What Are Topographical Surveys?
posted 17th July 2024
Topographical surveys are accurate site depictions. It can relate to a property, piece of land, or defined boundary.
Topographical surveys are accurate site depictions. It can relate to a property, piece of land, or defined boundary. It is scaled and detailed, showing all the man-made and natural features of the land, along with their levels. Topographical surveys are detailed, requiring a professional surveyor to ensure accuracy and a high level of detail needed.
What Are Topographical Surveys Used For?
Topographical surveys collect spatial information relating to the piece of land, this includes all the natural and man-made features. This is related to the Ordnance Survey grid and datum information, using GPS. The land is surveyed by point. Points are positioned in three dimensions, facilitating visualisation and ground modelling.
These surveys can also include additional information helping design teams, including site sections, spot heights of surrounding land and features, and underground utility information.
What is Included in Topographical Surveys?
Topographical surveys survey a variety of elements on a piece of land. Typical elements include:
- Boundary lines
- Building and structures
- Trees, bushes, and vegetation with positions
- Street furnishings, including post boxes, phone boxes, street lights, traffic lights, bus stops, memorials, sculptures, binds, benches, and more
- Streams, brooks, ponds, and lakes
- Drainage features
- Water levels
- Features adjacent to the site
What Equipment is Used in Topographical Surveys?
Surveyors use a choice of equipment to carry out the accurate measurements and information related to the topography of your site. Accurate GPS equipment surveys the area, producing fixed points on the area of land which can be used for reference markers.
Surveyors use laser scanning equipment, producing accurate CAD drawings that incorporate all the site measurements in 3D drawings, providing a visualisation of the land. For hard to reach spaces, surveyors may use drones to complete the scanning process and get accurate details of the entire area.
Topographical Survey Benefits
Having accurate information at the starts of any construction project is valuable, saving time and reducing costs in the long run. These surveys provide accurate land measurements, giving you a clear indication of how the existing site is arranged, which can be highly effective when securing planning permission from your local authority. It helps to guide decisions when it comes to the planning of new buildings, identifying boundaries, and designing drainage systems for the site.
These surveys provide certainty when it comes to planned developments, reducing the risk of mistakes that could cost you dearly in the long run. You have an accurate picture in front of you before any development starts.
Topographical surveys can provide information that may not have been obvious, such as changes that have occurred to the piece of land over a period of time.
Do I Need a Topographical Survey?
Have you purchased a piece of land and you want to develop it? Maybe you want to build your dream family home or you want to build a retail store, shopping centre, or industrial unit. Having a topographical survey of the piece of land can be vital at the start of your project.
Topographical surveys assist engineers, architects, and construction companies when it comes to the design and planning of your project. Architects can identify natural and man-made features, along with their location, taking this into consideration when drawing up plans, while engineers can identify where drainage and other utilities need to be placed for optimal performance.
Conclusion
Topographical surveys can be an important first step to your construction project, no matter how big or small. Surveyors are often the first professionals on any building site. You can recognise them by the large camera looking equipment they have on a tripod, as they take measurements. The accuracy and detail of a topographical survey can save you valuable time and money.