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How Topographic Surveys Help in Drainage System Designs

Topographical surveys are carried out before any building work begins, identifying both man-made and natural structures on the piece of land, including trees, bodies of water, any structures, hills or rocky outcrops, along with many others:

• Elevation - Topographical surveys provide valuable information regarding the terrain elevation, useful in helping engineers design an accurate and effective drainage system
  
• Drainage patterns - These surveys help engineers analyse the land's natural drainage patterns and slopes, helping them create an effective drainage system that works
  
• Headwalls - Topographical surveys can include headwall information, including the pipe invert level and diameter
  
• Bodies of water - This comprehensive survey can represent any bodies of water on the property, including the water levels
  
• Challenges - It identifies any potential limitations of challenges relating to the terrain of the piece of land. This includes steep slopes or any areas that may be prone to erosion
  

The Value of a Topographical Survey

In addition to drainage systems, topographical surveys offer numerous benefits that can be used by construction teams, engineers, architects, and designers, including:

• Site planning - topographical surveys can be used to determine the best place to build structures, add utilities, or include roads
  
• Environmental assessments - you can determine the impact of your construction project on the environment
  
• Development - topographical surveys are used to determine how suitable the plot of land is for a building project
  
• Design infrastructure - you can use topographical surveys to design transport networks, utilities, and communication systems.
  

Accurate Mapping and Documentation

Topographical surveys are designed to accurately map and document the surface features of a piece of land. It involves recording natural and man-made elements to generate a three-dimensional representation of the terrain. They include valuable elements that cannot be ignored when it comes to construction:

Elevations

Elevation points are important when it comes to topographical surveys, it pinpoints the distance above sea level at various points on the plot of land. This is done with precision, using state of the art technologies, such as total stations and GPS. The data of these measurements are important to create an accurate topographical map.

Contours

Contours are lines that connect points of the same elevation of the piece of land. They are important to fully understand any shapes and slopes of the terrain. Contour lines are drawn at regular intervals, helping create a contour map, enabling you to visualise the topography of the land.

Natural Features

With meticulous documentation, these surveys include a host of natural features, which are beneficial to engineers when it comes to designing your drainage systems. Natural features can include trees, bodies of water, along with valleys and hills.

Man-Made Structures

Topographical surveys also focus on man-made structures within the land, such as buildings, including the location, size and height, and roads and bridges.

Conclusion

Topographical are valuable to a seamless and cost-effective construction project. They help engineers identify the best place to for drainage systems, ensuring they are precisely designed based on accurate measurements and data. If you are thinking of building a new home or building and you need a drainage system designed, then give MB Survey Solutions a call now and we can provide you with an accurate topographical survey, eliminating any risks, ensuring your drainage system is designed perfectly to align with your piece of land.