Land surveyors are at the heart of any development project. Unfortunately, most developers do not know when they need land surveying services. Unfortunately, they experience project delays or suffer additional costs after foregoing land surveying services. Below is an excerpt detailing when you need a land surveyor as you develop a property. 

When Purchasing Property  

Land surveying is essential during the conveyancing process. Typically, the land surveyor helps the conveyancer conduct due diligence to establish the following; 

• Does the current property size correspond with the size indicated in the title and lands office? The surveyor's input helps determine the property's boundaries to avoid disputes with neighbours.
• When buying waterfront property, the surveyor marks the riparian land to ensure you do not land into legal disputes with the local council and environmental agencies.
• The land surveyor examines the property to establish the availability of a stormwater drainage system and its susceptibility to flooding and landslides.
• The surveyor identifies easements on the property and explains their implications.
• The surveyor informs you about the viability of subdivision projects, the local subdivision regulations, and cost implications. 

Construction Staking 

Construction staking is an intricate process that actualises the building blueprints on the ground when laying the foundation. Typically, the surveyor lays stakes at the construction site to determine the location of the different structural elements and their dimensions. After staking, the construction team can commence foundation works. There are several reasons why new structures need staking. Usually, architects and engineers use computer programs to develop building blueprints. These programs have a high degree of accuracy and guarantee structural stability when followed to the letter.

However, the construction crew could experience a myriad of challenges when mapping out the various features at the site. For instance, elevations could lead to errors that could affect the building's structural integrity. A wrongly placed pillar, for example, could affect the functionality of the building's interior and weaken the slab. Certifiers could give enforcement orders that compel the contractor to undertake expensive improvements. 

Conversely, a lands surveyor brings in high-tech surveying instruments that help replicate the building's blueprints at the site. Staking also helps project managers identify challenges at an early stage. For instance, the surveyor could inform the team about drainage problems or metaphoric rocks that could present issues once foundation works commence. In this case, the project manager can communicate with architects and engineers and ask them to alter the blueprints to accommodate the challenges at the site.