How to Ensure the Best Results from Your Utility Survey

When planning any construction or development project, obtaining a high-quality utility survey is crucial to avoid potential risks and delays. To help ensure you get the best value and most accurate data, it’s important to follow a few key steps. Here’s how you can prepare effectively and make the most of your utility survey with South West Surveys.

Allow Adequate Time for the Survey

Whether your project is in the early feasibility phase or already at the detailed design stage, it’s crucial to allocate enough time for the utility survey to be thoroughly completed. While we always strive to deliver results promptly, careful planning and scheduling will help ensure the survey is conducted within your desired timeframes, avoiding potential delays.

Make Sure That Your Survey Requirements Are Defined

To help us respond quickly and provide the most relevant services, it’s essential to have a clearly defined survey scope. This includes your specific requirements and the purpose of the survey. You should also consider whether the survey should adhere to PAS 128 standards, which set out the required quality and methods for detecting, verifying, and mapping buried utilities.

Another key decision is whether the survey should be delivered in 2D or 3D formats. Both options are available, and the right choice depends on the level of detail and the needs of your project. 

At South West Surveys, we ensure that our clients receive accurate, detailed surveys tailored to their specific requirements. Learn more about our BIM surveys and 3D modelling services.

Provide a Redline Site Plan

A clearly marked site plan showing the full area to be surveyed is a vital part of the process. The plan should include any adjacent footpaths, roads, or other areas that may need to be surveyed as part of the project.

In some cases, we may extend our survey beyond the defined redline boundary, particularly if we identify critical service routes nearby. Our extensive experience allows us to anticipate your needs and ensure that no important data is overlooked.

Ensure an Up-to-Date Topographical Survey

An accurate, up-to-date topographical survey is an essential component of any utility survey. If you don’t have access to a current survey, South West Surveys can assist by either conducting a new topographical survey or updating an existing one through a verification survey. This ensures that the utility survey is based on the latest and most accurate site conditions, providing a comprehensive view of the area.

Identify Any Site Constraints

Before we begin the survey, it’s important to identify any potential site constraints that could impede progress. For example, areas overgrown with vegetation, stockpiled materials, or buried obstructions may make it difficult to access parts of the site. Ensuring the site is as clear as possible will help us complete the survey efficiently.

If the survey includes services within roads, we may also need to arrange traffic management. This can be coordinated as part of our service to ensure safety and minimise disruption.

By following these steps and working closely with our team, you can ensure a successful and efficient utility survey that meets your project’s needs.

For more information about our utility surveys or to discuss your project with one of our experts, contact us today!

This post was written by Nick White