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Topographic Surveying
tə-ˈpä-grə-fē the art or practice of graphic delineation
Topographic surveying is a method used to determine the shape, size, and features of the Earth's surface, both natural and artificial. It involves the collection of spatial data (coordinates) about the elevation, location, and characteristics of the land, and the representation of this data in the form of a topographic plan or a digital terrain model (DTM).
Topographic surveying is the first step in a wide range of applications, including infrastructure or architectural design, land development, floodplain mapping, environmental analysis, and geological studies. It provides valuable information for decision-making processes and helps ensure that projects are planned and executed accurately and efficiently. As the Topographic Survey is the base for all future development, it is important to retain a surveyor who can efficiently provide your exacting requirements.
Ground Surface (DTM)
The primary goal of a topographic survey is to create an accurate representation of the ground surface, including its relief and features such as hills, valleys, slopes, creeks, bodies of water, vegetation, buildings, roads, and other structures. This information is essential for various purposes, including urban planning, engineering design, construction projects, land development, and environmental assessment.
As Built-Environment
In addition to the Ground Surface, Topographic surveys required for modern development include measurement and depiction of all the physical structures and improvements that exist on a site. Everything that can be seen, can be measured.
Underground Services
We sub-contract utility locate companies to provide markings of underground services (gas, electrical, communications, sanitary main, sewer main, hydro), which we incorporate onto Topographic Plans as required.
Our Process:
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The scope and objectives of the survey are considered based on clients requirement. The Area of Interest (AOI), scope of survey (detail/resolution required), coordinate system (horizontal) and datum (vertical) are confirmed with client before proceeding. We also determine what tools should be used, since photogrammetry (drone based) revolutionized the way Our Team collects and manages spatial data.
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The Field Crew collects spatial data using equipment such as total stations, GPS receivers, levels, drones and specialized cameras. They establish control points with known coordinates (northing, easting, elevation) as a reference framework. Measurement of all physical features is either done conventionally (using total station and/or GPS), or with the drone camera using preprogrammed flight paths.
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Once the field data is collected, it is processed, reduced, and organized. This processing work include reducing errors, correcting measurements, and performing various calculations to adjust the surveyed points.
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From this corrected spatial data, a Topographic Plan of Survey is drawn in AutoCAD software, to create an accurate representation of the land surface and the physical objects/improvements thereon. A topographic plan is ‘georeferenced’ in the specified coordinate system, and all points related to ground surface are at the correct geodetic elevation. The correctness of a refined CAD file is critical to its implementation by all stakeholders in a project; The Topographic Survey is typically the starting point to a complex development.
The Topographic Plan of Survey indicates 3D information using various techniques such as contour lines to indicate changes in elevation, as well as symbols and annotations to depict features. A digital terrain model (DTM) is a computerized representation of the land surface that can be used for further analysis and visualization, and can be provided in various file formats such as TXT (point file), QSB (Microsurvey surface format), DXF (Drawing Exchange Format), DWG (AutoCAD native format), etc.
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The project is reviewed in its entirety by an Ontario Land Surveyor, to ensure:
a) It meets or exceeds the clients requirements
b) Everything shown on the plan is correct
c) Nothing has been overlooked
d) It is consistent with the company standards for quality
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Our Team provides the Draft Topographic Plan that includes the results obtained and any relevant observations or recommendations. This report is submitted to the client for review. Any revisions the client requires are made to the plan.
Final Deliverables are provided in formats as requested (PDF, DWG and full-sized prints).
The Future is Today
We are inspired by, and learn from, each and every project.
We are continually adapting and improving our workflows, and strive to provide increasingly valuable deliverables with each project. For example, we’ve decided to include Digital-Orthophotos (georeferenced & high resolution generated from drone-imagery) of the site, with every Topographic Survey a drone flies, to provide contextual photographic information, at no additional charge.
Our Team is constantly learning and improving, as we challenge what is possible. As your needs continue to adapt in this ever-changing technological landscape, we are growing and adopting exciting new tools, software, hardware, workflows and skill-sets - to make the art of collecting and depicting spatial data safer, more efficient and more valuable to the end-user, you!
Frequently Asked Questions about Topographic Surveys
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Your design or engineering firm can leverage topographic surveys to ensure precise planning, design, and construction, minimizing errors and optimizing project outcomes.
This streamlining of design to build reduces overall costs.
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Anything that can be seen, can be measured. Your requirements are our guide, but typical topographic surveys will show any/all of the following:
i. Centreline of Road, Driveways, Trails, Edge of Bush, etcii. Edge of Pavement, Gutter, Curb, Sidewalks, Gravel, Driveways, Interlock, Walkways, etc.
iii. Centreline of Ditches, Swales, etc., Top/Bottom of Slopes, Breaklines in topography, etc.
iv. Elevation of Culverts (Invert/obvert, size, material)
v. Centreline of Creeks, swales, ponds, drainages, Present edge of water (Lake) etc.
vi. Buildings, Cottages, Ancillary structures, Fences, Docks, Decks, Retaining Walls, (any permanent structures), etc.
vii. Aboveground Utilities: Hydro poles/ anchors/ wires, Firehydrants, Water Valves, Catch Basins, Sanitary/Storm/Communication Manholes, Bell/Comm. Pedestals, access covers, Wells, etc.
viii. Contours generated at suitable interval
ix. PINs and geographic information
x. Datum, coordinate system, street names, easements, right of way, etc.
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If required, we can include Boundaries on a Topographic Survey.
As required by Regulations, we will prepare a Plan of Survey, which is signed by an OLS. The Boundaries from the Plan of Survey can be imported into the Topographic Survey and shown as a heavy line to relate the Boundaries to the physical features of the site.
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As each project is entirely unique, we provide a quote based on your specific requirements, free of obligation.
Note sure what you require? Contact us anyway, we are happy to work through your considerations to commission a survey project.
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We believe our clients should not be surprised when they receive the final invoice. That is why all disbursements are included in the quotation. What we estimate, is what we invoice. All the following are included in the quoted fee:
a. Registry Office search (Purchase of PINs, Instruments, Block Maps, Reference Plans)b. Survey Office requests (Fees to purchase other Surveyor’s records/notes/plans/etc.)
c. Iron bars/wood stakes/pins/nails/flagging
d. R.O. Deposit and/or courier fees
e. Prints & other media
f. Vehicle & UTV mobilization
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Yes. We can measure bathymetric information.
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No. Topographic Surveys depict existing physical features, much like a ‘snap-shot’ of the site.
We use a product called a Site Plan, to depict Proposed Construction.
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The answer to this is based on your acceptable level of risk in development. An old survey of any kind can mislead the user, if changes have taken place in the passing years. Development is expensive. Minimizing risk by commissioning a new up-to-date topographic survey is often worth the cost.
Ontario Land Surveyors are covered by Professional Liability Insurance, and governed by the Association of Ontario Land Surveyor (AOLS)’s Code of Ethics and Regulations governing the practice of Land Surveying. We are professionals in all activities of our practice, including Topographic Surveying. More importantly, we are responsible for all information provided to our clients. This assurance is critical to project stakeholders who rely on an OLSs information, but is only applicable to new surveys, not historic information.
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Elevations we show of hard surfaces on any Topographic Survey we prepare are less than 2 cm from their true value.
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Contact us to find out more how we can cut time and costs in your extraction or construction process.
Our in-house workflow with our company drone and software is ready to go to work for your operation.
One flight over your site; We will have obtained all the information we need to answer any question, such as:
Suitable locations for engineering design / drainage / crop management / topographic planning etc. (farms / golf courses / roads / construction sites / etc.)
Modelling / Volumes & Surfaces (quarries / stockpiles / open excavations / cut + fill, etc.)
Construction Applications / Quantities: (Stockpiles, Quantities extracted from original ground, Quantity required to Fill terrain, etc.)
Quality Assurance
Any survey data that is provided from us carries quality assurances as to the accuracy, precision and correctness of the information. Everything we do is protected by professional and general liability insurance policies (including the drone’s flight).
Quality Control
Data can be provided in typical file formats such as .dwg, .dxf, .pdf, .ply, .txt, 2d/3d contours, volume quantities, etc.
A topographic survey enables accurate volume calculations for earthwork and excavation projects, minimizing errors and optimizing resource allocation.
Inquire today. We’re excited to share these innovations with your operation.
Questions before getting started?
“Great people. Thank you for great help in my project.”
— UPEN SINGH, CLIENT
