Surveying 101

Surveying is a method by which all the physical, terrestrial, and cultural details on the Earth’s surface are accurately determined and positioned for establishing maps, boundaries, and usage. It is done by surveyors who use many scientific and mathematical elements to accomplish it.

There are also several types of surveying and the frequently used ones are the Topographical Surveying, Land Surveying, and Underground Utilities Surveying. Apart from this, surveying also requires the proper tools and equipment along with the proper skills for it to be done accurately. To have an understanding of each type and equipment can help the application of the surveying to be in a proper manner that has few or no flaws.

Topographical Surveying is done on the Earth’s Surface to come up with a three-dimensional map. By doing this, natural and man-made geographical features can be determined within an area. Whether miniature or vast, the exact shapes of these features can be shown. To get an accurate Topographical or Topo-Survey, aerial surveying, and land surveying are both necessary.

Land Surveying is basically similar to Topo-Surveying but its main purpose is to determine boundaries for distinguishing different types of properties and ancient or archaeological locations. The third type is the Underground Survey that aims to explore features that are underground or not visible to the eyes. The latter type of Survey is tricky however with the proper surveying equipment it’ll be a success as well as the former two types.

Every surveying equipment pieces can aid in making the actual surveying accurate if the proper one is used. With the advancements in technology, this equipment has also been improved to make the surveying easier and more accurate. One type of equipment is Theodolite that determines elevation or height and it is used for horizontal or vertical angling. Another is the GPS or Global Positioning System equipment that can show the variations of the height and distance between two topographical points by using satellite transmitted signals. The most common of all is the Tripod Equipment that is used on land, although its result may vary depending on several factors.

Knowing the right type of surveying is essential, as well as using the proper surveying equipment to get the most accurate survey results.