When you’re embarking on a new land project, whether it’s developing real estate, expanding infrastructure, planning a pipeline, or even just moving your residential fence line, understanding the type of land survey you need is crucial. Land surveyors like Meridian Surveys often offer various survey types for residential and commercial clients, each tailored to specific needs and projects.
With so many options available, though, how do you know which type of survey is suitable for your project? Thankfully, with decades of experience under their belt, Meridian Surveys can answer all your questions regarding the different types of land surveys. This article will cover the essential types of land survey to help you make an informed decision before contacting a land surveyor.
How to Choose the Right Type of Survey for Your Project
Choosing the proper survey depends mainly on the specifics of your project. Are you planning to develop a commercial lot, or do you need to map underground utilities? The type of survey you need varies depending on your goals, the terrain, and any legal or regulatory restrictions. Understanding these factors will not only help you select the right survey type but also ensure that your project runs smoothly without any costly mistakes or infractions.
Common Land Survey Options and When To Use Them
Drone/UAV Surveys
Drone or UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) surveys have revolutionized the surveying industry with their ability to capture high-resolution images and data over large areas efficiently and quickly. They are particularly useful for projects that require aerial views, such as construction sites, environmental monitoring, and large agricultural operations. Drone surveys offer a safe and cost-effective way to survey hard-to-access areas, making them a popular choice for many industries that need “eyes” on vast stretches of land or those in inaccessible terrain.
When to Use: UAV surveys are necessary when detailed aerial imagery or data are needed for large or inaccessible areas. They’re also ideal for time-sensitive projects with quick turnarounds.
Pipeline Surveying
Pipeline surveying involves mapping out the precise location and path of pipelines, ensuring that they follow the planned route and comply with safety regulations. The surveys are critical for the oil and gas industry, where the accurate placement of pipelines can prevent environmental damage and costly errors in construction. They’re also invaluable for maintaining the integrity of pipelines once they’ve been laid, helping plant managers track which pipeline areas are in peak operational condition and which are due for servicing, maintenance, or repair.
When to Use: If your project involves laying new pipelines or monitoring existing ones, a pipeline survey is essential. It ensures that the pipeline is laid correctly and maintained regularly, minimizing risks and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Subdivision Surveying
Subdivision surveys are necessary when dividing a large tract or parcel of land into smaller lots for development or sale. These surveys map out the boundaries of each lot, ensuring they comply with local zoning laws and regulations. Whether your project is a residential subdivision development, commercial real estate for multi-use land, or even parceling out crown and provincial land for agricultural purposes, a subdivision survey will help you protect your legal, ecological, and financial obligations.
When to Use: Subdivision surveys are required for any project that divides land into smaller parcels, such as creating residential subdivisions or commercial and agricultural lots.
Oil Field Aerial Mapping
Oil field aerial mapping provides detailed images and data on oil field sites, helping oil and gas companies plan and manage their drilling operations more effectively. This type of survey is critical for monitoring large areas such as fracking sites, tracking changes to the surrounding terrain over time, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Whether you’re prospecting for new reserves or maintaining an existing site, an oil field aerial mapping survey will help you minimize time, cost, and risk.
When to Use: If your project involves oil exploration or drilling, oil field aerial mapping will provide the detailed data you need to make informed decisions about where to concentrate your expeditions while complying with industry regulations.
GIS Mapping
Geographic information System (GIS) mapping is a powerful tool that integrates spatial data with other types of information, such as demographic data, environmental data, topographical data, and infrastructure data. GIS mapping is used in a wide range of applications, from urban planning to environmental management, and is ideal for projects where a variety of different data sources are necessary to create a “whole picture” approach to logistics and planning.
When to Use: GIS mapping is essential for projects that require seamless integration of multiple data sets to analyze and visualize spatial relationships. It is particularly useful for large-scale planning of sites and projects as well as decision-making from a holistic perspective.
Underground Utility Surveys
Underground utility surveys map out the location of existing underground utilities, such as water mains, gas lines, sewer pipes, and electrical cables. These surveys are critical for preventing accidental damage during construction, on both a residential and commercial scale, while also ensuring the safety of workers and the public. Failing to complete an underground utility survey before breaking ground can result in interrupted utility services, steep fines, and personal danger.
When to Use: An underground utility survey is crucial for locating and avoiding existing utility placement before any construction project involves digging or excavation.
Surveying for Real Estate Development
Surveying for real estate development involves mapping out the land to determine its suitability for development, whether residential or commercial. This type of survey identifies property boundaries, any existing structures or utility hubs, and topography, helping developers plan their projects more effectively. They also help provide data that is essential to determining whether the land is suitable for the intended use and complies with local rules and regulations.
When to Use: Real estate development surveys are essential for any project that involves the purchase, sale, or development of land, providing necessary data to ensure the land is suitable.
Land Surveys for Urban Development
Urban development surveys focus on mapping out land within existing boundaries of urban areas, considering factors such as zoning, current infrastructure, and environmental impact. These surveys are critical for planning new residential and commercial developments in densely populated areas. Most urban development projects won’t let you proceed without a land survey as part of your proposal, so this is a critical step in getting your project off the ground.
When to Use: Urban development surveys are necessary for projects within city limits, where land use is highly regulated by zoning restrictions and space to develop is at a premium.
Land Surveys for Infrastructure
Infrastructure surveys map out the land for large-scale projects like roads, bridges, and public utilities in developing areas. These surveys ensure that the land is suitable for the intended infrastructure and that the project complies with all relevant regulations. They are also crucial for preliminary planning and discoveries regarding the land suitability and whether or not any factors would disrupt the proposed project, such as bodies of water, unsafe soil, and more.
When to Use: If your project involves constructing or upgrading public infrastructure, this survey will provide the detailed data you need to plan and execute the project successfully.
Whether Your Project is Big or Small, Meridian Surveys Can Do It All
No matter what type of survey you need to complete your project, Meridian Surveys has the expertise and experience to help you achieve your project goals. With decades of experience in every type of survey service and knowledgeable local technicians in over 11 locations, we can provide the guidance and support you need to ensure your project’s success. Contact us today or request a quote to learn more about how we can help you with your next project, no matter how big or small it may be.