What is land survey


Types of survey

ALTA/ACSM Survey: a surveying standardthat the position of structures is generally
jointly proposed by the American Land Titlewithin zoning and building code requirements.
Association and the American Congress onSome jurisdictions allow mortgage surveys to
Surveying and Mapping that incorporatesbe done to a lesser standard, however most
elements of the boundary survey, mortgagemodern U.S. state minimum standards require
survey, and topographic survey. ALTA/ACSMthe same standard of care for mortgage
surveys, frequently shortened to ALTAsurveys as any other survey. The resulting
surveys, are often required for real estatehigher price for mortgage surveys has led
transactions.some lending institutions to accept "Mortgage
Inspections" not signed or sealed by a
Archaeological survey: used to accuratelysurveyor.
assess the relationship of archaeological
sites in a landscape or to accurately recordPlot 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 theexisting and proposed conditions always
completion of a construction project toinclude structures, utilities, roadways,
verify, for local and state boards, that thetopography, and wetlands delienation and
work authorized was completed to thelocation if necessary. The plan might also,
specifications set on the Plot Plan or Sitebut not always, include hyrdology, drainage
Plan. This usually entails and completeflows, endangered species habitat, FEMA
survey of the site to confirm that theFederal Flood Insurance Reference Maps and
structures, utilities, and roadways proposedtraffic  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 toare 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 extentor the newly created parcels, are usually
of property ownership, typically witnessed bydiscussed back and forth between the
monuments or markers, such as (typically irondeveloper and the surveyor until they are
rods, pipes or concrete monuments in theagreed 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 ofrods 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 willfulplat is recorded in the cadastre (USA,
destruction and or removal of above saidelsewhere) 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 andsubdivision 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 ofthe property and under what conditions.
establishing and marking the position andAlways upon finaly completion of a
detailed layout of new structures such assubdivision an As-Built Plan is required by
roads or buildings for subsequentthe local government. This is done so that
construction. In this sense, surveying may bethe roadway constructed therein will pass
regarded as a sub-discipline of civilownership 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 ifroadways will now be maintained, repaved,
a structure or object is changing shape orswept, and plowed (if necessary for your
moving. The three-dimensional positions ofgeographic  region)  by the local government
specific points on an object are determined,
a period of time is allowed to pass, theseTape Survey: this type of survey is the most
positions are then re-measured andbasic and inexpensive type of land survey.
calculated, and a comparison between the twoPopular 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 associatedaccuracy of measuring angle and bearing.
with the engineering design (topographic,Considering that a survey is the
layout and as-built) often requiring geodeticdocumentation of one-half (1/2) distances and
computations beyond normal civil engineeringone-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 plansubstaintial construction work. However for
that is drawn in conjunction with adetermining the extent of you property
Subdivision Plan that denotes how upcomingboundaries for way of peace-of-mind this type
construction activities will effect theof survey is the least expensive, least time
movement of stormwater and sediment acrossconsuming and least invasive, while being no
the construction site and onto abuttingwhere close to accurate for the standards
properties and how developers will adjustthat are practiced by professional land
grading activities to limit the depositing ofsurveyors.
more stormwater and sediment onto abutting
properties than was done prior toTopographic 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 collectplot.
the positional data on a foundation that has
been poured and is cured. This is done toWetlands Delineation & Location Survey: a
ensure that the foundation was constructed insurvey 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 thecontaining defined wetlands. Depending on
location of the finished foundation isyour local, state, or federal regulations
checked and approved the building of thewetlands are usually classified as areas that
remainder of the structure can commence. Thisare completely inundated with water more than
should not be confused with an As-Builttwo (2) weeks during the growing season.
Survey which is not to be done until all workContact 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 withwetlands in your given geographical region.
the purpose of mapping the coastline andThe boundary of the wetlands is determined by
seabed for navigation, engineering, orobserving the soil colors, vegetation,
resource management purposes. Products oferosion patterns or scour marks, hydrology,
such surveys are nautical charts. Seeand 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 simplewetlands. A survey is done to collect the
survey that generally determines landdata on the locations of the placed flags and
boundaries and building locations. Mortgagea plan is drawn to reference the boundary of
surveys are required by title companies andthe wetlands against the boundary of the
lending institutions when they providesurrounding plots or parcels of land and the
financing to show that there are noconstruction work proposed within.
structures encroaching on the property and



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