Expert Topographical Land Surveys

A topographical survey, commonly referred to as a land survey, meticulously maps out the boundaries, levels, and features of the land you're planning to develop. This includes buildings, manhole covers, drainage, trees, and more. As they provide accurate and detailed information about the existing conditions of the site, land surveys are essential for proper planning and execution of construction projects.

Examples of what information is collected in the survey include:

• Elevation and contours: by measuring the land's elevation points, land surveyors create contour lines on a map, indicating the terrain's shape and slope.
• Natural features, such as hills, lakes, and streams, as well as vegetation types, forest densities, and significant singular entities like large trees.
• Man-made features, such as buildings, and fences.
• Property boundary lines and markers
• An underground utilities trace (locating water lines, gas lines, electrical cables, and sewage systems) alongside mapping surface utilities to supplement the information gathered.
• Surface water drainage patterns and features
• Topographic relief and terrain analysis, including slopes and depressions.

Topgraphic surveys can take a variety of forms, the suitability of each depending on the purposes of the project. For example, while those seeking to know a site's boundaries may need only a basic outline survey, those intending to build require a detailed 3D model. Such complex designs are drawn-up in the office using CAD programs, such as AutoCad.

Certain projects may also call for an underground utility survey, which involves the tracing of gas and water pipes using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Avoiding damage to underground utilities is necessary for avoiding repair costs, not to mention preventing injuries.

Please note that surveys can also be conducted in buildings. Termed a measured building survey, this maps out features such as floor plans, elevations, and sections. 

Primarily, surveyors use laser scanners, GPS equipment, and total stations to measure the land. Specific models they might employ include Trimble S6 Total Stations, Trimble X7 Laser Scanners, and Trimble R12i GNSS receivers. For larger or less accessible sites, the surveyor may also conduct a drone survey.

Discover more on this topic by reading our dedicated post on topographical survey equipment.

By accurately mapping the topography of the site, a land survey enables engineers, architects, and planners to make informed decisions about the design and development of their projects. Among other considerations, an accurate land survey helps in identifying suitable building sites, planning road alignments, designing drainage systems, and landscaping. Conducting a survey in the first instance can prevent building on unsuitable areas. For example, a topographical survey can reveal whether the planned build encroaches on a boundary, thereby helping to prevent a dispute with the local council. As such, surveys are foundational to delivering polished, cost-effective construction work.

The complexity and size of the proposed site and project determine the duration of a topographical survey. Once the site has been surveyed, it usually takes a few days to draw up the data and send it over. The digital format of the survey - whether it appears in 2D or 3D - will depend on the level of detail the project calls for.

The accuracy of a topographical survey is usually defined in the project specifications. Commonly, plans specified to high-precision require accuracies within a few centimetres.

The degree of accuracy in a land survey can vary based on several factors. One of these is the equipment used. At Bury Associates, we use a variety of modern survey equipment utilising GPS (Global Positioning System) and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technologies. This ensures the captured data is as representative of the actual site as possible. Other factors, mostly relating to the condition of the land, can sometimes affect the finished product. For example, both dense vegetation and heavy cloud cover can limit the efficacy of GPS. Since Bury Associates effectively plans for such mitigating circumstances, every survey we deliver is finished to a high standard.

The use of laser scanners, GPS, and drones ensures that the measurements taken during the survey are accurate and detailed. Accuracy is crucial for making informed design decisions and avoiding potential conflicts or issues during construction.

Our topographical surveyors will visit your site and carry out your survey using GPS survey equipment, total stations and laser scanners.

A topographic survey is undertaken by highly-qualified land surveyors who examine the land with specialist equipment. Back in the office, technicians transform the collected data into detailed digital drawings.

In the UK, land surveying is a valuable, coveted skill. At Bury Associates, our surveyors have a combined experience of over 50 years.

The price of a topographical survey depends on the project location and how much work is involved - both on-site and in the office - to deliver the survey. In the UK, prices start from around £500 + VAT.

To gain a better understanding of what you can expect to pay and how costs are calculated at Bury Associates, see our dedicated article on the price of a topographic survey.

For the most accurate estimate, request a free quote.

You can have you topographical survey delivered in any digital format, such as 2D CAD, 3D CAD, PDF or Revit.