Land Surveyor Stake out the Situation

The lay of the land is an essential part of every construction project. Whether it's forming a subdivision, building a home, erecting a structure, or simply applying for different types of insurance, the land needs to be analyzed, recorded, and approved before any kind of production occurs. There are several things that go into land preparation, including soil testing, excavating, grading, and drainage. However, before any site prep can commence, the landscape must first be surveyed by a professional who can determine several factors about its terrain, topography, and activity.

What is a Land Surveyor?
A land surveyor is a highly trained professional who is qualified in the art and science of measuring. It may sound simple, but when you have a rough plot of ground with no demarcation points, boundaries, or previous investigation of its activities, it's hard to know where to begin. You need a point of reference in order to measure not only its horizontal conditions but also its vertical dimensions. Therefore, these experts employ concepts from geography, geometry, trigonometry, engineering, physics, and of course, legal affairs to determine the position and condition of the land. Plus, they use special high-tech equipment to benchmark each distance, such as altimeters, theodolites (a tool that measures height and elevation), total stations (computerized systems that electronically gauge spaces), and even GPS, robotics, and other state-of-the-art gear.

Why is it Important?
Before getting into construction, it's important to know what the land will do. Property surveys can reveal obstacles to a contractor so they know what they're getting into and can properly prepare. For instance, if a plot is surveyed once, over a period of time it can be measured again in order to verify any movement, settling, or changes in the terrain. It's crucial to know about any deformations or shifts in the landscape before building since there's nothing worse than foundation problems. Also, when preparing a site, contractors have to know where to build in the first place. Therefore, many land surveyors involve themselves with map-making by defining property lines and marking land boundaries for government records and other legal purposes.

Are there other Property Surveys?
Beyond measuring topography, landscape shifts, and boundary demarcation, land surveyors are also trained to cover a slough of other responsibilities. For instance, after an original measurement has been submitted for approval, these specialists are still required throughout construction. Once the foundation has been poured, another measurement is taken in order to make sure everything is located in the proposed spot (including roadways and other structures onsite). Then, just to make sure the contractor is staying within their proposed plans, another analysis is provided once the walls are in place, and another at the end of the project. Another type of property survey is required when you're buying a plot (often referred to as a mortgage survey) to determine if nearby structures are encroaching on the area. Another type of measurement is gauging sediment in relation to storm water so as to establish soil movement, erosion, and possible drainage corrections. Also, these experts can be qualified to measure coastlines, seabeds, and areas near government protected environments, such as forest and wetlands.

Who Do I Hire?
Many times a contractor will hire these consultants as they're beginning their projects. And before they can build at all, developers have to employ these experts to settle on boundaries for subdivision plots, roadways, and utility operations. But if you're putting up a fence, creating an addition, or erecting an outbuilding, then you'll want to hire them as well in order to make sure you're staying within your property lines. However, since these technicians are so crucial to the completion of any project, big or small, it's important you employ the right people. These technicians have a rigorous training that requires schooling, field experience, and eventual licensure. So only look into pre-screened professionals, such as through HomeAdvisor, before buying their services.