Ludlow Engineering and Land Survey

I love researching new things. My daughter is a sixth grader and they just began a new area of study on maps. I have also been very interested lately in Civil Engineers. They play a large role, if not the largest role, in making and keeping our society running as it does. They create buildings, roads, bridges and all the things that keep us functioning smoothly as a society. What intrigued me was that Civil Engineers use a type of map I had never heard of before, a topographic map. Topographic surveying is done to create these maps and determine the relative location of points of interest on Earth. Surveyors use a technique that measures the horizontal distances to show the difference in elevation and direction so that it can be represented on a topographic map.
Landform elevation is important to be represented on a map for any type of geographical planning. Civil Engineers use these when creating structures, highways, bridges, overpasses and so many of the things that society uses to provide convenience to our modern lifestyles. Topographical maps are also important in mining and other endeavors that involve the Earths surface. People who are serious hikers or orienteers use these highly detailed maps along with compasses to identify their location when in areas that are less common to everyday explorers.
Topographic surveying is used to determine where larger streams, big bodies of water, forests, significant structures and points of interest should be place on topographic maps. Arial photographers and remote sensing techniques help topographic surveyors give accurate detail when the maps are being created. As with modern maps, signs, symbols and color help to designate different details on these maps and are explained within the margins of the topographic maps.
There are several principles that need to be considered when taking part in topographic surveying. Surveyors must determine a scale to use in before starting any land measuring. This helps determine any plot able errors. It is also important that most accurate methods of surveying are used first. Each survey that is taken should be oriented taking into consideration true north. Initially surveying should begin by establishing a vertical and horizontal rule which can be accomplished by measuring the three ds of surveying; distance, direction and difference in the rise between fixed points. Lastly, a survey plan should be in places that consist of checks on accurateness. Examples include surveying between two fixed points or even pacing measured distances.
It is just so interesting to me all of the tools that I dont even take into consideration on a daily basis that help to make the world around me run as it does. It is so neat to look at things from a new perspective as the kids are studying topics that I have long placed in a folder in the back of my memory bank marked unimportant. It is fun to place these random pieces of knowledge back into a place of recognition within my head.

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If you have enjoyed this article from Kevin Germain at CPS please visit http://www.srcmi.com today. You will find useful information on topographic surveying.

A topographic map can provide a number of functions for various survey and development services. Depending on the size and ratio of the map, and the features it displays, organisations, surveyors and development professionals can use the data it contains to direct their projects.

Full scale topographic maps (like the ones supplied by Ordnance Survey partner Getmapping), can be very useful in showing surveyors and planning professionals how the land already lies, in terms of the existing structures and topographic features around a proposed development site. Where the map shows objects, and classes of both manmade and natural item down to the size of a post for a fence, or a phone box, a planning committee has access to an invaluable data source that represents a three dimensional environment extremely accurately on paper or screen.

Ordnance Survey Mastermap shows more than 400 million types of object and is probably the most detailed two dimensional representation of the real landscape of Britain. When planning a new development, construction tenders and authorities will be able to use such a map to see exactly how a proposed building will sit in its environment, both spatial and conceptual.

The conceptual environment of a building project includes things like administrative boundaries and post code zones, both of which can have an effect on the final decision about the location of a new development. The topographic map shows these non physical items as well as the pillars, posts and street corners (not to mention of course the existing connections for services like gas, water and electricity).

Different scales of topographic representation have specific uses for different types of planning, surveying or development. For an overall impression of the physical and administrative features of an urban area, a planning commission or development organisation will use an Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 Raster map.

All scales of modern topographic map are available in digital format for ease of use and further web based application. The most common formats are JPEG and ECW.

For construction, planning and licensing requirements, an Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Raster map is ideal. At this scale, planners and developers can see the individual streets that make up an area, and the houses that sit on them but still have a high enough birds eye view to gain an understanding of the whole area. This scale of topographic map is also useful for land management and estate management.

An Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Raster map gives a still closer view of the streets and towns of Great Britain. At this scale, developmental planning officials have a very clear idea not only of the amount and dispersal of buildings already existing around a proposed site, but also of the nature of those buildings (churches, for example). This is particularly useful when determining whether there is a need, in any given area of the country, for the services or opportunities a new project may supply.

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All scales of modern topographic map are available in digital format for ease of use and further web based application. The most common formats are JPEG and ECW.

One of the major purposes to conduct a topographic survey is to accumulate survey information about the natural and man-made characteristics of the land and its elevations. From this set of information the topographic land surveyors make three – dimensional maps. They prepare a topographic map after collecting the field data. To accomplish their topographic survey objectives, surveyors use elements of geometry, engineering, trigonometry, mathematics, physics and law.

They gather information through detailed study, observations and measurements in the field. It involves data analysis in the support of planning, designing, and establishing of property boundaries. It also includes the re-establishment of cadastral surveys and land boundaries based on documents of record and historical evidences, and certifying surveys of subdivision plats/maps, registered land surveys, and space delineation. Land surveying may involve associated services such as mapping and related data accumulation, construction layout surveys, precision measurements of length, angle, elevation, area, and volume, as well as horizontal and vertical control surveys, and the analysis and utilization of land survey data. This survey is also known as geomorphometry. Today, this involves generation of elevation data in electronic form. It is often measured to include the graphic representation of the landform on a map by a variety of techniques, including
ontour lines, Hypsometric tints, and relief shading.

The work involved in a topographic survey mainly consists of the following steps:

Establishing horizontal and vertical control that will serve as the framework of the survey,
Identifying horizontal location and elevation of ground points to provide enough data for plotting when the map is prepared
Locating natural and man-made features that may be required by the purpose of the survey,
Computing distances, angles, volumes and elevations of earthwork
Finally, drawing the topographic maps.

Topographic survey requires both horizontal and vertical control to reference the measurements of the chosen features and ground elevations that will be used to create the topographic survey map. The land surveyors can also provide aerial mapping and ground surveying to complete all topographical surveys. The methods used in the survey can be tailored to match the size and requirements of the project. Land surveyors use latest and powerful technologies and surveying tools like topographic surveys, ALTA / ACSM Land Title Surveys (ALTA Surveys), High-Definition Surveying – HDS (3D Laser Scanning), Geodetic Survey, and GPS Land Survey to perform their services more rapidly and perfectly. Topographic survey helps in real estate, development, engineering, environmental and telecommunications industries.

About the Author:
Armando Dupont, a professional land surveyor started his career in surveying in 1977 and has extensive experience in managing personnel and projects. . Mr. Dupont founded Calvada Surveying, Inc. in 1989 and is a licensed professional Land Surveyor in the State of California. As an elite land surveying firm, Calvada Surveying, Inc. offers professional land surveying services, including ALTA Surveys, ACSM Surveys and 3D High Definition Land Surveying (High Definition Laser Scanning) services throu

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