Topographic Surveys

Types of Topographical Survey

September 25, 2024

Introduction

Topographic surveys are essential for creating a thorough map of a location in civil engineering, landscaping, and construction projects. They provide architects and engineers with the crucial information they need to design projects efficiently, whether for structures, roads, or natural elements like trees. Projects begin with these surveys to ensure plans fit the site’s characteristics and mitigate potential concerns. Effective planning is impossible without a topographic survey, which is why these studies are essential.

Topographic Survey

A common term for topographic surveys is “land surveys.” Simply said, these are topographical maps of a site that display everything already there, including houses, roads, trails, trees, and similar characteristics. They frequently depict the ground’s level using spot levels, heights, and contours.

Ground investigations and geotechnical surveys are better suited for examining the state of the ground than land surveys.

A building, landscaping, or civil engineering project cannot proceed without a land or topographic survey, the fundamental initial plan needed.

Without a topographic survey, an architect or engineer cannot determine how his design will fit into the site or what current features will be impacted by the proposed works. The survey aids in the planning, budgeting, and mitigating of the site’s impact by the designers.

Types of Topographic Surveys

A topographic survey is essential; the only things that can change are the accuracy, method, and amount of detail gathered.

2D Topographic Surveys

2D topographic surveys are frequently used for small projects like home gardening or straightforward civil works since they offer an essential, flat representation of a site’s features. These surveys are ideal for less complex projects since they provide a clear overview of the site’s elevation and natural or man-made features.

3D Topographic Surveys

3D topographic surveys provide a comprehensive three-dimensional view of the land, unlike 2D surveys. They are helpful for intricate tasks where it is essential to comprehend the shapes and differences in the landscape. Large-scale civil engineering or infrastructure projects usually use 3D surveys because they offer better precision.

Aerial Topographic Surveys (Drones)

Land surveyors increasingly use unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, to cover extensive or challenging-to-access areas. These surveys benefit feasibility, boundary, and as-built assessments, where having precise site data is crucial. While height accuracy is usually +/-75mm, drones can reach sub-50mm x and y accuracy. While photogrammetry is widely used, Lidar can obtain ground-level data by penetrating vegetation. We employ both techniques, offering advice on the most effective, and both generate point clouds to extract 3D data.

LIDAR Survey for Topography

LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) surveys are highly valuable for projects where dense vegetation obstructs the land surface. LIDAR can penetrate tree canopies to generate detailed data on the ground beneath, making it particularly useful in forested or overgrown areas. LIDAR is often paired with drone technology for a more comprehensive aerial survey.

Ground Penetrating System (GPS)

GPS topographical surveys are ideal for large, open areas like quarries, agricultural fields, or wind farms. Vast, soft detail areas can be efficiently mapped using real-time, high-accuracy data from GPS technology. When precise accuracy is needed, these surveys are especially helpful in rural or undeveloped areas.

Hydrographic Survey

A hydrographic survey maps the water’s surface beneath an object. Specialised hydrographic companies solely handle subsea projects.

Usually, a surveyor gathers observations in a small canoe or dingy, but on rare occasions, a remote-controlled boat equipped with sonar conducts a more thorough mapping project.

Techniques to Collect Survey Data

There are a variety of techniques and tools used to collect data during a topographic survey, with each suited to different types of land or project requirements:

Total Station: A total station is a highly accurate sensor that provides millimeter precision and is mainly used in ground-based surveys.

3D Laser Scanner: 3D laser scanners can be mounted on tripods, vehicles, or handheld devices. Tripod-mounted scanners are commonly used for measured building surveys, offering accuracy comparable to a total station while collecting mass data.

Drones: When combined with photogrammetry or LIDAR, UAVs provide a fast and efficient way to capture large-scale site data. These tools can deliver high levels of accuracy even in challenging terrain.

Suggested: Cost of a Topographic Survey

Conclusion

Surveyors, architects, and engineers generally depend heavily on topographic surveys. They accurately depict the ground, can lower project costs, increase safety, locate natural resources, and much more! Additionally, given the variety of survey kinds available, you can choose the topographic survey that best suits your needs to achieve your objectives.

Contact us today to discuss your specific topographic survey needs. Our team provides accurate, reliable services tailored to your project at competitive rates. Let’s work together to ensure your project runs smoothly and efficiently!