Imagine trying to build a bridge without understanding the land’s contours or being aware of the surrounding utilities and man-made features. Or planning a new road without knowing how the terrain slopes. Or constructing a high-rise without verifying property boundaries. Without surveying services, these tasks would be next to impossible. Surveying provides engineers with precise data to design safe, efficient, and lasting infrastructure, buildings, and roadways. This data directly impacts communities by ensuring that homes, schools, and public spaces are built where they should be and built with the intent of the Engineers, and roads are constructed with resiliency emphasized. Without accurate surveying, infrastructure failures could disrupt daily life, increase costs, and pose safety risks to residents. The number one charge of Land Surveyors is to protect the public.
It forms the foundation of development projects and directly impacts our daily lives. But why does surveying matter for communities? It ensures that every project, from roads to utilities, is built with precision, safety, and sustainability in mind, ultimately shaping the spaces where we live, work, and connect.
The Benefits of Surveying Services for Communities
Accurate Planning & Design
Surveying delivers precise measurements of land contours, boundaries, and topography, enabling engineers and planners to design projects that are safe, efficient, and cost-effective. Using industry-standard electronic and robotic-assisted equipment, surveyors ensure the accuracy of engineering, design, and permitting documents.
When specific conditions are met and they can add value to a project, advanced tools like unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and LiDAR technology provide high-resolution imagery and a greater volume of data points, enhancing planning and decision-making.
Regulatory Compliance & Risk Reduction
Proper surveying ensures that projects adhere to zoning laws, property boundaries, and environmental regulations, reducing legal disputes and costly errors. The boundary survey process begins with researching historical records, both digital and paper, to identify potential encroachments, gaps, and overlaps between properties.
Field crews then conduct surveys to accurately map easements, rights-of-way, natural features, and property improvements. This information is crucial for projects such as land subdivision, where surveyors assist Engineers by supplying all relevant and current conditions pertaining to the land in order to aid in the creation of certified construction plans for new neighborhoods.
Improved Construction Efficiency
Accurate survey data helps construction teams anticipate site conditions, minimize material waste, and streamline project timelines. Unforeseen site challenges, such as unexpected underground utilities or changing material availability, often necessitate design adjustments in the field. Properly recorded survey data ensures these changes are documented, making future maintenance and infrastructure development more efficient.
Real-World Impact: Surveying in Disaster Recovery
Natural disasters underscore the critical role surveying plays in rebuilding communities. The importance of accurate data and precise mapping becomes even more evident when infrastructure is compromised, requiring swift and reliable solutions.
The importance of surveying was evident in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene when WithersRavenel partnered with NCDOT to assess flood and landslide damage in Western North Carolina. Working on an expedited timeline, Remote Sensing teams were rapidly deployed to survey the affected areas and lay the groundwork for emergency roadway design.
Survey control networks were established in collaboration with other consultants to ensure consistency in NCDOT deliverables. Conventional control and property surveys were conducted along the NC-9 corridor, while our UAS teams used drone-based orthomosaic imagery and LiDAR to map over four miles of affected terrain.
Portfolio: NCDOT Hurricane Helene UAS Response
Challenges were numerous as some roadways had been completely washed away, and access to critical survey points was limited. To overcome these obstacles, surveyors used all-terrain vehicles and drones to reach inaccessible areas, while deploying remote sensing technology to collect data efficiently. Collaborative efforts between field teams and engineers allowed for rapid analysis and adjustment of survey methods, ensuring accurate mapping despite difficult conditions.
Despite these obstacles, the crucial data collected enabled road design and reconstruction to begin swiftly in the hardest-hit areas. Additional LiDAR surveys helped study erosion and hydrology impacts on key water bodies.
Why Surveying Matters
From daily infrastructure projects to emergency disaster recovery, surveying ensures communities remain safe, functional, and prepared for the future. Without it, development would be unreliable, costly, and inefficient. Investing in high-quality surveying services is not just a technical necessity. Surveying is a commitment to building resilient and thriving communities.
Looking for Geomatics & Surveying services for your next project? Contact WithersRavenel’s Practice Area Lead of Geomatics, Richie Tarby, PLS, at 919-238-0375 or rtarby@withersravenel.com.
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