Site surveys
Site surveys are detailed studies carried out to supplement and verify site information provided by the client and site appraisals carried out by the consultant team.
They may begin with a simple walkover survey and then progress to more detailed surveys focusing on specific issues.
Site surveys might be carried out by members of the consultant team if they have the required skills, or might be commissioned from specialists. The consultant team should assess what surveys are required (generally after initial feasibility studies have been carried out), and request approval from the client to commission those surveys or carry them out themselves.
Site surveys might include:
- Existing buildings (including valuation, measured surveys, structural surveys, structural investigations, condition surveys, and demolition surveys).
- Geological and geotechnical.
- Topographical surveys, perhaps including laser scanning, Lidar or photogrammetry.
- Contamination.
- Ecological survey.
- Archaeological (see Archaeology).
- Traffic and transport.
- Local climate.
- Flood risk.
- Air quality.
- Acoustic.
- Photographic.
- Historic use.
- Boundary surveys.
- Structural surveys (including retained structures, underground structures and obstructions).
- Unexploded bomb survey.
- Railway and tunnel search.
- Asbestos and other hazardous materials surveys and registers.
- Fire hydrants.
- Telecommunications.
- Wireless networks and satellite reception.
- Electrical infrastructure and capacity.
- Gas network infrastructure and capacity.
- Foul sewers and drains infrastructure and capacity.
- Existing water supply infrastructure and capacity.
- Soil survey.
Wherever possible, any information prepared or obtained should be in a format which can be readily shared and used, and should be stored and named in a way consistent with the long-term project and operational needs.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- 3D laser survey.
- Archaeology and construction.
- Building People.
- Building survey.
- Condition survey.
- Desk study.
- Development appraisal.
- Easements.
- Ecological survey.
- Environmental Impact Assessment.
- EWS1 forms not required for buildings without cladding.
- Ground conditions.
- Ground investigation.
- Interferometric synthetic aperture radar InSAR.
- Interview with Elly Ball, co-founder, Get Kids into Survey.
- Land surveying.
- Laser scanning.
- Levelling.
- Measurement of existing buildings.
- Pre-construction information.
- RICS publishes Land Measurement for Planning and Development Purposes.
- Site appraisals.
- Soil survey.
- Surveying instruments.
- Surveyor.
- Technical due diligence.
- Vendor survey.
- Walkover survey.
- What is a valuer?
Featured articles and news
Twas the site before Christmas...
A rhyme for the industry and a thankyou to our supporters.
Plumbing and heating systems in schools
New apprentice pay rates coming into effect in the new year
Addressing the impact of recent national minimum wage changes.
EBSSA support for the new industry competence structure
The Engineering and Building Services Skills Authority, in working group 2.
Notes from BSRIA Sustainable Futures briefing
From carbon down to the all important customer: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living.
Principal Designer: A New Opportunity for Architects
ACA launches a Principal Designer Register for architects.
A new government plan for housing and nature recovery
Exploring a new housing and infrastructure nature recovery framework.
Leveraging technology to enhance prospects for students
A case study on the significance of the Autodesk Revit certification.
Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance
Announced during commons debate on the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report.
CIAT responds to the updated National Planning Policy Framework
With key changes in the revised NPPF outlined.
Councils and communities highlighted for delivery of common-sense housing in planning overhaul
As government follows up with mandatory housing targets.
CIOB photographic competition final images revealed
Art of Building produces stunning images for another year.
HSE prosecutes company for putting workers at risk
Roofing company fined and its director sentenced.
Strategic restructure to transform industry competence
EBSSA becomes part of a new industry competence structure.
Major overhaul of planning committees proposed by government
Planning decisions set to be fast-tracked to tackle the housing crisis.
Industry Competence Steering Group restructure
ICSG transitions to the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) under the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
Principal Contractor Competency Certification Scheme
CIOB PCCCS competence framework for Principal Contractors.
The CIAT Principal Designer register
Issues explained via a series of FAQs.