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Commercial Real Estate Items

One of the items which is usually required at the time of selling or purchasing commercial property is an ALTA Land Title Survey.  These surveys require the most work and due diligence of most typical land surveys.  With an ALTA Land Title Survey, the surveyor is required to go deeper with the property and provide information, such as: Boundary, Utilities, Easements, Zoning, Floodplains, Location to intersections, parking, fire hydrant proximity and more.

Being that these services require more information, you will find that an ALTA Land Title Survey will cost more than a typical boundary survey.  This is usually the case with Commercial and residential projects within a known city or town.

Below read more about Commercial ALTA surveys:

Land Title Survey Can Protect Your Investment

Buyers and Lenders of commercial real estate transactions should know the existing conditions and future use of the property or land which they are acquiring.

Buyers and Lenders are using an ALTA survey as part of their feasibility study for commercial projects. Discovering boundary line conflicts or any other restriction AFTER the real estate transaction can be very expensive.  Buyers and Lenders want to protect their investment prior to planning, development and investing funds.

Smith-Roberts National Corporation is a nationwide coordinator of ALTA land title surveys and has been providing clients with timely and cost effective surveys since 1981. An ALTA Land Title survey not only identifies conditions of public record that are disclosed in a title report, but may discover unrecorded rights by a third party that can reduce the use/value of a commercial property.

These include:

# Easements that may encumber or benefit the property

# Possible encroachments across boundary lines or easements

# Access to a public street or lack thereof

# Zoning of the property along with setback requirements

# Flood Zones that may affects the subject property

# Evidence of any use by other parties

# Location of any water boundaries on the subject property

# Evidence of cemeteries

# Names of adjoining property owners

An example might be a national lender securing the  loan on a commercial property (business, factory, apartments, restaurant,  multi-site, etc.) would want to use the ALTA survey in order to receive a thorough survey of the property.

For more information – please visit  Smith-Roberts National Corp. - http://www.smith-roberts.com

Alta Land Title Survey

We specialize in Alta Land Surveys.  We can complete them anywhere within the Western United States.

We are staffed to move on these detailed land surveys in the States of Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada and California.  Give us a call today at (435) 623-0897.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Iner

Utah Secures NSA Location Site

CAMP WILLIAMS — Computers drawing enough electricity to power a small city will soon fill a National Security Agency data center on a 240-acre site where officials officially broke ground on Thursday.

But that does not mean Utah is about to see a significant influx of NSA analysts who would not be able to tell their neighbors what they do for a living. Most of the long-term staff at the NSA’s Utah Data Center will have technical jobs, keeping the machines in the 100,000 square feet of computer space working — that within a complex that will include 1 million square feet of enclosed space.

Building the mammoth computer center will bring 5,000 to 10,000 much-needed construction jobs through the time the center is finished in 2013. Long term, the staff will be comprised of 100 to 200 information technology specialists and mechanical and electrical engineers, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said at the groundbreaking.

Specifics of the work those engineers will do is not being discussed. But Harvey Davis, the NSA’s associate director for installations and architect of the overall concept of the Utah Data Center, said the machines that will live in Utah are the essence of the NSA’s work.

“This business is technologically dependent,” he said, adding that Utah “is a very reliable site for us.”

The NSA said the data center is a component of the Comprehensive National Cyber-security Initiative “aimed at securing the United States’ information infrastructure and coordinating its defense with state and local governments, as well as the private sector.” The data center’s mission is to help the intelligence community meet cyber-security objectives.

“The threat posed by computer hackers is very big, and it is growing,” Hatch said. “That is why this data center is so important.”

The computer farm that will overlook both Utah and Salt Lake counties from a site just west of Redwood Road is an essential link in the nation’s cyberspace security initiative, said NSA Deputy Director J. Chris Inglis. The Utah Data Center adds physical diversity to the NSA’s computing power without splitting up the intelligence community working at Fort Meade, Maryland.

“It is essential that cyberspace be as resilient and as secure as possible,” Inglis said, adding that responsibility for cybersecurity “is not just the job of the intelligence community.”

Hatch, Utah Lt. Gov. Greg Bell and Utah Adjutant General Brian Tarbet all said political tenacity was backed by a number of essential factors that made Utah the best place for the NSA data center. “We made the best technical case for putting it here,” Tarbet said. Hatch said earlier that 37 other locations were seriously considered before the Utah site was chosen.

The availability of low-cost electrical power was a big draw, with the completed center expected to consume 65 megawatts of power. A power grid unable to expand to meet the NSA’s needs at home in Maryland was a primary reason given for expanding the agency’s computing horsepower elsewhere.

U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman Jr., Utah’s governor at the time plans for the Utah Data Center were announced, sent his encouragement for the project from Beijing, and Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, sent his support from Washington, D.C. Hatch said keeping plans for the data center on track took the support of the entire congressional delegation.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said during his inauguration on Monday the state would be vigilant in keeping the federal government from pushing too far into the state. But the lieutenant governor said there is “absolutely no disagreement” that national security is an essential role of the federal government, and that the data center is welcome in Utah.

E-mail: sfidel@desnews.com

Buy Real Estate After A Land Survey

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Iner

Surveying Land is What we Do!

Ludlow Engineering specializes in Land Surveys in the Utah, Arizona and Idaho areas.

Call Today (435) 623-0897

GPS Land surveying is a scientific method of determining, analyzing as well as evaluating the terrestrial or 3D space position of points and the distances with angles between them. It offers the advantages of higher accuracy of survey data and rapid project turnaround. The land surveying firms use Global Positioning System (GPS) as a tool for land surveys to precisely identify the positioning of points. Global Positioning System (GPS) land surveying tool operates directly through satellites which emit signals to the land based sophisticated satellite receivers. The satellite receiver then transmits those signals to the data collector, which stores the data in it. After the data has been received, the company downloads the data into the computer and the computer software resolves the position of the points within a few millimeters. It effectively assists in the subdivision of land, research and interpretation of survey plans, road boundary realignment, building development, etc.

To accomplish objectives of land surveying, land planning and surveying companies and their land surveyors use the elements of geometry, engineering, trigonometry, mathematics, and physics. The land planning and surveying companies offer GPS tools to successfully understand and identify the terrestrial points for their customers. GPS is used for more precise recording, like grid layouts, excavation plans and topographical surveys, where high level of accuracy up to millimeter is required. The GPS land surveying technique helps in real estate, development, engineering, telecommunications, and environmental industries, both in the public and private sector as well.

Global Positioning System (GPS) land surveys are used to study the surface, shape as well as features and boundaries of the land. It provides the meticulous descriptions and survey plans of the features including vegetation cover and elevations, etc through points on maps. The result of GPS land survey is the pictorial representation that allows the land surveyors’ to offer exact 3D drawings that can save time and money for building design or environmental projects. Perfect measurement and accumulation of these graphic positions is one of the fundamental elements of GPS land surveying. The benefit of GPS land surveying is that it is much more accurate than hand-measuring or other traditional equipments.

GPS land surveys assist engineers, building contractors and architects through GeoTracker reporting, construction staking and earth quantity calculations. It also helps planners to identify the features on given land surface and any special location in terms of coordinates. There are various other land surveying techniques involved in the procedure of land surveying like: ALTA / ACSM Land Title Surveys (ALTA Surveys), High-Definition Surveying – HDS (3D Laser Scanning), Topographic Surveys, Environmental Surveys, and Geodetic Survey.

Ludlow Engineering and Land Surveying is a firm of Quality and Commitment.  Dedicated in bringing the best survey work, Ludlow gets the job done.

Call 435.623.0897 for Your Land Survey Estimate today!

Contact us today

Looking for the most affordable Land Surveying firm in Salt Lake City – Contact Ludlow Engineering for your estimate today.

What does a standard boundary survey entail?

The surveyor thoroughly examines the historical records relating to the land in question and often all lands surrounding it. In addition to the Registry of Deeds this research may include: the Registry of Probate, county commissioners’ offices, town offices, historical associations and the Department of Transportation. The surveyor may also talk with prior owners and adjoiners.

The field work begins after the research and involves establishing a control network of known points called a traverse. The points are used to search for and locate existing monuments and other evidence of the boundaries. Although the field portion of a survey is the most visible phase of surveying, it usually represents only a third of the entire project.

The results of the field work are compared with the research and the surveyor then reconciles all the information to arrive at a final conclusion about the boundaries. A second field trip is then needed to set the new monuments. Finally, the surveyor will draft a plan, prepare a legal description and write a report.

Call Now 435.623.0897 for your estimate today

The Different Types of Land Surveys

By Charles Iner

While most people think of land surveys in the most basic sense, the drawing of the boundaries of a property, in actuality there are many varied and different ways of surveying that service many different industries. Property surveys are a large part of the business, but there are also surveys and surveyors that service the construction industry, the environmental sector, and many others. The kinds of surveys that are conducted would surprise most people, and some things that you might think are surveys aren’t surveys at all. Instead of the standard two-dimensional measuring from one point to another, today’s surveys not only measure the land, but also the air and water above and below us.

The most common and well-known surveys conducted today are boundary surveys, mortgage surveys, and topographic surveys. An ALTA survey, which is actually a shortened title for ATLA/ACSM, combines elements of all three, with a set of standards put forth jointly by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. ALTA surveys are most commonly used for commercial properties; by having a universal standard, companies can assure themselves of the level of thoroughness and be confident when the results are guaranteed by an ALTA survey.

Boundary Surveys are exactly what the name describes: a survey to establish the true boundaries of a given property. Through previously recorded markers and the establishment of new landmarks, a surveyor will establish the true boundaries of a property and then mark the corners and lines of the plot, using markers such as iron rods, pipes or concrete monuments in the ground, or nails set in concrete or asphalt. In the past, piles of stones, trees or other, less permanent markers were used, which led to confusion when the markers were either destroyed or changed.

Mortgage Surveys are simple surveys that, for the most part, determine land boundaries and building locations. They are usually required by title companies and lending institutions when they provide financing to show that there are no structures encroaching on the property and that any structures on the property meet current zoning and building codes. It is important to ensure that you are getting an officially licensed mortgage survey performed by a licensed land surveyor, and not a mortgage inspection, which is a substandard survey which does not adhere to any set standards and is not regulated or accepted as an official land survey.

Topographic Surveys are land surveys which locate natural and man-made features. For example, buildings, improvements, fences, elevations, land contours, trees and streams. These are then measured for their elevation on a particular piece of land, and presented as contour lines on a plot. Topographical surveys are sometimes required by the government. Engineers and architects also use topographical surveys to aid in the design of improvements or developments on a site.

One of the largest and most rapidly growing segments of land surveys are in the construction industry. Surveys are crucial tools from inception and planning, to actual construction and maintenance afterwards. Most construction surveys fall under the discipline of civil engineering, which may require additional degrees and certifications in order to conduct. All construction projects begin with the Plot Plan or Site Plan, which sets out the plan for the entire project, including all existing and proposed conditions on a given site. As-Built Surveys are conducted several times during a construction project to verify for local and state boards that the work authorized was completed to the specifications set on the plot plan. Foundation Surveys are a type of as-built survey which collects the positional data on a foundation that has been poured and is now cured. Foundation surveys are done to ensure that the foundation has both been constructed in the proper location and has been built in the proper manner according to the plan.

For existing structures, a Deformation Survey determines if a structure or object is changing shape or moving. By the taking of three-dimensional positions on specific points on an object, then letting a period of time pass before retaking and measuring the points, a determination of whether a structure is moving can be made.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, land surveyors are also responsible for performing Hydrographic and Bathymetric Surveys. Hydrographic surveys collect data relating to any body of water, and the data collected may include the water depth, bottom contours, the direction of the current, observing and recording high water marks and water levels, as well as location of fixed objects and landmarks for navigational purposes. They can also be conducted to gather information for engineering or resource management purposes, such as hydro power plants. Bathymetric surveys deal exclusively underwater, and map the seabed profile.

Geodetic surveys fall under both the land and water category, as they map out the shoreline. Thomas Jefferson commissioned a geodetic survey in 1807 as the Survey of the Coast. Progress on the survey moved slowly at first, as they did not even have the proper instruments to perform the survey until 1815. It still exists today as the National Geodetic Survey and its responsibilities now include the interior lands of the United States as well as its coasts.

Wetlands Delineation and Location Surveys belong in a category all on their own; they are performed when construction work that is being planned on or near a site containing defined wetlands. Local, state, or federal regulations vary, but wetlands are usually classified as areas that are completely inundated with water more than two weeks during the growing season. Boundaries of wetlands are determined by observing the soil colors, vegetation, erosion patterns or scour marks, hydrology, and morphology of the land in question. Data is then collected on the locations of the placed flags and a plan is drawn to reference the boundary of the wetlands and compare it to the proposed boundaries of the surrounding plots or parcels of land and the construction work proposed within.

While there are many more forms of land surveys, to list them all and their attributes would result in a very long article. The options presented above are simply the most common forms of land surveys, and the ones that the general public is most likely to encounter.

We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Residential land surveys are a specialty.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Iner
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Different-Types-of-Land-Surveys&id=1949289

Ludlow Engineering Performs Land Surveys throughout the Salt Lake Valley.

Since 1975, Ludlow Engineering has performed Land surveys in the Salt Lake Valley.  We are located just South of Utah County and can meet all survey needs in Salt Lake City.  Updated with the latest in GPS equipment, Ludlow can perform any survey task in the State of Utah.

What does a standard boundary survey entail?

The surveyor thoroughly examines the historical records relating to the land in question and often all lands surrounding it. In addition to the Registry of Deeds this research may include: the Registry of Probate, county commissioners’ offices, town offices, historical associations and the Department of Transportation. The surveyor may also talk with prior owners and adjoiners.

The field work begins after the research and involves establishing a control network of known points called a traverse. The points are used to search for and locate existing monuments and other evidence of the boundaries. Although the field portion of a survey is the most visible phase of surveying, it usually represents only a third of the entire project.

The results of the field work are compared with the research and the surveyor then reconciles all the information to arrive at a final conclusion about the boundaries. A second field trip is then needed to set the new monuments. Finally, the surveyor will draft a plan, prepare a legal description and write a report.