Land Surveying & Construction Surveyor Services: Get an RICS Construction Survey

Introduction to a Construction Survey

The UK construction surveying profession plays an important role in developing and upholding our modern society's basic frameworks, especially for architects.

Serving as the literal bedrock for all manner of construction projects—residential, commercial, and monumental—including legal and safety aspects.

So, what is a construction surveyor?

What responsibilities are they undertaking?

Please read on to find the answers to the aforementioned questions.

Historical Context of Construction Surveying

The emergence of surveying can be traced back to the creation of monumentally large projects such as the Great Pyramid of Giza and Stonehenge.

The methods employed during ancient times served as the precursors to contemporary surveying practices. It is thought that the Great Pyramid of Giza was erected using a rudimentary form of surveying that relied on elementary geometry and that involved the use of knotted ropes for performing the most primitive land surveys. Despite its being a very low-tech service, this early form of surveying guaranteed that the pyramid would have a sound premise and that it would be aligned with the four cardinal points, both of which display an incredible degree of accuracy for their time.

At Stonehenge, the stones' placement implies intricate planning and, most likely, surveying. These two ingredients certainly led to the many astronomical alignments found in the structure. In fact, whether by chance or direct design, the sun and moon's paths, along with many of the stars, are visible from inside the henge reference points. The stones in some way govern the paths of these celestial bodies, which must have had huge significance to the people who lived here and built this masterpiece of Neolithic engineering.

The switch to modern digital technology has enormously broadened the talent pool of construction surveyors. With the introduction of new tools, surveyors today are simultaneously more productive and more accurate than we were just a few years ago. Indeed, these measuring devices have evolved so quickly that most of us in this section of the industry can hardly wait to get our hands on the next great thing. What will it mean for the construction industry—both in terms of how we perform our work and how much our work will cost?

If you are interested in the different types of property surveys, visit The Best Guide on Different Types of Property Survey Reports & their Technology: What does a Surveyor Check?

Construction Surveyor in the Building Industry

What is a construction surveyor?

Every UK construction project vitally depends on surveyors in this sector. They have a dual purpose: assuring compliance of the physical part of the construction with legal and regulatory standards, as well as with safety standards. These are often referred to as the specification or "specs."

The work involves very precise physical measurement of land or elevation that has to be placed in a context where many human factors could lead to imprecision.

The first human element is the impracticality of making a great number of very precise measurements when working in the hard terrain that a construction site almost invariably is. 

The second factor is the context in which the placement of the structure has to fit with not only the appearance and functionality of the structure but also with the evaluation of potential risks that could make it unsafe for its inhabitants.

Read What to Expect in a Building Survey Report to understand building surveys better. These are especially relevant if you are buying a house and need to check its condition.

What does an RICS construction surveyor do?

Construction surveyors are specialists integral to numerous activities within a construction project. Here’s a breakdown of some key duties:

• Property Surveys: before any construction begins, this survey involves assessing the site for any applicable defects and environmental concerns (see examples here: RICS Surveys).
• Budgeting and Scheduling: surveyors often help plan the project budget and project schedule so that resources are used efficiently.
• Client Requirements: working closely with clients to understand and integrate their needs into the scope of the project.
• Building Regulation Compliance: ensuring all construction activity 
• complies with building regulations, imperative to project sign-off.
• Insurance & Claims: surveyors conduct assessments of potential liabilities in the preparation of insurance claims.
• Negotiation: chartered surveyors help draft and negotiate contracts with contractors and manage the day-to-day schedule to ensure timely project completion.
• Works Valuation & Payment: Surveyors evaluate the work done to and produce payment certificates to contractors for stage payments to be released.
• Project Monitoring: surveyors analyse the project deliverables and compile detailed reports on successes and areas for improvement.
• Contractual Disputes: surveyors also provide expert advice on any claims or disputes that arise during the construction process, helping to resolve and even make a determination on issues efficiently to maintain project momentum.

If you are interested in finding the right surveyor for your needs, read How Can I Find the Right Surveyor?

The Profession of Construction Surveying & How they Coordinate Different Types of Construction

Coordinate Systems and Their Applications

Construction surveyors often work with vital coordinate systems to maintain accuracy in the construction layout and design:

• Geodetic Coordinates: these are used in large-scale mapping like national surveys and take into account the curvature of the Earth.
• Project-Specific Coordinates: tailored to a construction site to help with planning and project execution.

Chainage and Its Role in Building Infrastructure

Chainage, or stationing, is part of linear infrastructure projects such as roads and railways. It refers to the sequential measurement along a route:

• Plan View: shows the layout from birds-eye view.
• Profile View: depicts vertical alignment and gradient.
• Cross-Section View: displays a slice of the terrain and the structure at specific intervals.

Building Grids and Engineering Grids

• Building Grid: these are used to reference the locations of structures.
• Low Distortion Engineering Grid: used in large-scale projects like city planning where minimising measurement distortion is critical.

Surveying Equipment and Techniques (Need to Know)

Modern construction surveying uses advanced technology to enhance accuracy and efficiency such as the following examples:

• Levels and Theodolites: fundamental for establishing vertical and horizontal alignment.
• Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM): allows for precise distance measurement between points.
• Total Stations: combines the functions of a theodolite and EDM for comprehensive site surveying.
• GNSS Surveying: uses satellites to determine precise locations as necessary for large-scale and open-area mapping.
• Laser Scanning: captures detailed 3D data of structures and terrain, enabling high-resolution maps and models.

The above tools are helpful to construction surveyors, who rely on them to provide accurate and reliable data that forms the backbone of any construction project.

Importance of Survey Stakes in Land Surveying & Construction

Survey stakes play a fundamental role in translating survey data into physical markers on a construction site. Here’s how they are used:

• Alignment Stakes: exist to help line up structures correctly.
• Offset Stakes: placed away from construction zones to indicate the location of underground utilities.
• Grade Stakes: show the vertical position relative to the finished ground level.
• Slope Stakes: #indicate the slope that the graded surface must follow.

These stakes ensure that all aspects of the construction layout adhere to design plans and specifications such that workers maintain precision throughout the project.

Advanced Structural Surveying Techniques in Specific Environments for Land Surveyors

In more specialised environments, such as mining and tunneling, construction surveyors employ other techniques and equipment to advise on unique challenges:

• Mining Surveying: uses robust total stations and control stations to manage and monitor the complex geometries of mining operations. Surveyors ensure that tunnels are driven at the correct angles and that machinery is correctly positioned for safety and efficiency.
• Tunneling: this involves precise alignment techniques to ensure that tunnel bores meet accurately from both ends. Advanced laser technology and geotechnical monitoring are often used here.

These specialised applications demonstrate the adaptability of surveying techniques to meet the demands of varied construction environments, demonstrating how important surveyors are for project success.

Distinction from Land Surveyors

Construction surveying and land surveying, while closely related, serve distinct purposes and follow different regulatory frameworks as follows:

• Land Surveying: determines terrestrial or three-dimensional points of land boundaries, the distances, and angles between them (e.g. topographic surveys). This is helpful to land ownership claims, delineating property boundaries, and therefore legal and real estate transactions.
• Construction Surveying: primarily concerned with the planning and monitoring of construction projects. These surveyors ensure that buildings are built according to design specifications whilst taking into account timing and budgetary concerns, which also involves project management and quantity surveying.

Both fields require a strong understanding of surveying principles and use similar tools in new structures, such as with structural engineering, but the application and legal implications differ significantly, which is why there are different training and certification requirements.

Conclusion on Construction Surveyors

The construction industry could hardly do without the indispensable qualification of a construction surveyor, who strives to make sure that the project not only conforms to specification, on time and on budget, but also meets all the necessary safety and legal standards. The subject matter of this profession encompasses plenty of technology, fieldwork, and regulatory requirements for the assessment of existing buildings and the construction of new structures.

‍