| Surveying is the art and science of measuring | | | | evidence of possession or easements, keep |
| and mapping land and is most often needed to | | | | field notes, address the theoretical |
| establish legal boundaries. As with most | | | | uncertainty of his measurements, provide a |
| other circumstances, in residential use the | | | | written survey report and in certain cases, |
| survey discloses the actual lot size, the | | | | record the plat at the local court house. |
| position and dimensions of structures on the | | | | Since the first and most obvious source of |
| property, and the presence, boundaries and | | | | information available to the surveyor is the |
| positions of legal aspects such as easements | | | | land itself, their primary job is usually to |
| and building setback lines. All 50 states | | | | perform a physical inspection and |
| have laws that regulate the competence, | | | | measurement, but they also work from plats, |
| integrity and practice of the surveying | | | | deeds, and other documents filed in public |
| profession. | | | | records, and also from monuments and other |
| | | | physical objects which serve as evidence of |
| Common Uses | | | | where the boundary is located. Residential |
| | | | surveys are typically simple to perform, but |
| Surveys are needed for a variety of purposes. | | | | large tracts of land can be highly complex |
| They may be required as part of the lending | | | | jobs. Imagine the difficulty of surveying a |
| process. A lender, whether it is a bank, | | | | tract of land containing thousands of acres |
| mortgage company or some other financial | | | | where boundaries can include one or more |
| entity, wants to be sure that the land and | | | | winding rivers. Surveys can be either |
| buildings upon which they are lending money | | | | horizontal or vertical. Horizontal surveys |
| is exactly as described in the contracts and | | | | involve compass directions. Vertical surveys |
| other documents that accompany the | | | | involve elevations and are most often needed |
| transaction. Surveys establish, clarify or | | | | to determine the height of a landmark, |
| confirm legal descriptions that appear in | | | | structure or parcel of land above sea level |
| deeds, mortgages, contracts, and other | | | | and whether or not a structure lies within a |
| documents that affect a properties. Surveying | | | | flood hazard. |
| is a vital part of the design and | | | | |
| construction process, since it is essential | | | | Equipment |
| that the physical characteristics of any | | | | |
| structure being built conform to the physical | | | | Land surveying is a profession that requires |
| and legal characteristics of the site. | | | | technical skills, legal knowledge, and |
| Surveying is also an integral part of the | | | | specialized equipment. The types of equipment |
| design and placement of infrastructure such | | | | used vary with the complexity of the job, but |
| as roadways or road improvements. A survey | | | | common items in the surveyor's tool kit |
| can be used in court to settle disputes over | | | | include tape measures, compass, optical and |
| property boundaries and who owns what. A wise | | | | physical levels, a transit, a tripod, range |
| owner should always consult his survey before | | | | finder, GPS devices, and a magnatic locator |
| erecting a fence, garage or storage building, | | | | to find metal objects such as marker pins or |
| or when planting shrubery near the edge of | | | | stakes. Surveyors also must have the |
| the property to avoid trouble with neighbors | | | | necessary skills to keep their equipment in |
| and avoid future problems when selling. | | | | proper repair and adjustment. Modern tools in |
| | | | use now reduce the actual physical labor |
| What They Do | | | | involved in measuring, and increase accuracy |
| | | | of results. By example, some measurements |
| Land surveyors deal with both mathematical | | | | that used to be taken by hand using tapes or |
| and physical aspects of measuring and apply | | | | wheels are now taken with laser devices. |
| them to legal aspects of boundary law. To | | | | Computers and software are necessary tools |
| perform a boundary survey the surveyor might | | | | for calculation and reporting, and the |
| research the descriptions of adjoiners, | | | | widespread availability of aerial and |
| retrace prior surveys, establish or | | | | satellite images on the internet are useful. |
| reestablish monumentation, show any physical | | | | |