Topographic Surveys
A topographic survey is the precise snapshot of your land as it exists today—ground elevations, natural features, and man-made improvements captured in a single, readable map. Instead of focusing on who owns what, a “topo” focuses on how the site behaves: where water wants to flow, how steep or gentle the grades are, and what’s sitting on the surface that might influence design. We locate spot elevations, breaklines, contours, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, walls, fences, tree lines, utility structures, visible pipes and manholes, driveways, building corners, and more. The finished product is a scaled base map that architects, engineers, and contractors can use immediately for civil design, drainage planning, grading, and permits.
Design, Permits, And Risk Control
A current topographic survey eliminates guesswork by showing the true conditions that will shape stormwater plans, driveway tie-ins, cut-and-fill estimates, ADA slopes, and utility conflicts. If grades are wrong on the base map, the earthwork numbers will be wrong, and costs can snowball on site. Municipal reviewers also rely on topo data to verify compliance with drainage and access standards, so an outdated map can slow permits or force redesigns. For property owners, a topo helps answer practical questions up front: Will water pond in the low corner after a new patio? Do we have enough fall for the gravity sewer? Where should the swale run to avoid the neighbor’s fence? The survey pays for itself by reducing change orders, construction surprises, and schedule slips.
Different Kinds Of Topographic Surveys
Topographic work is adaptable to the project’s stakes, size, and terrain. A Design Topographic Survey supports site planning for homes, additions, subdivisions, and commercial sites, typically with 1-foot (or tighter) contour intervals and dense spot shots around critical tie-in points. An As-Built/Record Topographic Survey documents post-construction grades, ADA slopes, and elevations to confirm compliance or close out permits. A Boundary + Topographic Combination overlays ownership lines on the topo base so designers can see setbacks and easements in the same drawing. For larger sites, UAV/Drone Mapping or LiDAR-assisted Topographic Surveys can efficiently capture broad areas and deliver a detailed surface model that’s refined by targeted ground shots. In water-adjacent areas, Hydrographic Cross-Sections or shoreline profiles help model flow and erosion. And when utilities matter, a Utility-Focused Topographic Survey catalogs visible structures and collaborates with utility locators to depict known subsurface runs for clash detection.
From Records To Deliverables
Every project starts with listening. We clarify your scope, accuracy needs, preferred contour interval, coordinate system, and deliverable format (DWG, DGN, PDF, or GIS files). Then we research available plats, prior surveys, right-of-way maps, and benchmarks to establish horizontal and vertical control. In the field, our crew uses total stations and GNSS to collect dense, reliable data—tightening around critical features like building corners, curb returns, driveway aprons, and drainage swales. We capture breaklines so the surface model behaves realistically, record tree sizes where specified, and note visible utilities, lids, grates, invert shots when accessible, and overhead clearances when relevant. You receive a clean, layered drawing with legends, notes, and control information, along with a clear explanation of what the data means for your design timeline.
Clarity, Coordination, Confidence
We believe precision should feel personal and practical. You’ll get responsive scheduling, transparent pricing, and consistent communication from a team that coordinates seamlessly with architects, civil engineers, landscape designers, and contractors. Our maps are legible, our layers are organized, and our surfaces hold up when models move downstream to grading and drainage software. Need a quick revision to reflect new curb alignments? We turn updates fast because we build our data right the first time. We can combine scopes to reduce mobilizations and keep budgets aligned. Whether you’re planning a custom home, a commercial redevelopment, or a municipal improvement, we deliver topographic surveys that help projects move—from concept to permit to construction—without surprises.