| The land survey that most people are familiar | | | | government. Engineers and architects use such |
| with, a survey to set the boundaries of a piece of | | | | surveys to design buildings or other |
| real estate, is actually just one of many different | | | | improvements to be situated on the property, as |
| types of land surveys. A topographic land survey | | | | existing features may influence their design or |
| may be used for homeowners or those in the | | | | decisions on where to site the structure within the |
| construction industry or environmental sector. The | | | | property. All construction projects begin with such |
| point of a topographic land survey is to note the | | | | a topographic land survey, which describes the |
| natural and manmade features within the land. | | | | starting point of the land before improvements |
| These may include hills, ravines, streams, trees, | | | | are made. |
| fences, buildings, and other improvements over | | | | Topographic surveys may also be used when |
| the natural state of the land. A survey like this | | | | determining the optimal plan for drainage ditches, |
| shows the location, size, and height of these | | | | grading, or other features, using the natural |
| types of improvements, as well as gradual | | | | landscape as the basis for such improvements. |
| changes in elevation. Topographic surveys are | | | | The survey will also record any slopes on the |
| sometimes called contour surveys, and may be | | | | land, which is particularly important if you're |
| conducted before the land changes hands, or as | | | | considering building on the land, as an 8 degree |
| the landowner is preparing to improve the land. | | | | slope is near the limit for economically building on a |
| Unlike boundary or residential land surveys, a | | | | hillside; steeper slopes are generally not |
| topographic land survey focuses more on | | | | economically feasible for building purposes due to |
| elevation than on horizontal measurements. Most | | | | increased costs for foundations and other |
| measurements are done either with a | | | | requirements. Having a topographic survey |
| surveying-quality GPS unit, or with an electronic | | | | conducted prior to purchasing the land can ensure |
| EDM instrument. The results of the survey are | | | | that the land's features will be suitable for its |
| not marked using stakes or other landmarks, like | | | | intended use. |
| with most other land surveys. Instead, they are | | | | Besides undeveloped land or land with structures, |
| presented as contour lines on a map of the land. | | | | this type of land survey is also useful when the |
| Today, sophisticated computer programs allow for | | | | area has been previously used, but is now being |
| digital versions of these maps, as well as | | | | redeveloped. For example, topographic surveys |
| interactive elevation views of the land. The data | | | | may be conducted of land after a previous |
| may be used in AutoCad programs, where it can | | | | building is demolished, or of a quarry, landfill, or |
| be manipulated by engineers or architects to | | | | other area with changing topographic data. In |
| show how the topography will change through the | | | | these cases, this survey will provide an accurate |
| planned improvements. | | | | view of how the land has been changed by its |
| Topographic land surveys have many uses. In | | | | use, allowing for better planning for future use. |
| some cases, they may be required by the | | | | |