Design Surveys

A Design Survey provides the detailed horizontal and vertical information needed by engineers, architects and planners to design improvements accurately and efficiently. It creates a reliable representation of the property’s existing conditions, including terrain, structures, pavement, utilities, drainage features and other physical elements that may affect the proposed design.

Design Surveys are commonly used for site development, grading and drainage plans, utility design, roadway improvements, building additions, redevelopment projects and permit applications. By coordinating the survey scope with the design team before fieldwork begins, the necessary information can be collected efficiently and costly return trips to the site may be reduced.

1. Horizontal and Vertical Control — Establishment of project control points, benchmarks, coordinate systems and vertical datums for design and future construction.
2. Topographic Information — Ground elevations, contours, breaklines, slopes and other terrain information needed to accurately represent the existing surface.
3. Buildings and Structures — Location of buildings, foundations, retaining walls, stairs, loading areas and other permanent structures.
4. Pavement and Site Improvements — Location and elevations of streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, fences, walls and signs.
5. Drainage Features — Location and elevations of ditches, swales, culverts, storm drains, inlets, manholes, channels and other drainage facilities.
6. Visible Utilities — Location of utility poles, meters, valves, hydrants, manholes, pedestals and other observable utility features.
7. Underground Utility Information — Location of marked underground utilities based on available records or coordinated utility-locate information. Additional subsurface investigation may be required when precise utility locations are critical.
8. Natural Features — Location of trees, vegetation limits, waterways, embankments, rock formations and other significant natural features requested by the design team.
9. Property and Right-of-Way Information — Property lines, easements and rights-of-way when boundary research and the appropriate land-surveying services are included in the project scope.
10. Adjacent and Offsite Conditions — Relevant information beyond the project limits, such as roadway connections, neighboring improvements, drainage patterns or utility connection points.
11. Digital Design Files — Survey data prepared for use in CAD and engineering design software, which may include survey points, linework, breaklines, contours and three-dimensional surface models.
12. Specialized Data Collection — Supplemental aerial mapping, UAS imaging, laser scanning or other technologies when appropriate for the property and project requirements.

Because every design project has different needs, the survey scope should be coordinated with the engineer, architect or project designer before fieldwork begins. A Design Survey does not automatically include a boundary survey, underground utility investigation, environmental delineation or other specialized service unless specifically included in the agreed scope.