An Overview of Environmental Land Surveys

Posted by Calvada on January 3rd, 2017

Environmental land surveying is one of the many types of land surveys and it focuses on understanding environmental factors and their impact on construction and real estate developments. Likewise, it is conducted to determine the potential impact of those developments on the environment. The surveys are designed for the environmental industry, and the services include Geo Tracker reporting, monitoring well, earth quantity calculations, topographic, as-built surveys, construction staking, and boundary surveys. Every time you need environmental land surveys, you need to make sure that it is conducted by specialized and highly-qualified surveyors who use the latest and most proven surveying techniques. 

Seasoned environmental land surveyors conduct the survey using advanced equipment, such as high-definition 3D laser scanners, which are accurate and faster, unlike traditional land surveying equipment. Environmental land surveys with 3D laser scanning are preferred by architects, project developers, and builders who may need to examine a used or unused parcel of land. The method enables environmental land surveys to yield panoramic, highly detailed images, measurements, and markups. Advanced laser scanning survey equipment can take photo-realistic and 360 by 320-degree panoramic images to aid developers and builders in a more detailed examination of the area.

Environmental land surveying is conducted based on the principle that environmental issues and factors can affect the durability and integrity of a construction development and real estate property, too. The survey is a specialty, which not every professional and licensed land surveyor can do. That is why it is highly recommended to look at the credentials and experience of the land surveyor in conducting environmental land surveys for various industries. You should be able to verify the qualifications of the land surveyor in conducting environmental surveys by looking up testimonials and by checking with references.

Environmental land surveys are helpful when determining the likelihood of flooding in an existing structure or proposed building. They may be used in assessing land that has been contaminated, too, like areas that have been used as a dumpsite for garbage and industrial waste. Developers may order an environmental land survey to determine fire risks and to explore the land or a property’s environmental risks, such as if an older property was built using dangerous materials (i.e. asbestos). 

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. His experience includes: topographic mapping, boundary surveys and analysis, construction and control surveying, preparation of tract and parcel maps, earth work calculation and quantities, targeting and control for photogrammetric, and land title surveys in accordance with the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. Mr. DuPont founded Calvada Surveying, Inc. in 1989 and is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the State of California.