Topographic land surveys are complex measurements of all man-made or natural characteristics of a land property. This typically includes location, size, height, depth, elevations, depressions etc. The terms is derived from topography, which is the study of all shapes and features of a given parcel of land.

Topographic surveys have been initially created to help in the process of world maps’ development. Since world maps were conceived on a very large scale, topographic surveys assisted in the most fine details – describing contours of elevation and other land features that were previously unlisted on maps. Later on, topographic surveys became a useful tool in military and infrastructure applications, where complex land measurements where needed for basecamps and other military facilities building. Topographic surveys are still being used for their primary purpose, which is supporting geographic planning, civil engineering and infrastructure development. They are often used in earth science studies as well.

While in the early days of topographic surveys, measurements were made on print, today surveys are carried out digitally and stored in databases. Digitalizing topography means that, today, the end user, which is you, can access a smart tool to view the topographic survey in a user-friendly format. Think about how you use Google maps – it is more or less the same.

You may have heard of boundary surveys before, which are often mistaken for topographic surveys. However, it is important to know the difference between the two. Boundary surveys consist in horizontal measurements, whereas topographic surveys comprise all land features, and measurements are done on elevation.

As mentioned earlier, a topographic survey will show all existing characteristics of a piece of land, including property and contour lines. In order to carry out a topographic survey, the following instruments are needed:

• a global positioning system unit (GPS) with surveying capabilities
• an electronic distance measurement (EDM) total station theodolite (TST)
• laser scanning equipment

These tools are used to define the totality of the land features and their positioning, and then to describe them in a topographic plan.

A topographic survey’s duration relies on how large the land property is and on the nature of the terrain – meaning how complex its natural and/or man-made features are. The timeframe is usually established before initiating the survey, for both the client’s convenience and the proper project streamlining of the surveying team. Based on that, a surveying timeline is assessed and agreed with the client. This means that additional services or resources may be required to meet the client’s precise needs.

We can go about all known use cases for topographic surveys, but when it comes to the actual needs of the client, which is yourself, here is all you need to know: topographic surveys are here to help you make the right decision regarding your piece of property – from both a functionality and a design perspective.

Whatever your project is, you first need to understand its level, shape, particular features and geo-positioning – all crucial features that determine how your project will be carried out. A topographic survey will provide all that, will determine the limits of your property and will assist you in preventing any architectural or design mishaps that may occur after the project is initiated.
Before you start working with an architect, a designer, or a consulting engineer, you will need an accurate digital layout of your site. This will enable your team of professionals to elaborate and carry out the construction project.

Depending on the nature of your project, a topographic survey can serve various purposes, such as:

• road layouts
• environmental restorations
• land registry submissions
• volumetric calculations
• property development or improvements
• fulfilment of regulatory requirements for construction codes
• repurposing of developed land
• grading or drainage ditches set-up

Depending on the team you choose to work with, topographic surveys can be rendered in different formats. This is also dependent on your specific needs. For instance, if you plan on submitting the survey for land registry, specific scales and outputs will be required for compliance.

In what concerns standard standard purposes, the basic output for topographic surveys are AutoCAD DWG files. 3D data can also be presented in Revit, depending on your preferences and needs.

If understanding the topographic survey of your property is challenging, our team is always ready to assist in walking you through the reading process of the land assessment.

If you are looking to start a project that requires a topographic survey, we are ready to help. We provide end-to-end topographic services for agriculture, warehousing, new builds, shopping centres, private properties, land extensions and more.

A topographic survey: step by step