Whether you know it or not, you’ve likely come across a land surveyor before. You probably spotted them stationed at the side of the road somewhere, wearing a bright safety vest and hardhat and peering through a fancy device atop a tripod. But if you’re like most people, you don’t know exactly what a land surveyor does. To get an idea of what’s involved, keep reading.
What is Land Surveying?
Land surveying is the measurement and mapping of the physical environment using mathematics and specialized technology and equipment. It serves a great number of purposes, including the following:
Defining a land’s legal boundaries when it’s bought, sold or developed
Mapping the topography of land for engineering design
Establishing the elevations of building sites for draining purposes
Creating layouts for buildings, condominiums and other construction projects
Giving advice and information to guide the work of engineers, architects, developers, geologists and other professionals
Land surveyors do jobs of all sizes, from determining where homeowners should build their house or fence to working on major urban developments such as skyscrapers, highways and bridges. How Does a Land Surveyor Measure a Property? You’re probably curious about what that tripod contraption — the land surveyor’s emblematic tool — is for. The device is called a total station or theodolite. It measures angles and distances and has an onboard computer that performs calculations and records data. When out in the field, land surveyors use total stations and other sophisticated technologies, such as aerial and terrestrial scanners, to make computations. Land surveyors also take photos as evidence. But that’s just half the job. The rest is done back at the office, where surveyors use specialized software to map out the site’s measurements. Why do Surveyors Belong to Professional Associations? It’s hugely important that a land surveyor can be counted on to give accurate measurements. The information they provide affects not only the placement of fences but also the construction of buildings, roads, tunnels, bridges and so forth. For this reason, there are professional associations requiring that land surveyors adhere to a code of ethics and that only qualified persons are performing this job. Land Surveyors in Edmonton A land surveyor in Alberta should belong to the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association. For professional property surveying in Edmonton, trust the experts at Alberta Geomatics Inc. We survey commercial, residential and industrial properties, and the work we do encompasses a wide range of applications, including construction, land development, leases, renovations and easements. For more information, reach out to us today.