Surveying the land is an important and fairly necessary activity that one has to do before building a house, bridge, or any kind of structure. Land surveying will give you the exact measurements of the land one is planning to work on helping you how to develop it in a proper way. Most people don’t realize the importance of land surveying at first, but start to realize how massively important it is once they get to a later stage of building.
What is Land Surveying?
You have probably seen people in the field with hard hats on and looking through some peculiar types of equipment that resembles but definitely is not a telescope. Those people are land surveyors and by using those tripod thingies they measure the land or the surrounding area with pinpoint accuracy. Land surveying is an absolute must when it comes to building new infrastructure or simply improving the existing one.
Land surveying allows us to understand the boundaries of the land being worked on. Land surveyors will go into the field to describe, locate, monument, and essentially map the corners and the boundaries of a specific piece of land. But surveying does not only include mapping a completely fresh piece of land, they also include mapping the entire topography of the land which may also include some existing buildings or structures.
Land Surveying Importance
Land surveying plays an important role in the development of land. This also involves the planning and the design of roads, landscape construction, and utility. Surveyors are the first people on the land as their job is to chart and make the necessary calculations on a construction site. Surveyors will then provide their findings to architects who will use the given calculations when planning the design on a given landscape. Engineers will then step in and make sure that the work done by surveyors and architects is created in a safe and correct manner.
Before any construction work begins, surveyors will check the formations, features, slopes, and heights of a particular piece of land. Their final report will include a map of the land which contains all the necessary pieces of information that the architect will use to implement their design.
Establishing Property Boundaries
One of the most crucial applications of land surveying is establishing property boundaries. Accurate boundary definition is vital for property owners, developers, and government agencies to know the extent of their land and their responsibilities. Land surveying helps prevent disputes between property owners by providing precise and reliable data on property boundaries.
Surveyors use various tools and techniques, including GPS technology, electronic distance measurement devices, and laser levels, to measure and map property boundaries. These tools enable surveyors to accurately measure distances, angles, and elevations, which are then used to create detailed maps and legal descriptions of the boundaries.
Land Development and Construction
Land surveying is essential in the planning and development of new infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings. Surveyors accurately map the land to identify optimal locations for these structures, considering factors such as topography, natural resources, and potential environmental impacts.
Additionally, land surveying is a critical component of construction projects, providing measurements and data that help engineers and architects design safe and efficient structures. Accurate survey data ensures construction projects stay within budget and are completed on schedule.
Public Safety
Land surveying is crucial for public safety. Surveyors can precisely identify potential hazards, such as steep slopes, unstable ground, and flood-prone areas, and offer recommendations to mitigate these risks. This information is vital for engineers and architects to design safe and stable structures.
Additionally, land surveying can identify hazards related to human activities, such as pipeline construction or hazardous material storage. Accurate survey data helps prevent accidents and minimizes the risk of environmental damage.
Environmental Planning
Land surveying is vital for environmental planning. Surveyors can identify ecologically sensitive areas, such as wetlands or wildlife habitats, that need protection during development projects. Accurate survey data ensures these areas are safeguarded and helps design projects to minimize environmental impact.
More so, land surveying can pinpoint potential pollution sources, like underground storage tanks or runoff from industrial sites, aiding in pollution prevention and environmental protection.
Legal Disputes
Land surveying is frequently used to resolve disputes between property owners, such as boundary conflicts or easement issues. Precise survey data can serve as evidence in legal proceedings, facilitating quick and fair dispute resolution. Also, land surveying can establish the location of utility lines, which can be contentious between property owners and utility companies. Accurate survey data ensures that disputes are resolved efficiently and that utility lines are correctly placed.
Other Applications of Land Surveying
Beyond the applications already discussed, land surveying has numerous other important uses. For instance, it plays a key role in land use planning, helping to determine the optimal use of land. By accurately mapping natural features, surveyors can provide recommendations on land use that minimize environmental impacts.
This information is essential for landowners, developers, and government agencies to make informed decisions. Land surveying is also crucial for maintaining and repairing infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and pipelines. Surveyors can identify areas of erosion or damage needing repair, which helps prevent accidents and prolongs the lifespan of these structures.
Who are Land Surveyors?
Land surveyors are specially trained individuals and professionals that use a combination of mathematics, engineering, law, and physics to work out the proper boundaries of the land being surveyed. In order to do their job, they use specialized equipment which involves software, prisms, GPSs, radios, and robotic total stations. Land surveyors need to be licensed in order to perform these calculations. Only licensed surveyors will be allowed to do this type of job and only the results of their work will be taken into consideration.
A licensed surveyor is able to provide a certified plan of the surveyed land. Surveys conducted by a non-licensed surveyor do not have legal status. In the case of a boundary dispute, unlicensed plans are not going to be taken into account as evidence. It is not worth the risk, so employing a licensed surveyor is crucial.
Unlicensed surveyors can still do some type of work and it involves the surveying of infrastructure, existing conditions, environmental surveys, construction, and monitoring.
Types of Land Surveys
Being that we have a number of different reasons that require land surveys, there are also a few different types of land surveys that could be conducted. Each one of them comes with its specifics and tools needed to perform the job correctly.
Some of the most used types of land surveys involve the following:
- Mortgage location survey: MLS is usually performed in order to provide proof that specific improvements have been done and are actually located on the land described in the legal document and description. The survey plat must produce the information discovered from measurements taken at a designated site, which does not necessarily have to involve evidence by public records.
- Boundary survey: This type of survey is used to identify the boundary lines of a certain property. The intention of this survey is to establish, or recover, the exact corners of a property and create a detailed map or plat. To conduct this type of survey, the surveyor will also need to access public records as well as do research in the field.
- Topographic survey: This type of survey includes field measurements as well as preparation for a plat in order to establish land elevations. A commercial or a residential property owner usually contracts these types of surveys before making some kind of improvements to their property.
- ALTA survey: A type of survey contracted by a company, lender, or an attorney for commercial property purchase, improvements, or refinances. An ALTA survey utilizes universal standards and guarantees and provides confidence in its results.
Conclusion
Land surveying is a critical and indispensable field that ensures the accurate measurement and mapping of land for various applications. It establishes precise property boundaries, aids in land development and construction, promotes public safety, facilitates environmental planning, and resolves legal disputes.
The work of licensed land surveyors is essential for creating detailed maps and legal descriptions, which are fundamental for informed decision-making by property owners, developers, and government agencies. Through its various applications, land surveying plays a pivotal role in the safe, efficient, and sustainable development of our infrastructure and environment.
FAQs
For more land surveying questions and their importance, check out the part below.
What is the main purpose of surveying?
One of the main purposes of land surveying is to establish the relative position of objects or points on the earth. Also, it helps to determine angles and distances between various objects and helps surveyors prepare a map or a plan so they can represent an area on a horizontal plane.
What is the meaning of land surveying?
Land surveying is the art and science of determining or reestablishing the corners, lines, boundaries, and markers of real property based on recorded documents, historical evidence, and current standards of practice.
Why is field surveying important?
Field surveying is important as it allows us to determine critical information that helps engineers, contractors, and various architects to design and build cost-effective projects in a safe and timely manner.
What is the important definition of surveying?
Surveying is the science and technique of determining the three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them, typically on the surface of the Earth. This process involves the measurement and mapping of land and structures, establishing boundaries, and providing data necessary for the design and construction of infrastructure. Surveying is essential for accurate land division, construction, mapping, and legal documentation, ensuring that projects are executed with precision and efficiency.
