What is a Survey?

Lucion Group

16th February, 2023

Surveying, also known as land surveying, is the technique, profession and science of determining 2D and 3D positions of points, and the distances and angles between them. Surveys can also be conducted on buildings and structures to assess and map the area for construction projects to begin.

Surveying projects are conducted by specialist land and building surveyors to support architects, designers and property developers with the accurate measurements they need to move forward with planning and land development.

Equipment used for surveying ranges from traditional methods, like the theodolite, to more modern tools including drone surveys. Several types of surveys are available to support your project, whether you need accurate distance measurements or a topographic map.

What Are the Different Types of Surveys?

There are a comprehensive range of land surveys, with varying purposes and applications which can be tailored to your specific project by an expert land surveyor at Lucion. These different types of survey include:

Topographic Surveys

A topographic survey, commonly known as a land, topo or terrain survey, is a vital component in the design process of a site. Using modern technology like the Trimble and S-Series Robot, topographic surveys map the boundaries, manmade and natural features, and levels of a site.

During a topographic survey, roads and buildings near to the construction site are surveyed to ensure there is no hidden damage which could result in a delayed or costly design process.

Measured Building Surveys

Measured building surveys involve the internal and external mapping of buildings and structures for a range of construction projects. The outputs of a measured building survey can vary, from producing a basic floor plan to a detailed 3D building model.

Measured building surveys can be conducted on all built structures, regardless of their age. Typically, measured building surveys are used as a basis for building reconfigurations or restoration projections, and are considered a critical part of the design process.

Elevation Surveys

A form of measured building survey, an elevation survey is used for planning and development for building work, as this surveying method provides an accurate representation of a structure and will include details on all structural openings, such as doors and windows, string courses, stone features, and vents. Findings from elevation surveys are also used for the scheduling and planning of future maintenance work.

3D Laser Scanning Surveys

3D laser scanning surveys are a non-invasive surveying technique that collects data points from a building or structure remotely and maps them on a grid. Compared to more traditional surveying techniques, 3D laser scanning is completed at a higher speed and produces a greater level of detail through a 3D laser scanner, and is considered to be one of the most efficient and accurate methods for measuring infrastructure.

There are several other top benefits of using 3D laser scanners for your project, including reduced risk to personnel and the site, as well as reduced costly delays or damage.

BIM Surveys

Building Information Modelling (BIM) surveys involve the capture and maintenance of data points to be shared across multiple agencies for the lifespan of the building or structure.

Using 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry and GPS, a land surveyor and BIM expert will collect accurate measurements of particular land areas to support your construction and infrastructure project. BIM aims to reduce waste and improve efficiency through streamlining processes and making it easier for teams to collaborate in a project environment.

Top benefits of BIM surveys include better coordination, fewer risks and the ability to visualise projects pre-construction.

Setting Out Surveys

Setting out surveys are the crucial bridge between a design on paper and a tangible structure on the ground. Setting out is important because it takes points from a design and marks them out on a physical space to support land development during construction and infrastructure projects.

Setting out tends to be conducted once the architect’s plans have been finalised to ensure that project designs are accurately transferred into the real world.