land surveying

Whether you’re building a home or a commercial property, having a land survey performed can be very helpful. But there are several different types of surveys, and which one you need depends on the purpose.

A boundary survey is used to identify and mark property boundaries on a parcel of land. It involves both record and field research, as well as measurements.

Boundary Survey

Boundary surveys are an essential step for property owners, whether they’re buying or selling. They help define boundaries legally so no one gets confused about what they own.

A boundary survey involves a combination of research and field work. The former involves reviewing historic documents like deeds, title certificates, part surveys, and easements while the latter involves taking physical measurements of a site.

The results of this type of land survey are shown on a plat, which is a scale drawing that shows the bearings and distances of the property lines as well as the total acreage. It also includes the location of man-made improvements such as fences, driveways, and buildings.

Topographic Survey

A Topographic Survey enables the precise measurement of land features and contour lines. It is most often used by engineers and architects for planning and designing buildings and other improvements on a site.

For example, if you want to build a house or commercial building on steep or unstable land you’ll need a topographic survey. It will show you if you need to move the location of the building, level out the ground, or add grading to the surface.

Other situations that may require a topographic survey include plans for preserving or altering local vegetation. In these cases you’ll need to meet permitting requirements and provide plans to replace the trees or other plant life that will be damaged during construction.

Location Survey

There are many different reasons to have a land survey done on your property. From establishing boundaries to helping you adhere to local laws, it can be a useful investment.

A Location Survey is the most basic type of land survey. It shows your property lines and illustrates the structures on your property.

It is usually used when you are looking to purchase a piece of property or if you need to meet zoning permit or loan application requirements. It is also important to get a location survey before building a fence or any other improvements on your property.

ALTA / ACSM Survey

An ALTA / ACSM Survey is the most comprehensive land title survey available. It depicts each element of a property that affects its ownership, including boundaries, site improvements, easements and rights-of-way.

This survey is required by most lenders, title companies, attorneys and buyers of commercial property. It complies with standards set by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, now part of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS).

The research that an ALTA / ACSM Survey performs involves both public and private land records. It also includes a physical analysis of the property and boundary lines by the surveyors’ field crew.

Mortgage Survey

Mortgage surveys are an important part of the home purchase process. They provide valuable information that will satisfy the lender, determining whether the property will cover its loan.

The Mortgage Survey is used to determine the boundaries of your land and note any buildings, sheds, fences, easements and natural landmarks on it. This will help you steer clear of property line disputes with neighbors and ensure your structure meets current zoning regulations.

These surveys can also show where improvements can be made such as driveways and sidewalks. Like as-built surveys, they can be useful in planning your future improvements and additions on the property.

Subdivision Survey

When it comes to land surveying, one of the most important tasks is dividing a property into smaller lots (or tracts). It can be done for a number of different reasons, so it’s important to make sure that everything goes smoothly.

Typically, a subdivision survey is required when a parcel of land is divided into more than one lot, also called “lots.” This survey must be recorded by local and state government agencies. It’s also used to design streets and drainage systems, so it’s important to get it right the first time.

Surveying is a science with many technical and legal issues. This requires a professional land surveyor to be well-trained and licensed.

Throughout their career, surveyors are expected to adhere to ethical standards that protect clients and society at large. This course will review those standards of ethics, integrity and moral conduct that every surveyor should embrace, maintain and uphold in their practice.

1. Honesty

When it comes to land surveying, honesty is one of the most important qualities. It’s essential that a land surveyor is honest because it will help them avoid legal issues in the future.

This is particularly true when dealing with encroachments. This will save you time and money down the line.

Honesty is also important when it comes to property lines. It’s crucial that they are clearly plotted down in black and white so there will be no disputes between neighbors.

It’s also important that a land surveyor is honest because they will have the last say on how they interpret the data they gather. It’s their responsibility to ensure that they’re not overcharging for their services and that they’re doing the best job they can do.

2. Integrity

Integrity is one of the most important elements of a surveyor’s work. It’s essential to ensuring accuracy and making sure that your project is completed correctly.

Land surveyors are often required to conduct accurate surveys in extremely remote areas. This requires precision and access to a wide variety of tools.

A professional land surveyor should avoid even the appearance of professional impropriety and should act with fidelity to their clients, employers and peers.

In addition, they must be truthful in their public statements, avoiding the appearance of misleading ostentatious or laudatory implications.

This can include a statement of experience, facilities, personnel and capacity to render service; brochures and other factual representations; and preparation or authorization of descriptive articles for the lay or technical press that are not misleading with respect to their direct participation in projects described.

All land surveyors must know their state’s laws and guidelines related to ethics and professionalism in order to stay compliant with them. These laws are designed to protect the safety, health and welfare of the public and ensure that the profession remains honest and trustworthy.

3. Fairness

In land surveying, fairness is very important. It is your duty to ensure that you are fair to all parties involved in the project. If you come across a situation where you are not, then you should bring it to the attention of your client as soon as possible.

Fairness is also extremely important for your own reputation as a surveyor. If a client thinks that you are not fair, then you can potentially lose a lot of business.

Another very important aspect of fairness is that you should not overcharge for your services. There are a lot of dishonest surveyors out there that will take advantage of their clients.

You should always start a project with fairness in mind and make sure that you do not overcharge for the services that you provide. This will not only benefit you, but your clients as well. You will never want to hurt your reputation or your business by delivering subpar results to your clients.

4. Professionalism

Professionalism is a set of behaviors that show you’re committed to upholding certain rules and expectations within your field, workplace or role. These include getting dressed professionally, treating others with respect and observing company policies.

In the world of land surveying, professionalism is especially important because a survey must be accurate and complete quickly to meet time deadlines. If a lengthy survey delays a project, it can have disastrous consequences for the entire development process.

Licensed surveyors are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the ethics and standards of their profession, as set by their state board or society. These standards are based on the principles of honesty, integrity and fairness.

The world of surveying has a long history. It has been around for thousands of years and it remains an important part of the world today.

The basic principles of land measurement are the same across the world. Measurements of the Earth’s surface are made with a variety of instruments and methods.

The Mason-Dixon Line

The Mason-Dixon Line was the result of numerous colonial and state boundary disputes. These included the disputes between the Calvert family in Maryland and William Penn of Pennsylvania.

They settled their disputes in 1732 with an agreement that specified specific borders for both territories. However, the lines still caused a lot of trouble between the two families.

After the surveyors were gone, the term “Mason-Dixon Line” became more commonly used to describe the boundary between states that allowed slavery and those that did not. This was especially true during the Civil War, when southern troops fought against northern troops.

The Mason-Dixon Line began to become a symbolic border between free and slave states, with the two British men who created it, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, becoming synonymous with this symbolism.

The Great Pyramid

Among the many great monuments of ancient Egypt, the Great Pyramid of Giza stands out as one of the most famous. The construction of the pyramid required an incredible amount of labor and resources.

This labor was done by a large number of skilled and unskilled workers. The annual inundation of the Nile River provided much-needed farmland that the kings could use to build their pyramids and other monuments.

Most of the pyramid stones in the Great Pyramid were transported from a quarry in Aswan, about 1000 km from Cairo. These were cut and fitted together with high precision.

The Great Wall of China

Stretching thousands of miles and featuring countless lookout towers, the Great Wall was an important military fortification to defend China against northern invaders. It has since become a symbol of Chinese history and culture, and is regarded as one of the world’s top tourist sights.

During the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE), Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered that a strong wall be built to help keep out northern invaders like the Mongols. The wall was constructed of stone and earth and included watchtowers, beacon towers to send smoke signals and blockhouses to house soldiers.

After the Qin Dynasty, many different dynasties continued to work on the wall. It was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty and eventually became the largest military structure in the world.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition

The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) is a famous land surveying project that changed the course of American history. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery on an exploratory journey that ultimately reached the Pacific Ocean.

During the journey, they came across friendly Mandan and Minitari Indians who helped them build Fort Mandan along the Missouri River near present-day Washburn, North Dakota. The explorers were then able to obtain information from the Indians and French-Canadian traders who lived nearby.

While the explorers made their way up the Missouri River, they stopped at a spring where they observed “immense herds of Buffaloe, Elk, deer & Antelopes feeding in one common and boundless pasture.” The river became more difficult to navigate.

George Washington Smyth

Land surveyors have played an important role in our history. In fact, several famous historical figures were land surveyors.

George Washington, the first president of the United States, began his surveying career in 1749 at the age of 17. In a career that lasted over 50 years, he surveyed over 200 plots of land and played a vital role in western expansion.

During the colonial era, European powers needed detailed maps to back up their land claims in the new world. This led to the development of more advanced surveying techniques.