Construction site surveying and aerial surveying services for construction projects of all types and scales

 

Construction surveying, also known as engineering surveying, entails the placement of markers and reference points, such as roads or buildings, to guide contractors in initiating new construction projects. These markers are strategically arranged based on a coordinate system. The construction site surveying team typically conducts land surveys and existing conditions surveys according to geodesic coordinates. The process starts with a topographic survey of the construction site, existing buildings, and underground infrastructure. Measurements are made for reference points which help in determining the location of the planned structure or improvements.  

 

Site surveying requires conducting site visits, and understanding the environment of the area. Depending on the situation, two types of construction site surveying methods are used – predictive and active surveys. Predictive surveys use software models to predict coverage, while active surveys are conducted in real-world conditions. From initial phases of planning and design to actual construction, construction site surveying is used throughout the process, to ensure that the project is completed safely, and in accordance with specifications. Surveys can detect changes in elevation that have to be addressed, like trees and rocks.  

 

3D model of existing environmental features  

Site surveying by experts like Aussie Hydro-Vac Services can help the project managers in many ways. It can add more value to the pre-construction planning stage, and helps mitigate the risk of potential regulatory enforcement actions. Construction site surveying team collects data which is used to construct a 3D model of the existing environmental features and objects. 3D scanning is ideal for analysing, planning, and designing retrofit projects as it shows elements and measurements of buildings, utilities, and structural objects. Surveys can also identify emerging issues and safety hazards. Contractors can compare finalised design with the current one, and ensure that major construction milestones are being met.  

 

Land surveying for planned work site 

Land survey is an important part of construction site surveying as it records all vital features and measurements that further help in construction projects. It is beneficial to conduct construction site surveying before the start of construction with the help of professional surveyors, such as the ones available with Aussie Hydro-Vac Services, as vertical references for columns and walls can be easily set up. Project managers can mark the area for drainage, sewerage, curb level, and more. The survey ensures the land designated for construction is free from obstructions, such as uneven terrain and slopes. It assesses the current conditions of the planned work site, including terrain and, when possible, subterranean infrastructure like sewer diameters. An as-built survey at the project's conclusion ensures adherence to specifications and reveals any modifications made during construction.

 

Aerial surveying for construction projects  

Aerial surveying, also known as photogrammetry, is used to survey the land for construction projects, highways, etc. The process starts by collecting high altitude pictures using a drone or a plane. Though photogrammetric measurements can be taken with the help of terrestrial photographs, combining these with aerial photographs provides the most reliable basis for measurements to project managers. Aerial surveying allows project managers to triangulate photographed locations, and create 3D images. As in a ground survey, a framework of identified points is needed to carry out a detailed mapping from air. Photographs are usually taken by vertically aligned camera in a series of strips. 

 

Drone aerial surveying with high-resolution aerial photographs 

Drone aerial surveying uses high-resolution aerial photographs, that provide a detailed, bird’s eye view of the surroundings. The technique helps in identifying potential hazards and environmental issues more quickly. This fast and cost-effective method of aerial surveying gathers information from a large geographic area. Drones provide an accurate and detailed picture of the landscape as they can capture data in real-time, eliminating post-processing manual analysis or expensive software processing. For accurate contours at scale, a more sophisticated approach is taken by Aussie Hydro-Vac Services’ aerial surveying team, which provides heights as well as positions of all features employed to establish the framework.   

 

Drones used in aerial surveying by Aussie Hydro-Vac Services make use of downward-facing sensors with multispectral and RGB cameras to capture images. Many drones also feature LIDAR payloads to collect a detailed amount of data. Drones may use Geographic Information System (GSI) for collecting data, but it may also use other collection tools. Many drones have multirotors that are easier to fly, but fixed-wing models may be more effective if the area spanning over a few hundred acres needs to be surveyed at a time. Aussie Hydro-Vac Services can be contacted for other related services related to construction projects, like non-destructive digging, CCTV inspection, industrial cleaning and shutdown, emergency response and spills, non-destructive digging, and more.