Ludlow Engineering and Land Survey

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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Firstly of all it is necessary to explain what a Topographic survey is. Although it can have slightly different meanings in the USA and Europe, it is generally taken to mean the study of the shape of the earth’s surface and the depiction of these shapes on three dimensional maps.

In some parts of Europe the older meaning of the word which was a more general study of a place and included such measures as vegetation, man-made features and local history still pervades. In the United States, however, this meaning is used less and topography is specifically to do with ‘relief’ in other words the difference between changing levels of land. This is the meaning we shall be using for the remainder of this article.

You may sometimes hear topographic surveys referred to as Land Surveys, Level Surveys or Site Surveys and they provide architects, developers, authorities and land owners with vital information about the piece of land in question. This information is presented in the form of a three dimensional map.

The terrestrial position of points and distances and angles between them are determined by the topographic survey. Traditional tools and methods such as dumpy levels and clinometers are used although remote sensing technology has speeded things up and led to greater control over long distances. Surprisingly however, the direct survey still provides the basic framework and control points for all topographic work.

The fieldwork in a topographic survey consists of the establishment of a basic framework of horizontal and vertical controls and also the determination of the horizontal and vertical locations of details in the vicinity of each instrument point. The topographic control consists of two parts – the ‘horizontal control’ which locates the horizontally fixed position of specific control points and the ‘vertical control’ in which the elevations of specified bench marks are established.

Architects, engineers and buyers of land all need to have topographic surveys done. It is vital when the design of the building is being done, and also shows how the building should be constructed. Land buyers should also have a survey done when they are deciding what to do with the land.

About the Author:
If you want to find out more information about topographic surveys, then visit the Sitechnics website at www.sitechnics.com for more information.