Every construction project starts from the ground up, but what’s beneath the surface matters as much as what’s above. In Manitoba, infrastructure, industrial development, and renewal projects are transforming the landscape, and underground surveying has become essential to safe and cost-effective construction.
Regardless of the type of construction project, a missed underground line or unmapped utility can lead to delays, damages, or safety hazards. This guide breaks down the true costs and value of underground surveying, explaining why working with local experts like Meridian Surveys ensures accuracy, compliance, and peace of mind.
What Does An Underground Survey Involve?
Underground surveying is all about mapping out what is not visible. A survey will identify and document utilities, pipelines, optics cables, electrical conduits and other subsurface infrastructure. Surveyors use a combination of GPR (ground-penetrating radar) and electromagnetic locators, along with GPS total stations, to capture precise location data underground.
This data is compared and combined with a survey for the new construction to create a digital model of the project site above and below ground. The digital model is used to help engineers accurately plan construction, reducing the risk of interruptions during excavation.
For instance, on a recent project, Meridian’s team utilized a combination of UAV imaging and GPR to locate several abandoned lines that were not included in the city’s records. Surveying flagged the lines early, preventing the construction crew from hitting them and causing potential project delays.
What Influences Underground Survey Costs
Surveying costs can vary widely based on a few key elements:
- Site size and complexity: Larger construction sites, particularly those with mixed infrastructure, necessitate more comprehensive data collection and analysis.
- Depth of Utilities: Older infrastructure, such as in central Winnipeg, often features multiple layers of buried lines and pipes, which can be more challenging to detect.
- Surveying Technology: Advanced methods, such as LiDAR or UAVs, add precision results to surveys but can also increase costs.
- Site access and conditions: Seasons present challenges in Manitoba, with the long periods of frozen ground and heavy clay soil determining how easily equipment can be used.
At Meridian Surveys, costs are always discussed upfront. Meridian’s project managers emphasize transparency: every quote is based on real site conditions, and not just what’s on paper.
How Will Underground Surveys Save Money Long-Term?
It might seem as though surveying is an added expense at first, but utility surveys are one of the most cost-effective steps in a construction project. Here’s why:
- Prevents Damage: Hitting a utility line can result in thousands of dollars in repairs, fines, and lost time.
- Speeds up construction: Planning around existing utilities is easier for construction crews, instead of stopping midway to relocate.
- Ensures Regulatory Compliance: Developers are protected from liability with detailed maps that meet municipal and safety regulation requirements.
- Reduces redesigns: Having accurate data early on reduces the chance of change orders or reworks during construction.
Investing in an underground survey can save you weeks of downtime and thousands of dollars in unforeseen costs.
Why Manitoba Developers Choose Meridian Surveys
Every province is different, and Manitoba is no exception. Winnipeg has dense underground corridors and extensive rural drainage networks, similar to those near Portage La Prairie. Developers choose Meridian for surveys because our surveyors possess local knowledge, which makes all the difference.
Meridian’s teams are based across Western Canada, which means faster turnaround times and a deep understanding of regional regulations, soil conditions, and utility layouts. Our crews work closely with local municipalities, which speeds up permitting and ensures compliance with Manitoba’s local utility authorities.
How To Budget For Underground Surveying In Manitoba
Here’s how to plan your construction survey budget in Manitoba:
- Start early: Book surveys during the design phase of your project to avoid delays during excavation.
- Request a full scope: Ask for multiple deliverables, such as subsurface maps, CAD files, and terrain models.
- Plan for site conditions: Frozen ground, flooded areas and dense clay beds may require additional permits or equipment
- Ask for transparent quotes: Meridian provides quotes based on site size, terrain, and data collection methods.
On average, underground surveying in Manitoba accounts for a small percentage of your total construction costs, but the value lies in preventing project overruns.
What’s Below The Surface Matters Most
To plan a successful construction project, start with clarity. Knowing what’s beneath your site before construction is integral to that success. Underground surveying may not be visible in the final product, but it is one of the most important steps for ensuring a safe, compliant, and cost-effective build.
Contact Meridian Surveys to schedule your next underground survey in Manitoba and get your project started with confidence, starting underground.
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