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