, footers are set in place |
| identified within the site and used to calculate the | | | | at prearranged distances in order to distribute the |
| proper positioning of all other required elements. | | | | weight of the structure evenly. No matter which |
| Several known points are logged; these days a | | | | method is used, a surveyor is needed to ensure |
| GPS sensor is used to note exact positions in | | | | that everything is precisely situated. By using the |
| longitude, latitude and altitude. Assuming the | | | | previously pegged controls, all other pertinent |
| building site is unobstructed from above-lacking a | | | | points are transferred from the site drawing to |
| heavy tree canopy, for example-sufficient GPS | | | | the actual ground. As construction continues, the |
| data can be collected to pinpoint these locations | | | | survey team continuously checks to see that the |
| to within just a few millimeters. Next is the detail | | | | placement has not gone awry. |
| survey, which is constructed by radiating lines | | | | The Role of the Project Engineer |
| from and between the control points. Surveyors | | | | A project engineer acts as the liaison between |
| use instruments to measure angles and distances | | | | the survey crew and the building crew. He or she |
| and, with that data, construct an accurate map of | | | | uses the site survey to keep track of the |
| the site in question. | | | | process as construction continues. In the event |
| Site Leveling | | | | there are discrepancies between the original |
| No matter what sort of building or group of | | | | survey and what is taking place on the ground, |
| buildings is being constructed, they must rest on a | | | | the project engineer has the responsibility to |
| perfectly level site. The prospect of finding a | | | | make it right. |