Use surveyors tools

This type of survey requires staking out structures located on the property, including walls, buildings, roads, and utilities. Staking provides construction personnel with directions for implementing the improvements shown on the development plans. A construction survey may also involve both horizontal and vertical grading in addition to an As-Built survey.

Similar to a boundary survey, a location survey provides additional information on the location of interior improvements. This type of survey is most commonly used to fulfill the requirements of a zoning permit or loan application.

Often a requirement for development permit applications, a site planning survey combines the elements of boundary and topographic surveys for site planning.

This survey is used to plan design improvements and developments before construction begins. A subdivision survey is used to divide a parcel of land into smaller tracts, lots, or estates.

This type of survey is also used to design streets and drainages, and it must be recorded by the local and state government agency. There is a variety of tools that can be used to take measurements including tapes, rulers , chains, and laser devices. Pocket tapes are ideal for small-scale measurements while measuring wheels , nylon coated steel tapes Nyclad tapes , and fiberglass tape measures can be used for larger distances. View Laser Technology, Inc. A compass is an essential piece of equipment when surveying in unfamiliar territory, backcountry, or just orienting your position on a map.

Compasses can be used to measure distances between two points while clinometers are used to measure the angle or elevation of slopes.

These tools are used to measure both horizontal and vertical angles. Both tools have a minimum accuracy of one minute of angle, though the theodolite is generally recognized as the more accurate of the two, measuring angles to an accuracy of one-tenth of a second angle.

A level can be used to read an elevation and determine differences in elevation between two points. These tools can be handheld, optical or digital, and are typically used in conjunction with level rods or tripods.

While the purpose of the two is similar, as a general rule a theodolite is more accurate than a transit. However, there is no specific rule as to when one definition ends and the other begins. Generally, these instruments have a minimum accuracy of one minute of angle and some very precise theodolites will measure angles to an accuracy of one-tenth of a second of angle. To put these accuracies into perspective, at a distance of one mile, one minute of angle covers about 1.

At a distance of one mile, one-tenth of a second of angle covers about 0. Levels fall into three broad categories: a "dumpy" level, a "Wye" or 'Y' level, and "automatic" level.

As with all tools of the surveyor, there are various degrees of accuracy within each category of level. A "dumpy" level has a telescope with cross hairs permanently mounted in a pair of arms. A "Wye level has a telescope with cross hairs that is removable from the arms. An "automatic" level is basically a dumpy level, but it has a built in compensator that automatically adjusts for minor errors in the set up of the instrument.

In conjunction with a level, the surveyor will use a "level rod" to read an elevation up or down from the level of the telescope.

From these observations, a surveyor can determine differences in elevation of different points or transfer an elevation from one location to a distant location.