The Carolinas have seen an increase in both public and private projects over the past few years. From Municipal, Energy, Transportation, Data Centers, and Land Development, all projects breaking ground in the state would benefit from surveys being done on the property before construction.

John Gibson, PLS, Principal Associate and Regional Survey Discipline Leader, has experience with all aspects of survey in land development projects across North Carolina and South Carolina. With nearly 40 years of experience working with land developers throughout the project lifecycle, John understands that accurate survey data shapes decisions long before construction begins.

Survey Sets the Standard

Surveyors are often the first professionals on the ground, documenting boundaries, conditions, and constraints that affect project viability, design, permitting, financing, and construction.

For example, in land development projects, one of the most important tools in that process is the ALTA survey. An ALTA survey is a detailed boundary survey performed to national standards established by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). This is done to move the project into the next phase of development and enables the client’s decision-making process prior to potential purchase and development. Commonly required by banks, title companies, and other funding sources, ALTA surveys help support title insurance, property acquisition, and project planning.

Ease of Design

After a property has been selected, the design team takes over the project and begins to bring the vision of the site to life. When a survey is completed ahead of the design process, a designer is able to take the survey into consideration when making design plans.

“Survey data is invaluable to designers,” said John. “Depending on the survey collected, highly-accurate data that survey provides, like slope points and wetland delineation can be labeled for the designer to recognize, leading to early changes in design and avoiding costly issues later down the line.”

Understanding the Project Site

The data collected in a survey can be large and vast, with the goal of giving a clear picture to the parcel of land. Risks can be identified early, helping site owners and land developers bring down costs and mitigate delays. From utility coordination to local zoning and easements, surveys are critical to any piece of development.

John Gibson, PLS, Principal Associate and Regional Survey Discipline Leader will be at Bisnow’s Triangle Construction, Development and Design Panel on Wednesday, July 22. For tickets or to learn more about the event, visit Bisnow’s Event Page here.