Types of survey

ALTA/ACSM Survey: a surveying standard jointlydone to a lesser standard, however most modern
proposed by the American Land Title AssociationU.S. state minimum standards require the same
and the American Congress on Surveying andstandard of care for mortgage surveys as any
Mapping that incorporates elements of theother survey. The resulting higher price for
boundary survey, mortgage survey, andmortgage surveys has led some lending
topographic survey. ALTA/ACSM surveys,institutions to accept "Mortgage Inspections" not
frequently shortened to ALTA surveys, are oftensigned or sealed by a surveyor.
required for real estate transactions.Plot Plan or Site Plan: a proposal plan for a
Archaeological survey: used to accurately assessconstruction site that include all existing and
the relationship of archaeological sites in aproposed conditions on a given site. The existing
landscape or to accurately record finds on anand proposed conditions always include structures,
archaeological site.utilities, roadways, topography, and wetlands
As-Built Survey: a survey conducted at thedelienation and location if necessary. The plan
completion of a construction project to verify, formight also, but not always, include hyrdology,
local and state boards, that the work authorizeddrainage flows, endangered species habitat, FEMA
was completed to the specifications set on theFederal Flood Insurance Reference Maps and
Plot Plan or Site Plan. This usually entails andtraffic patterns.
complete survey of the site to confirm that theSubdivision Plan: a plot or map based on a survey
structures, utilities, and roadways proposed wereof a parcel of land. Boundary lines are drawn
built in the proper locations authorized in the Plotinside the larger parcel to indicated the creation of
Plan or Site Plan.new boundary lines and roads . The number and
Bathymetric Survey: a survey carried out to maplocation of plats, or the newly created parcels, are
the seabed profile.usually discussed back and forth between the
Boundary Survey: the actual physical extent ofdeveloper and the surveyor until they are agreed
property ownership, typically witnessed byupon. At this point monuments, usually in the form
monuments or markers, such as (typically ironof square concrete blocks or iron rods or pins,
rods, pipes or concrete monuments in the ground,are driven into the ground to mark the lot
but also tacks or blazes in trees, piled stonecorners and curve ends, and the plat is recorded
corners or other types of monuments) arein the cadastre (USA, elsewhere) or land registry
measured, and a map, or plat, is drawn from the(UK). In some jurisdictions, the recording or filing
data. NOTE: The willful destruction and or removalof a subdivision plat is highly regulated. The final
of above said monuments is illegal in the Unitedmap or plat becomes, in effect, a contract
States. These acts will always result in fining andbetween the developer and the city or county,
rarely, but not never, in jailtime.determining what can be built on the property and
Construction surveying (otherwise "lay-out" orunder what conditions. Always upon finaly
"setting-out"): the process of establishing andcompletion of a subdivision an As-Built Plan is
marking the position and detailed layout of newrequired by the local government. This is done so
structures such as roads or buildings forthat the roadway constructed therein will pass
subsequent construction. In this sense, surveyingownership from the developer to said local
may be regarded as a sub-discipline of civilgovernment by way of a contract called a
engineering.Covenant. When this stage is completed the
Deformation Survey: a survey to determine if aroadways will now be maintained, repaved, swept,
structure or object is changing shape or moving.and plowed (if necessary for your geographic
The three-dimensional positions of specific pointsregion) by the local government
on an object are determined, a period of time isTape Survey: this type of survey is the most
allowed to pass, these positions are thenbasic and inexpensive type of land survey. Popular
re-measured and calculated, and a comparisonin the middle part of the 20th century, tape
between the two sets of positions is made.surveys while being accurate for distance lack
Engineering Surveys: those surveys associatedsubstantially in their accuracy of measuring angle
with the engineering design (topographic, layoutand bearing. Considering that a survey is the
and as-built) often requiring geodetic computationsdocumentation of one-half (1/2) distances and
beyond normal civil engineering practise.one-half (1/2) bearings this type of survey is no
Erosion and Sediment Control Plan: a plan that islonger accepted amongst local, state, or federal
drawn in conjunction with a Subdivision Plan thatregulatory commitees for any substaintial
denotes how upcoming construction activities willconstruction work. However for determining the
effect the movement of stormwater andextent of you property boundaries for way of
sediment across the construction site and ontopeace-of-mind this type of survey is the least
abutting properties and how developers will adjustexpensive, least time consuming and least
grading activities to limit the depositing of moreinvasive, while being no where close to accurate
stormwater and sediment onto abuttingfor the standards that are practiced by
properties than was done prior to contruction.professional land surveyors.
Foundation Survey: a survey done to collect theTopographic Survey: a survey that measures the
positional data on a foundation that has beenelevation of points on a particular piece of land,
poured and is cured. This is done to ensure thatand presents them as contours on a plot.
the foundation was constructed in the locationWetlands Delineation & Location Survey: a survey
authorized in the Plot Plan, Site Plan, or Subdivisionthat is completed when construction work is to
Plan. When the location of the finished foundationbe done on or near a site containing defined
is checked and approved the building of thewetlands. Depending on your local, state, or
remainder of the structure can commence. Thisfederal regulations wetlands are usually classified
should not be confused with an As-Built Surveyas areas that are completely inundated with
which is not to be done until all work on the site iswater more than two (2) weeks during the
completed.growing season. Contact you local or state
Hydrographic Survey: a survey conducted withConservation Commission or Wetlands Regulatory
the purpose of mapping the coastline and seabedCommission to determine the particular definition
for navigation, engineering, or resourcefor wetlands in your given geographical region.
management purposes. Products of such surveysThe boundary of the wetlands is determined by
are nautical charts. See hydrography.observing the soil colors, vegetation, erosion
Mortgage Survey or Physical Survey: a simplepatterns or scour marks, hydrology, and
survey that generally determines land boundariesmorphology. Typically blue or pink colored flags
and building locations. Mortgage surveys areare then placed in key locations to denote the
required by title companies and lending institutionsboundary of the wetlands. A survey is done to
when they provide financing to show that therecollect the data on the locations of the placed
are no structures encroaching on the propertyflags and a plan is drawn to reference the
and that the position of structures is generallyboundary of the wetlands against the boundary of
within zoning and building code requirements.the surrounding plots or parcels of land and the
Some jurisdictions allow mortgage surveys to beconstruction work proposed within.