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