Role of Land Surveyors in Surveying Lands in Los Angeles

Cartographers are skilled at mapping the earth, but they don’t necessarily pay attention to precise and exact boundaries. Surveyors, on the other hand, collect exact measurements of the earth, marking boundaries particularly in areas where people may have vested interest. It is a land surveyor’s duty not only to measure properties purchased or sold, but also to locate roads, buildings, utilities, and other such land structures or features for real estate developers, as well as to measure the exact limits or extents of mining claims, while mapping their precise locations on the map. Without them, land ownership, development, and construction would turn to chaos. Surveyors play an enormously important role to the public.

Engineering projects are much like puzzles, the design and planning of which are largely based upon the different surveying instruments land surveyors use. The construction of buildings and other establishments and structures such as bridges, highways, dams, and tunnels, require properly surveyed areas. Without professionally calculated and evaluated measurements, engineers, designers, and constructions would not know how each piece of the puzzle fits together. Execution of projects also rely greatly on the lines, points, and boundaries that are established through land surveying.

This said, land surveying in Los Angeles is a basic requirement for all building projects and surveyors are typically expected to:

• Collect accurate field data
• Prepare maps or plans of the surveyed area (either an orthographic or a graphical representation of the features or structures on or close to the surface of the earth
• Analyze and calculate field parameters for setting out actual engineering, design, or construction works and operations
• Set out field parameters on site for additional or further works
• Fix property boundaries and establish control points
• Ascertain specific locations of earth or property features
• Write legal description of parcels; and
• Delineate boundaries of interest according to their on-site survey and the records available in land offices

Source URL: http://www.calvadasurveying.com/blog/role-of-land-surveyors-in-surveying-lands-in-los-angeles/

The Functions of Residential Property Survey Performed by Land Surveyors

Residential property surveys are conducted to create a map of the property and its boundaries. They reveal the location of the fence and house, and other structures on the property, like a shed or a fence. The residential property survey is typically conducted prior to purchasing or selling a home. It is conducted if you are planning to build a new structure on your land or expand your house, too. Likewise, you need to hire land surveyors to conduct this survey if you want to install a new fence. That way, you can be sure that you are building everything within your property boundaries and avoid going beyond them.

In a residential property survey, land surveyors measure the boundaries of the parcel of land. Hence, it is also referred to as the ‘boundary survey’. It may seem easy at first, but the survey involves a complicated process that goes beyond merely calculating property boundaries. In fact, a residential property survey includes research and analysis of the land, and determining the boundaries and plot of the property. Before they start, land surveyors look up previous surveys, which may have been conducted years ago. Results of previous surveys may influence present land and survey conclusions.

Homeowners may order a residential property survey if they are facing a lawsuit involving dubious lands or if someone has encroached on their property. Only certified and experienced land surveyors can prove the existence or absence of discrepancies between the boundary lines of your neighbor and your property. Hence, they can serve as credible witnesses in court, too. Likewise, a residential property survey may be ordered if you want to know all the conditions that are reflected in the title report and other crucial agreements. For instance, if your property is blocking a neighbor’s access to the main road, an old agreement may give your neighbor to pass through your yard to get to the street.

Source URL: http://www.calvadasurveying.com/blog/the-functions-of-residential-property-survey-performed-by-land-surveyors/

3D Laser Scanning Services and Their Uses

High-definition surveying is recommended for faster and accurate results, especially for applications where mistakes and data inaccuracy could mean unpleasant and costly results. 3D laser scanning is among the most advanced and updated among high definition land surveying methods. This HD survey technique is used by builders, project developers, and architects to obtain crucial data on land that is already being used or constructed and needs further examination for destruction, remodeling, or renovation.

One of the benefits of 3D laser scanning is that it is non-destructive and non-contact. It takes digital images of the shape of a physical object using a line of laser, then loading the exact shape and size of that object into a computer as a three-dimensional image. The technology lets you view the finest details. It can capture any free-form shape, too, making it ideally suitable for measuring and inspecting complex geometries and contoured surfaces.

HD 3D laser scanning involves a versatile state-of-the-art scanning system that is fast and accurate. It works together with high-end software used for viewing the scanned images in panoramic view. The software can quickly and easily display the markups and other crucial measurements, too. The scanner takes photo realistic 360 x 320-degree panoramic scans, too, so surveyors have more precise and exclusive 3D images for reference.

A 3D HD survey can be applied to different applications, such as the following:

1. Damage and condition assessment
2. Creation or updating of as-built documentation
3. 3D semi-automated modeling
4. Clash/interference checking
5. Weld peaking reports
6. Deformation analysis
7. Tank/vessel volume information 

The technology behind 3D laser scanning services make them versatile for other applications, too, including the creation of 2D plans and data exchange with CAD platforms. The survey can provide comprehensive 3D CAD models quickly and precisely from point clouds, thus, saving you time and effort. The service is applicable on any project's developmental phase, such as the planning and initiation phase, upgrading phase, and at the end of the project.

3D Laser Scanning Services More Realistic Approach to Surveying

3D laser scanning has without a doubt revolutionized land surveying, among many other fields and industries. The latest in laser scanning technologies, techniques, and methodologies enable survey professionals help clients plan and execute projects in the most efficient manner while enabling customers to analyze every component and feature of facilities and sites. The many advanced capabilities of 3D lasers and equipment help ensure the accuracy of data gathered and, in turn, allow surveyors make sound recommendations on which critical decisions about property development can be based upon. Sound data collection and survey accuracy are important keys to the success of projects during all stages of the process, from planning all the way through to completion.

There are many benefits to using 3D laser scanning technology for survey applications, among the most notable of which is the faster completion and shorter field time. In the past, field surveys would usually take several days to a few weeks to complete. Today’s 3D technology, however, speeds up the entire process, cutting down several days to a week’s worth of survey work to just one day of scanning. Additionally, 3D laser scanning allows for the creation of complete fly-throughs, detailed animations, and 3D models in no time.

Because field time is cut down significantly, laser scanning also allows for reduced project costs. This is also largely because of the increased efficiency and accuracy of surveys, which means less room for mistakes and errors that often require re-scanning of the space. Data accuracy also provides you with a solid knowledge base that enables better planning of projects. An extremely versatile tool, 3D laser scanner technologies also find great applications outside of land surveying and can be used for all kinds of survey tasks from budgetary and timeline preparation to historical preservation, change detection, accident reconstruction, hazard surveying, and a lot more.

High Definition Laser Surveying - Its Uses and Applications

High definition laser scanning is being used in surveying since 1998. Laser scanning, a comparatively new technology, is being used as a precise survey instrument these days and has made the concept of high definition laser surveying popular. Laser surveying is rapidly becoming the new industry standard as a tool for making extremely accurate measurements in relatively complex environments. This is exactly why the use of this laser technology is the most prudent solution when it comes to measuring as-built conditions inside buildings. This instrument can collect survey data points at an incredibly fast pace.

Use of high definition scanning or 3D laser scanning in surveying is going to become the norm very soon.

This technology can be used for:

a.            Detailed Measurements

b.            Historical Preservation

c.            Construction Progress

d.            Surveying difficult-to-access areas

e.            Digital 3D Photos

f.             Record Exact Data

g.            Reduce Site Visits

h.            Changes View to Real-Time 3D

i.              Video of Surveys

j.             JPG and MP3 Files

Uses of the Laser Technology:

i.              Volumetrics

ii.             Accident Reconstruction

iii.            As-Built

iv.           Change Detection

v.            Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing As-Builts

vi.           Structural As-Builts

vii.          Hazard Surveying

viii.         Catastrophic Event Mapping

ix.           Registered Photo Video Co-ordinates

This high-definition laser technology produces accurate final survey documents. 

Boundary Surveying Is A Serious Legal Concern About The Property

Boundary surveying is a crucial legal concern about the property as it allows one to see the exact boundary of what they own or what they are buying or selling. Boundary surveying determines if there is any unknown easement for utilities like power lines, water, drainage ways, sewer etc. on the property. 

Boundary surveys clearly identify encroachments like buildings, fences or driveways on the property itself or trespassing any of the boundary lines. These encroachments tend to become permanent when one does not handle these quickly. A boundary survey and drawing provides one with the correct property measurements and the exact locations of structures like houses and barns, driveways, or fences related to the property boundary lines. Boundary surveying also determines whether the property is in a floodplain and whether the owner needs to get flood insurance. 

Boundary surveying can provide markings along the property lines which allow one to build a fence on their property boundary line in the right location so that they do not encroach on any other property or unnecessarily leave extra space between the boundary line and the fence.  

Boundary surveying is the primary step when it comes to subdivide a property among family members. 

Alta Surveys Are The Most Detailed Type Of Survey You Can Obtain

ALTA (the American Land Title Association) and ACSM (the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping) have together developed land surveying standards with the objective of promoting consistency in survey information.

ALTA or ACSM land surveying is the process of the boundary survey made to a fixed set of minimum standards which have been created and adopted together by the ALTA/ACSM. Moreover, an ALTA survey displays easements, improvements, rights-of-way and few other elements that impact land ownership.  

An ALTA survey is usually done for commercial properties as it provides the title company with the information needed for insuring the title to the land and making high degree improvements that any commercial development might require.

Over and above the minimum standards that have been set forth, a table containing optional elements is added in the ACSM or ALTA standards. A meticulous review of the elements from this optional table helps in delineating a crystal clear scope of the services of the land surveyor.

If any encroachment is discovered by the survey, it ought to be displayed graphically along with a note that indicates the nature of the encroachment. The certification language of an ALTA land title survey should include names of the affected parties like “buyer”, “seller”, “lender”, and “title company”.