Accurate surveying is the cornerstone of any successful project. Whether you’re defining property boundaries or planning new developments, survey data plays a critical role throughout the construction process of almost any project, from a new office building to a suburb development or even to the construction of a new home. Designers, architects, and planners rely on surveys to shape building layouts and property lots, while landscapers use them to plan outdoor spaces, and community planners depend on surveys to map utilities, roads, and services. Precise survey data ensures that every development or construction project aligns with property ownership rights, laws, and regulations.
Surveys are conducted in various ways to gather different types of information. We offer select surveying services at McNeil Engineering to meet our client’s needs. Our services are designed to provide our clients with reliable and detailed information for their projects.
McNeil Engineering survey services
- ALTA/NSPS land title surveys: This detailed survey is used in real estate transactions to accurately map property boundaries, easements, encroachments, and other features that could affect ownership or development. Typically, for this type of survey, we will scour historical and community property records for boundary verifications, identification of easements and encroachments, and additional property details such as flood zones, building setbacks, and utility connections. We prepare our report with precise measurements using advanced equipment and include legal descriptions and certifications of accuracy. This survey ensures the property complies with legal standards and is clear of potential issues before a real estate transaction.
- Topographic and utility surveys: These surveys map the physical features of a site, including elevation, contours, and existing structures on the site. Using specialized tools like GPS, total stations, and laser scanning to capture precise data, we create maps with contour lines to depict the land’s natural features and any utilities on the property. This type of survey is helpful for land development, construction planning, and environmental assessments.
- Route and boundary surveys: We usually prepare this survey for projects involving infrastructure, land development, or property boundary clarification, where we would have to work with the local community or lawmakers to identify property lines. Using the information from this survey report, we determine rights-of-way for roads, pipelines, and utilities. This type of survey is also used to resolve property disputes, acquire easements, or conduct environmental or regulatory assessments.
- Construction Staking: This service involves transferring the design plans for a project from paper to the field. Utilizing our precise survey measurements, we stake out markers to define building outlines, evacuation limits and other project elements for a construction project.
- Geographic information system (GIS) data acquisition: We utilize GPS, remote sensing, and LiDAR to capture precise spatial data for enhanced planning. With this data, we can create digital maps, 3D layouts, and a database of spatial measurements for our client’s needs.
- Cadastral and retracement surveys: For properties with an extensive history or new developments, we analyze legal descriptions, historical records, and field measurements to determine the precise property lines. These surveys often resolve boundary disputes, update property records, and ensure accurate legal descriptions for real estate transactions.
- Subdivision and condo plats: We also offer specialized survey services for new subdivisions or condo plats. For subdivisions, this process involves defining property boundaries and ownership and then dividing the land into smaller parcels, detailing each lot’s location, size, and boundaries. We outline individual unit boundaries and common areas for ownership and management of condo plats. Local government authorities must approve both types of plats before development can proceed.
Employee spotlight: John L. Riddle
The entire survey team at McNeil Engineering is ready to assist you with any of our survey needs. Instead of highlighting a specific project in this blog, we thought we’d share a bit about one of our survey team members from our spring 2024 newsletter, John L. Riddle.
John began his career in surveying with a summer job and developed a passion for the process. Over the years, he built his career with several firms before starting his own survey business. He joined our team recently and shares that his favorite part of surveying is “when you have a project that has been very difficult or complicated to figure out, and then BAM, you finally get all the pieces figured out.” His favorite type of surveying is the staking process because he enjoys the fast-paced environment of the job site and being outdoors. We’re grateful to have a team member like John in our survey department and for all his work delivering exceptional client results.
Choose McNeil Engineering for your survey needs
No matter your needs, our survey team is here to help. We offer a wide range of surveying services to meet the needs of real estate developers, contractors, and other industry professionals. Whether you need an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey, Topographic and Utility Survey, or any other type of survey, we provide the detailed, accurate information you need to make informed decisions for your project. Each survey team member has a passion for surveying and extensive experience and knowledge that allows us to deliver the reliable data our clients need. Contact us for our surveying services if you’re planning a new project and need accurate survey reports and data.
