Civil engineering plays a pivotal role in almost everything that keeps a country functioning, from designing homes and office buildings to constructing roads, bridges, and warehouses.
Planning for such endeavors plays a crucial part in the success of any construction job – and one fundamental component of that planning process is surveying.
Why surveys are so important for project success
Surveying is an essential element of civil engineering work because it allows management teams to plan, design, and construct their projects. Traditional surveying typically involved measuring and mapping terrain and determining distances between points on a project site. However, as the integration with technology and computers has continued to increase, so the level and sophistication of surveying has become greater.
Below are just a few reasons how and why surveying has become such an integral and important part of today’s civil engineering projects.
Site mapping and planning
Mapping is one of the first considerations in any building project and allows engineers to study the project site in-depth by providing accurate information on topography, existing structures, etc. This data is of critical importance as it helps identify possible obstacles while also letting project managers develop site plans and design features that are compatible with the site in question. For example, it can help determine the placement of buildings, roads, associated utilities, drainage systems, etc. Also, surveying can be used to enhance existing builds, e.g., for intersection improvement services or adding new buildings, etc.
Construction layout
Construction layout is a fundamental aspect of any project and helps determine the location of infrastructure, buildings, foundations, etc. This element of a construction project is vital so that teams can manufacture the components of an overall build according to design plans. Without a defined construction layout, projects can run into all manner of problems ranging from alignment/elevation issues to the wrong placement of elements – all of which can have a detrimental effect on the Return on Investment (ROI) or lead to delays, cancellations, etc.
Geographic data
As mentioned above, computers and tech have become an increasingly important part of today’s more ambitious design projects, and the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has vastly improved build precision, increasing the chances of project success. Project teams attain comprehensive site analysis and visualizations by combining physical surveys with geospatial records such as satellite data, aerial imaging/video (typically using a drone), and digital maps. This greatly expands their understanding of a site and can help optimize design solutions.
A tool to help monitor progress and assure quality control
Surveying isn’t just a useful tool at the start of a project – rather, it can also be used to keep a keen eyeon the progress of a job and monitor the quality of its construction. A construction team can compare their progress with the original design plans through regular surveying and quickly identify any problems, deviations, or discrepancies. Should any issues arise, the engineers can take immediate action to save jobs going in the wrong direction.
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