A topographic or topographical land survey depicts the height, depth, size, and placement of any manufactured or natural features on a piece of land, as well as any elevation changes or contours. Topographic surveys are concerned with elevation, whereas border surveys are concerned with horizontal measures.
Historical Background of Topographic Surveys
To serve as the foundation for bigger topographic maps, topographic surveys were constructed in series. These surveys, carried out on a massive scale, were designed to illustrate elevations and features that were not mentioned on traditional maps and surveys. The Carte géométrique de la France is the first topographic map series covering an entire country (1789). Following that, topographic surveys were used for military and infrastructure-building purposes. Databases began to take the place of printed topographic maps in the 1980s. By the mid-90s, database builders had integrated the information from those topographic maps with information from other sources to generate what we now perceive as user-friendly tools when we browse maps online. Topographic maps are still useful in today’s world, assisting with geographic planning, earth science research, and civil engineering.
How Are Topographic Surveys Carried Out?
The locations of features indicated on the plan are determined using a surveying-quality global positioning system (GPS) unit and an electronic distance measurement (EDM) total station theodolite (TST). A topographic survey depicts existing features, property lines, and contour lines to show how the land is laid out.
What Are Topographic Surveys and How Do They Work?
Topographic surveys are needed for a variety of reasons, including:
- building and architectural projects
- environmental restoration and property improvements
- meeting regulatory requirements for construction regulations
- grading and drainage ditch recommendations
- when land that was developed for one purpose is being utilized for another
How Much Does It Cost To Conduct A Survey?
First and foremost, when asked how much a land survey or property survey costs and how they differ from a boundary survey or “stake” survey, the answer is that they don’t! They’re all discussing the same thing.
The legal phrase for identifying that the boundaries of a property shall be delineated by locating the property corners as “boundary.” The term “stake” is a layman’s phrase for the “stakes” normally placed at the property corners. However, they are the same thing. When determining how much a land survey will cost, consider that prices vary depending on the project. This is due to the time it will take the Land Surveyor to complete the boundary survey and determine the lot size. Boundary survey crews typically charge between $175 and $250 per hour, depending on the services offered. The easiest method to determine how much a survey will cost is to seek a quote from a local Land Surveyor (like us!).
In the Texas and Colorado areas, the average cost of a boundary survey is between $375 and $600 for 14 acre lots. Several elements can contribute to an increase in the cost of a property line survey that you should think about:
The Size Of The Property
This is most likely the most significant component. The greater the property, the longer it takes to survey. A quarter-acre lot takes around 2-4 hours to survey. It takes around 6-8 hours to survey a 3-acre lot.
Growth and Vegetation
Vegetation is unlikely to be a concern if you reside in a brand new community because all the lots were cleared when the subdivision was set out. However, if you live on a three-acre property with two highly wooded acres, clearing a sightline to get to the back of the land can add several hours to a project.
The Subdivision’s Age
It is more difficult to survey an older property. Finding survey monumentation in an area over 100 years old is far more challenging than finding survey monumentation in a fresh new subdivision where all of the survey monuments have been put recently. Over time, survey monuments are knocked down and removed by mistake. The fewer survey monuments there are, the longer it will take to complete the work required to define the property boundaries.
Urban Or A Rural Setting
To an extent, this is related to the size of the lot. In comparison to rural homes, most urban lots are smaller. The ability to locate survey records, on the other hand, is a significant factor. The enormous farmland holdings in many rural environments have been families for generations and are typically not surveyed. In many places, finding records of previous topo surveys can be difficult, and it takes time and resources.
Topographic surveys depict elevation and land formations and can be used for a variety of purposes. Despite the enormous amount of surveys that must be completed before a project can begin, topographic surveys are critical and must not be disregarded.