Surveying for Roadway Construction

At the onset of any construction project, land surveying serves an integral role. Never is this more apparent than in a major civic task such as roadway construction. Such a pivotal project needs great precision to execute it perfectly. Fortunately, certified land surveyors working with modern, advanced technology can make this happen. Land surveys for road construction are implemented at the start of the process as well as throughout building and development. The land surveyors can assess land features and elevations, determine the presence of underground obstacles, and identify potential hazards, helping to ensure a smooth process for a well-built motorway.

Finding the Right Location for Road Construction

Roadway land surveying often begins with discerning the ideal placement area for a planned road. A site survey of the existing terrain will be performed, seeking the most level placement for a route. In the majority of roadway construction projects, some amount of the land must be moved or cleared to create the ideal conditions for the roadway. The land surveyor can help find those spots which necessitate the least amount of excavation and soil relocation, saving time and money and yielding a more efficient project. The data collected through the surveys will be then used by engineers to aid in creating their overall build plan.

Land surveyors assist with other aspects, too, such as measurement of grading and determining the optimal placement for curves, tunnels, bridges, and other roadway features. With a deep grasp of geographical layouts, surveyors provide the vital information that can help engineers avoid potential hazards from unsteady soil, flood zones, or areas too steeply graded for safe vehicle use. To ensure roads are constructed free from such hazards or potential problems—as well as meet state and local laws and regulations— certified expert land surveyors are essential.

Land Surveying for Roadway Design

Surveying for roadway construction is not just about the placement of the road, but about the design of the roadway itself. Completed land surveys help to determine the ideal roadway design, including the materials to be used and the methods used in building. If specific road features are to be encountered (steep inclines, etc) the land survey data will aid in the decision for how these are to be managed. This includes seemingly basic details such as the optimal width of the road all the way to more complicated aspects such as if a bridge or tunnel will be utilised.

Throughout the duration of construction, surveyors are needed to assess and measure progress, particularly alongside technology such as GPS, which has now become an instrumental resource in comparing plans to the construction process.

If you require surveying and land mapping for a large-scale infrastructure project such as roadway construction, don’t hesitate to give the competent team at Leslie & Thompson a call today.