Engineering Surveys

Design professionals use different types of surveys to achieve their overall design objectives on projects and to meet the needs and requirements of individual customers, corporate developers, utilities, and local, state and federal agencies.

Design Surveys - Many details must be considered during the planning phase of a project. These surveys obtain the information essential for engineers and designers to make intelligent decisions during the design process. Click to Enlarge Control Surveys - Most large projects will require a control survey to be performed while the project is still in the planning stage. This survey will establish horizontal and vertical control points for the support or control of other surveying and mapping operations. Topographic Surveys - Topographic surveys map features and land surface according to horizontal and vertical location. The surface of the ground is represented by contour lines allowing the user to visualize the rise and fall of the land. These surveys are useful for projects of all sizes and are used for site planning and design. Route Surveys - Long highway and utility improvements often require route surveys. The route may be a specific predetermined alignment or several optional routes may need to be surveyed to determine the most feasible and cost effective route. Flood Elevation Certificates - Lending institutions, insurance companies and local authorities will require an Elevation Certificate (FEMA Form 81-31) when the location of a structure (or proposed structure) is near a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) identified flood zone. FEMA flood maps are consulted to determine the relationship to the flood zones. Construction Staking - In order to bring a project from paper to construction, the horizontal and vertical locations of the proposed improvements must be staked at the site. Construction staking is a critical component in the building process to insure that all of the site design features work together. Construction Record Surveys - On any construction site, conditions unforeseen in the design stage may have caused field alterations to be made during construction. A construction record survey may be necessary to verify the revised plans and provide the customer with a set of final construction records for future reference.