| While most people think of land surveys in the | | | | surveys fall under the discipline of civil engineering, |
| most basic sense, the drawing of the boundaries | | | | which may require additional degrees and |
| of a property, in actuality there are many varied | | | | certifications in order to conduct. All construction |
| and different ways of surveying that service | | | | projects begin with the Plot Plan or Site Plan, |
| many different industries. Property surveys are a | | | | which sets out the plan for the entire project, |
| large part of the business, but there are also | | | | including all existing and proposed conditions on a |
| surveys and surveyors that service the | | | | given site. As-Built Surveys are conducted several |
| construction industry, the environmental sector, | | | | times during a construction project to verify for |
| and many others. The kinds of surveys that are | | | | local and state boards that the work authorized |
| conducted would surprise most people, and some | | | | was completed to the specifications set on the |
| things that you might think are surveys aren't | | | | plot plan. Foundation Surveys are a type of |
| surveys at all. Instead of the standard | | | | as-built survey which collects the positional data |
| two-dimensional measuring from one point to | | | | on a foundation that has been poured and is now |
| another, today's surveys not only measure the | | | | cured. Foundation surveys are done to ensure |
| land, but also the air and water above and below | | | | that the foundation has both been constructed in |
| us. | | | | the proper location and has been built in the |
| The most common and well-known surveys | | | | proper manner according to the plan. |
| conducted today are boundary surveys, | | | | For existing structures, a Deformation Survey |
| mortgage surveys, and topographic surveys. An | | | | determines if a structure or object is changing |
| ALTA survey, which is actually a shortened title | | | | shape or moving. By the taking of |
| for ATLA/ACSM, combines elements of all three, | | | | three-dimensional positions on specific points on an |
| with a set of standards put forth jointly by the | | | | object, then letting a period of time pass before |
| American Land Title Association and the American | | | | retaking and measuring the points, a determination |
| Congress on Surveying and Mapping. ALTA | | | | of whether a structure is moving can be made. |
| surveys are most commonly used for commercial | | | | Although it may seem counter-intuitive, land |
| properties; by having a universal standard, | | | | surveyors are also responsible for performing |
| companies can assure themselves of the level of | | | | Hydrographic and Bathymetric Surveys. |
| thoroughness and be confident when the results | | | | Hydrographic surveys collect data relating to any |
| are guaranteed by an ALTA survey. | | | | body of water, and the data collected may include |
| Boundary Surveys are exactly what the name | | | | the water depth, bottom contours, the direction |
| describes: a survey to establish the true | | | | of the current, observing and recording high water |
| boundaries of a given property. Through | | | | marks and water levels, as well as location of |
| previously recorded markers and the | | | | fixed objects and landmarks for navigational |
| establishment of new landmarks, a surveyor will | | | | purposes. They can also be conducted to gather |
| establish the true boundaries of a property and | | | | information for engineering or resource |
| then mark the corners and lines of the plot, using | | | | management purposes, such as hydro power |
| markers such as iron rods, pipes or concrete | | | | plants. Bathymetric surveys deal exclusively |
| monuments in the ground, or nails set in concrete | | | | underwater, and map the seabed profile. |
| or asphalt. In the past, piles of stones, trees or | | | | Geodetic surveys fall under both the land and |
| other, less permanent markers were used, which | | | | water category, as they map out the shoreline. |
| led to confusion when the markers were either | | | | Thomas Jefferson commissioned a geodetic |
| destroyed or changed. | | | | survey in 1807 as the Survey of the Coast. |
| Mortgage Surveys are simple surveys that, for | | | | Progress on the survey moved slowly at first, as |
| the most part, determine land boundaries and | | | | they did not even have the proper instruments to |
| building locations. They are usually required by title | | | | perform the survey until 1815. It still exists today |
| companies and lending institutions when they | | | | as the National Geodetic Survey and its |
| provide financing to show that there are no | | | | responsibilities now include the interior lands of the |
| structures encroaching on the property and that | | | | United States as well as its coasts. |
| any structures on the property meet current | | | | Wetlands Delineation and Location Surveys belong |
| zoning and building codes. It is important to ensure | | | | in a category all on their own; they are |
| that you are getting an officially licensed mortgage | | | | performed when construction work that is being |
| survey performed by a licensed land surveyor, | | | | planned on or near a site containing defined |
| and not a mortgage inspection, which is a | | | | wetlands. Local, state, or federal regulations vary, |
| substandard survey which does not adhere to | | | | but wetlands are usually classified as areas that |
| any set standards and is not regulated or | | | | are completely inundated with water more than |
| accepted as an official land survey. | | | | two weeks during the growing season. Boundaries |
| Topographic Surveys are land surveys which | | | | of wetlands are determined by observing the soil |
| locate natural and man-made features. For | | | | colors, vegetation, erosion patterns or scour |
| example, buildings, improvements, fences, | | | | marks, hydrology, and morphology of the land in |
| elevations, land contours, trees and streams. | | | | question. Data is then collected on the locations of |
| These are then measured for their elevation on a | | | | the placed flags and a plan is drawn to reference |
| particular piece of land, and presented as contour | | | | the boundary of the wetlands and compare it to |
| lines on a plot. Topographical surveys are | | | | the proposed boundaries of the surrounding plots |
| sometimes required by the government. Engineers | | | | or parcels of land and the construction work |
| and architects also use topographical surveys to | | | | proposed within. |
| aid in the design of improvements or | | | | While there are many more forms of land |
| developments on a site. | | | | surveys, to list them all and their attributes would |
| One of the largest and most rapidly growing | | | | result in a very long article. The options presented |
| segments of land surveys are in the construction | | | | above are simply the most common forms of |
| industry. Surveys are crucial tools from inception | | | | land surveys, and the ones that the general public |
| and planning, to actual construction and | | | | is most likely to encounter. |
| maintenance afterwards. Most construction | | | | |