Land surveyor carrying out an integrated total station and RTK GPS topographical survey

Land Surveying Services – mapping the world in 2d & 3d

Land surveyor carrying out an integrated total station and RTK GPS topographical survey

Land surveyor carrying out an integrated GPS and robotic survey with a one-man total station

Land surveyor mapping a disused scrapyard

Surveyor mapping by a disused scrap yard

Land Surveyor setting out on a residential development

Setting out on residential development

Land surveying services throughout your project life-cycle: Pre-application surveys, through setting out, construction monitoring to as-built land surveys

From our base in Shropshire, we offer Land Surveying services across the boundaries of Shropshire, the surrounding counties and the UK as a whole. Shropshire is a county tucked between the West Midlands and Wales and is one of the counties along the Welsh border that make up The Welsh Marches.

We offer land surveying services that cover the whole life cycle of a project. From Pre-application surveys, through setting out, inspection and construction monitoring, through to as-built surveys.

Drone Land Surveys have become our technology mainstay as they are safer, quicker and cheaper than a traditional survey. We ensure our drone surveys adhere to the same land survey principles acquired through over 30 years of surveying experience.

Ask us for a quotation

We aim to make your life easier and equip you with cost-effective accurate data so that you can make informed decisions and ensure your project is a success.

What’s land surveying & do I need a land survey?

Land Surveying is the accurate collection of three-dimensional points and the relationship between them to map the topography of the Earth’s surface, be that:

  • above the ground – buildings and structures – from the ground or the air;
  • below the ground  – mine works or buried services;
  • above water – marine buildings and structures;
  • below water – lake, river and sea beds.
Topographical survey for a planning application for a new religious building

An example land survey for a planning application for a new religious building

Professional Land Surveyors must be adept in several fields including Mathematics, Physics, Engineering and Law. By using Geometry & Trigonometry they can understand complex three-dimensional relationships. Physics to understand the movement and propagation of electromagnetic waves, to calculate distance and understand hidden objects, often over long distances. Law to interpret and analyse boundary data in the event of a boundary dispute between neighbours.

Land surveyors can traced back to ancient civilizations like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Rome. Early surveying techniques were primarily based on geometry, utilizing basic tools like ropes, wooden stakes, and plumb bobs to create accurate measurements. One notable example is the Egyptians, who used these methods to reestablish property boundaries after the Nile River flooded each year. These early land surveying practices laid the groundwork for more sophisticated techniques to come.

If you need to accurately understand the dimensions of a physical asset, land or its surrounding, then you could benefit from a land survey. Having accurate contextual information can be critical to the success of a project. Skimping on a survey can have detrimental and costly impacts on a project.

What land survey services can we supply?

We supply Topographical surveysMeasured building surveyssite setting out services3D digital twin modellingdeformation monitoring and volume calculations from our base in Shropshire across the above sectors. We can deliver 2d maps and plans as well as 3d models in a range of formats to suit your needs. Be that wireframe, mesh or surface models, point cloud data, textured models or rendered models. Our integrated approach means we can also supply drone land surveys for faster, safer and complete data coverage.

Whether your project is in Shropshire, Powys, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands or indeed the UK we have you covered!

Why use us for your land surveying needs

With over 30 years of experience servicing the needs of clients, our surveyors can readily apply that knowledge to your specific project. Our aim is to make sure every essential part of your project goes smoothly. We have the expertise and experience to help you make smart investment decisions. We are committed to providing you with a personalized service, tailored to your needs so that you can be confident in your decision-making process. Whilst based in rural Shropshire we cover a wider area with our land survey services and have wide experience in many industry sectors and applications.

Land Surveyor surveying an operating theatre in London

Land Surveyor surveying an operating theatre

Land Surveyor - during construction of The Millennium Dome in London

Land Surveyor during the construction of The Millennium Dome

Land Surveyor surveying a hospital tower block in Gloucestershire

Land Surveyor surveying a hospital tower block

Industry sectors covered

At Crucial Services, we can offer Drone Surveying and Land Surveying Services to help make sure your project is a success. From our base in Shropshire, we support sectors with drone surveys, land surveys and setting out services. Sectors supported include:

Measured building survey of a church - Close up x-ray of Laser Scan data of the church in Shropshire

Measured building survey of a church – Close-up x-ray of Laser Scan data of the church

Laser scan survey of air compressor factory in the near Wigan

Laser scan survey of air
compressor factory

Laser scan of church & churchyard in Shropshire

Laser scan of church & churchyard

Why is a land survey important?

Land surveying is an important part of the development process. It is important because it provides information about the shape and size of your property or development, as well as the terrain, boundary features, heights of vegetation or structures, and the context of the site to determine its surroundings. Often the information was shared as a 2d or 3d topographical survey drawing. Now drones are becoming the norm for producing topographical surveys as they are faster, cheaper and more comprehensive.

Land surveying from a design perspective

It is important to know that your design/site layout can fit onto your site. A few years ago a client designed housing layouts with very tight design limits between houses, garages and other key features for conveyancing purposes. However, their design process produced many compound errors multiplied across the whole site. This meant the whole site rarely fitted on the ground compromising what they wanted to achieve. We can help you make sure your designs are correctly realised with accurate pre-application land surveys, setting out, progress monitoring and as-built land surveys, supporting you through the project life-cycle.

Setting Out & Construction progress monitoring in Hertfordshire: blockwork

Land surveyors can accurately support projects throughout the life-cycle

Land surveys from a boundary perspective

Disputes often arise from a misunderstanding of the accuracy of the title plan and the mapping that the title is drawn on. Land registry title plans use a scale of 1:1,250 while site plans for a planning application are more typically 1:500. Scaling up a plan from 1:1250 to 1:500 introduces problems and magnifies them. It should also be noted that The Land Registry does not check the legal boundaries of one title against neighbouring titles. So titles can actually overlap leading to neighbour disputes over a few inches. Instead, the Land Registry use thick lines designed to cover potential errors. In most cases, the red line on a title plan is in fact 2 meters wide on the ground. In America, this is largely avoided with cadastral surveys that show the real boundary positions. We can undertake a boundary survey to assist property owners and legal professionals should boundary problems arise.

Boundary survey in Shropshire: merged title plans & land survey

Boundary issues: Title plans & or historical images with land survey

Land surveys from an asset management perspective

Whatever your physical assets a Land Surveyor can map the context and position of those to aid in facilities management and asset management. Understanding what you have and where they are will cut maintenance costs saving you time and money. From Lamppost and street furniture owned by local authorities to utility equipment owned by The National Grid or the Environment Agency, wind farms, solar farms and businesses within their premises, knowing the location and the condition of that equipment is important. We can help you map and manage your assets and facilities with an accurate land survey.

Pylon inspection with a drone in Lancashire

Pylon inspection survey with a drone

National Grid asset management survey

Surveyor mapping National Grid sub-station assets

Land surveys from a planning perspective

An accurate land survey enables a designer to properly understand a site and its context in the surrounding topography, built environment and landscape. The landscape setting is an important planning consideration for successful planning applications. A drone land survey widens that scope allowing for an even great understanding of your site. How can drone land surveys help with planning permissions?

Topographical Survey for a residential development adjacent to a small river with sections in Staffordshire

Land surveys can demonstrate context and setting

Why control networks are critical to land survey accuracy

Establishing a highly accurate and reliable land survey control network is essential for any project requiring precision measurements and data. At Crucial Services, we draw on decades of experience to design and implement complete control networks, using the latest in geomatic technologies such as aerial drones and terrestrial laser scanning. Our experienced team ensures that the control networks are accurate, repeatable and relevant to your needs, providing reliable spatial information for your project. We guarantee high-quality results with every job, ensuring that your project is completed on time and within budget.

Using the correct number and location for Ground Control Points and check points is important for an accurate survey & quality control. Survey in Cambridgeshire

Using the correct number and location for Ground Control Points and checkpoints is important for an accurate survey & quality control

triangulation vs trilateration diagram
triangulation vs trilateration diagram

For example, if you want us to measure or monitor a linear feature like a dam for lateral movement, it is important for us to design our control network to minimise survey errors along the axis of potential movement. It is also important to locate control points away from any areas of potential movement. Failure to do this will introduce accuracy errors in the data. This is particularly important when potential movements are small. Understanding baseline lengths, scale factors, the curvature of the earth and atmospheric conditions can also be critical depending on the size of a survey and the relative accuracy required.

satellite constellations control networks use trilateration to calculate relative positions
satellite constellations control networks use trilateration to calculate relative positions

Control points are important where repeat visits are needed, or a site will need to be set out at a later date. Triangulation networks use angles to calculate relative a position mathematically based on known points. Trilateration networks use distances to calculate relative a position mathematically based on known points. Satelite-based control points will only use trilateration based on one or more satellite constellations in orbit. Ground control networks will use a combination of triangulation and trilateration for a survey control network. Ideally, a combination of both triangulation and trilateration introduces redundancy into the control network and increases confidence. We will make sure our survey has the optimal network design for your project, whether large or small.

Is an Ordnance Survey plan good enough or accurate enough for my needs?

In short, it depends on what you are trying to achieve.

If you are after a relatively cheap plan where the relative accuracy of distances or proximity on-site isn’t critical, then an OS plan may be sufficient. For example, if you picture a small building in a large field. If the relative distance of the building to the boundary could vary by meters without having an impact then the OS plan would be OK.

Survey plottable accuracy of 1mm and 0.5mm on a printed plan at various scales:

Scale

1:100
1:200
1:500
1:1,250
1:2,500
1:10,000

1mm on ground:

100mm
200mm
500mm
1250mm
2500mm
10000mm

0.5mm on ground:

50mm
100mm
250mm
750mm
1250mm
5000mm

OS plan accuracy

As 1:1250


400mm over 60m
1200mm over 200m
3500mm over 500m

Accuracy and precision aren’t the same

Drone surveys: Accuracy and precision aren't the same
Accuracy and precision aren’t the same. It is important to understand the difference