You’ve likely encountered a land surveyor if you’ve noticed a person in a bright orange vest carrying around a brightly colored tripod with a strange neon-colored camera on top. Land surveyors are an essential part of the construction process, land development and the legal process, among other things. They come in handy when you’re buying a new house or planning to build a new addition. Others help transform a vacant dirt lot into a thriving shopping center. The job requires expertise with state-of-the-art equipment, in addition to an understanding of complicated processes and years of experience in the field.
Let’s take a closer look at the services generally encompassed through land surveying in Idaho.
Boundary surveys
Boundary surveys are used to determine exactly where a piece of property starts and ends. This type of survey is typically needed anytime you purchase a new home, build an addition, add landscaping features or build a new commercial property. A boundary survey will also rely on previous plats and recorded deeds. Knowing the boundary of the property could save you thousands of dollars in costly legal fees if you were to later discover the construction encroached on a neighboring piece of land.
ALTA/ACSM survey
The American Land Title Association/American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ALTA/ACSM) survey is often required by a lending institution or purchaser. It’s extremely comprehensive and identifies every feature and characteristic of a piece of property. Typically, an ALTA/ACSM is performed to provide a thorough understanding of what exactly a lender or buyer will be working with to help them make a fully informed decision.
Topographic surveys
Topographic surveys identify the contour of the land and any existing features on the property, like buildings, trees or any natural obstructions. A topographic survey is usually required before embarking on new building construction, a road project or other improvements. It may be performed using both aerial photographic technologies and ground field methods.
Construction staking services
A property needs to be staked before construction can even begin. The land surveyor will use stakes to provide reference points for the construction team to ensure complete accuracy. Staking services can be used for buildings, sewer systems, parking lots, highways, bridges and more.
Specialized surveys
Oftentimes, a surveying project will require experienced and specialized knowledge. An experienced surveyor will be very familiar with the area and its features. This familiarity needs to be paired with years of experience in a variety of surveying types. The ideal surveying crew will feature a licensed land surveyor and a surveying technician, in addition to a field crew that specializes in different types of surveying. This is the best way to ensure everything is as accurate and efficient as possible.
Surveying should be an important step in every project, from private residences to major land developments and government agency contracts. One of the expert surveyors at Mason & Associates can help you identify the best survey type for your project. Call us today to learn more about land surveying in Idaho and how we can assist you!