Land Survey Types

Land Survey Types

Land Survey Types – There are many types of land surveys in the land surveying area of business. Today, we would like to share the basics of the 5 types of land surveys that are in the land surveying field. The five are land surveys and what they are. The second is a property survey. Next, we will address what a topography survey is and what you can do with one. Next we will talk a little more about what as-built surveys are. Finally, we will spend some time on what ALTA surveys are and why people request them. For generic information, feel free to visit this link for more information.

Land Survey

A land survey is the most basic type of survey, yet is probably the one that is requested the most. When people request a land survey, they are wanting to hire a land surveyor to stake or pin the corners of their property. Land surveys and property surveys are almost, if not the same thing. We will talk about that a little later, but land surveys are the most requested types of surveys on the market.

When you hire a land surveyor to survey or land, they should provide you with the following items. A land survey occurs in two main places. Firstly, the land survey takes place on the land that is being surveyed. There the land surveyor will locate the existing items on the property and will then place stakes or pins on the corners of the property, as per the legal description that is found in the county recorders office.

It also takes place on paper. By this we mean that with each land survey the land surveyor provides a survey plat that shows how the property falls within the existing use of the property. It also describes that the land surveyor did and what they placed on each corner of the property.

Property Survey

A property survey as was indicated above is very similar to a land survey. A property survey in tales the staking and platting of the property as above detailed. Sometimes people refer to land or to property, but for our purposes, they are one in the same.

Topography Survey

A topography survey is really an elevation survey. Sometimes in the land surveying field, we refer to these as x,y,z meaning that we are providing coordinates for all 3 spheres. Making the paper now become a 3D object.

Here we provide elevations on everything that is existing on the property. A topography survey provides an elevation for the raw ground as well. Once all of these coordinates are provided, the data is taken into the land surveyors desk, and they begin to work on the map.

A topography survey maps shows contours on the ground. These contours are provided in 1-2 foot increments, depending on the slope of the ground. The steeper the ground, the higher the foot number is. For example, if there is a piece of ground that rises 30 feet over the land, most likely the contours would be placed in 2 foot intervals.

As-Built Surveys

As-built surveys are land surveys that provide information on new items that were just built, installed and or provided. This survey takes places after a siteplan, subdivision have been approved and built according to engineered plans. A land surveyor then goes out and provides a real time coordinates on those items.

An As-built survey is usually requested by either the governmental agency or the financing lender of the particular project. As-built surveys are fairly easy to accomplish, being that a land survey and site plan drawings were already completed.

ALTA Survey

An ALTA survey is the highest quality survey and requires the most time to gather the requested information on any particular piece of land or project. These surveys are almost always required by lenders, financial investors and government entities. An ALTA survey are usually tied in with land surveys of property surveys. In addition to those standard surveys, there are lists of additional items that can be chosen from the lending group. Items such as:

“TABLE A”

OPTIONAL SURVEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND SPECIFICATIONS

NOTE:  The twenty (20) items of Table A may be negotiated between the surveyor and client. Any additional items negotiated between the surveyor and client shall be identified as 21(a), 21(b), etc. and explained pursuant to Section 6.D.ii.(g). Notwithstanding Table A Items 5 and 11, if an engineering design survey is desired as part of an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey, such services should be negotiated under Table A, Item 21.

Conclusion

There are many land survey types. Each with there different role to play, they provide great information to a given piece of land or property. To learn more about our services, be sure to visit our land surveyor main web site.