Construction Surveyor

The Construction surveyors carryout measurements and advise engineers, architects, contractors and other associated professionals, during all stages of construction projects. Thus the construction surveyor takes an important role on construction of bridges, houses, skyscrapers, underground tunnels, pipelines, utility networks, refineries, shopping centers, and offshore oil rigs and the list is endless.As we know, the construction surveyors have to get involved at various stages of a project. In most of these projects, the construction surveyor has to get involved at the initial stage of the job. They are responsible for verifying the accuracy of construction when any structure is being built or subject to modification. Once the construction job is completed, they check the construction to ensure whether work is completed in line with the original plans and local authority requirements.

The important attribute of a construction survey is the attention to detail as major construction projects require a great deal of accuracy or precision. In essence, on a bridge construction, surveyor ensure that the bridge is built as per the original alignment and correct position across the river. If a measurement error on the span can result in a significant deviation leading to costly remedial measures. By the same token, the same accuracy or precision is needed when dealing with underground pipelines, underground construction for train tunnels, and in mining. The Surveyors who work in underground construction have to ensure that tunnels are constructed according to the correct alignment. In other words, the tunnels should begin and terminate at the exact locations.

The construction surveyors have to ensure extreme precision when constructing a refinery or a factory. For example, a refinery has a complex network of pipelines confined to a limited space, having little room for deviations. As such, when a new pipeline has to be added, the construction surveyor has to initially make accurate measurements and recommendation as to where the new pipeline can be located without damaging the adjacent structures.

In addition to above, the construction surveyors get directly involved in large housing projects, business office parks, and shopping and town centers. The construction surveyors’ work seems exciting and they find great satisfaction and pride in getting involved on a project from the bare land to final completion of the structure.

Construction surveyors are is generally specialized technicians. Compared to land surveyors, the plans ( prepared by Construction Surveyors) do not have legal status, those are mainly used for the construction purpose.

The Construction surveyors carryout the following tasks:

• Survey existing conditions of a proposed work site. Which including topography survey, identification of existing buildings and infrastructure, and locating if there are any underground infrastructure such as power cables, sewer pipelines, storm water drains etc.
• Guiding the new construction work (roads and buildings) through lay-out or setting-out, stake outs or establishment of reference points and markers.
• Verification of the location of structures during the construction phases;
• Preparation of as-built plans or surveying plans in order ascertain that completed work is as per the exact specifications indicated in the plans.

In major construction work, reputed Construction Surveyor firms are being employed on the construction surveying. On the other hand, many construction companies have their own in house construction surveyors or technicians. In essence, there are many advantages in obtaining the services of external Construction Surveying Firm, because the work can be independently verified by the client without any biases.