Topographic Surveys London
Whether commissioned for building development or for land administration and management, topographical surveys from Callidus are renowned for their accuracy. Using state-of-the-art laser targeted, robotic instruments, and with each survey hands-on managed by a single, dedicated and highly skilled topographic surveyor, you’ll enjoy unsurpassed standards of quality.
With decades of experience, and a team built with some of the best-trained experts in topographical surveys London and UK wide, you’ll find your experience tailor-made from start to finish courtesy of fully bespoke surveys based on the unique distinctions of your site and specific project needs, and meticulous attention to detail that is seldom found elsewhere.
Our expert topographical surveys can be used to capture a range of data, from building outlines and highways, to overhead cables, street furniture, vegetation and trees and walls and fences, going as far as lifting service covers to record pipe sizes, depths and direction of flow. Optional extras include road markings, visible neighbouring detail, and area and volume calculations.
Topographical Surveys Explained
Key to the success of a design or development project, a topographical survey is used to indicate a variety of ground related features in their true positions.
The survey aims to highlight the difference between the actual levels of the land and site gradients, and those assumed in the preliminary designs. It defines the contours of the soil, and anything that sits just above or below the land’s surface, such as vegetation, buildings, highways, maintenance holes, retaining walls, fences and utility poles, for example.
Typically used by architects, planners, designers and engineers at the design and planning stage of a project, a topographical survey, when captured with precision accuracy, can reduce the risk of costly future errors due to unforeseen problems.
Topographical surveys deliver measured value to projects, ensuring an in-depth understanding of the site and its various nuances. The surveys are often undertaken using 3D laser scanners, although in certain situations, for example where the line of vision is unclear, traditional total station instruments are used.
The data captured onsite is transferred to CAD to produce detailed plans. And this is where the Callidus Surveys difference comes into play. Because all our site data is transferred by the same highly trained, qualified surveyor who collected it rather than by an unskilled operator, the detail can be interpreted more faithfully and accurately.
At Callidus Surveys, all our senior site surveyors are also skilled draughts people, which is a quality rarely replicated elsewhere. It’s precisely why you’ll find the level of detail and exactness of our topographical surveys second to none.
Based on 25 Reviews
Our ethos
Established in 1999, Callidus Surveys has become renowned as an industry leader and respected expert in measured building surveys, including the specialist skill of topographical surveys. London wide, our directors operate with a hands-on approach, ensuring the business remains at the leading edge of industry innovation, and that we always maintain the core values of accuracy, service and expertise as a golden thread running through everything we do for our clients.
Accuracy
The importance of accuracy in a survey that will determine the future success of a project cannot be overemphasised. It’s precisely why we’ve made it a top priority, by investing in top of the range topographical survey instrumentation.
Service
Your time is precious. It’s why we’ve made our service hassle-free, so you can get on with your vital role, while we get on with your topographical survey and deliver the data you need, at the required level of detail, in the timescale that matters.
Expertise
Callidus Surveys is home to some of the best measured surveyors in the industry and every survey is quality-checked by a Callidus Surveys principal measured surveyor. For a better class of topographical survey you can fully rely on, choose Callidus.
Looking for Precision Topographical Surveys in London?
Our feedback
The service offered by Callidus was exemplary at every stage: from the initial discussions and advice about what was required and how best to achieve it, through the surveyors on site who were actively engaged with the brief and went the extra mile, to the high quality drawings produced.
For responsiveness and professionalism, the Callidus team cannot not be bettered – I highly recommend them.
Jan Davison
Our specialist expertise
Schools
Flexible, methodical and experienced in working in educational environments, Callidus Surveys has the knowhow to tackle the logistical challenges that so often go hand in hand with topographical surveys for London schools.
Churches
For topographical surveys from a London specialist who truly understands the intricacies of ecclesiastical buildings, choose Callidus Surveys. From contemporary chapels to period monoliths, places of worship are a core specialism.
Offices
Occupied, vacant, small or large, our well-practised discreet onsite operations allow us to flow efficiently around an office building, capturing all the data needed to create accurate and detailed topographical surveys through leading edge methods.
Residential
Our no-fuss topographical surveys for residential developments in London deliver the quality and accuracy that matter, in the timeframe you need. From individual builds to major developments, we continue to refine our process, for your ultimate reassurance.
Topographic Surveys FAQ
Whether you have a question about Callidus Surveys, you’d like to know more about the technicalities of our topographical surveys for London sites, or you could benefit from some guidance in specifying a survey, we’re here to help.
A topographical survey aims to reduce the risk of running into issues during the building process, at which point things could be a lot more costly to resolve.
The survey provides a complete picture of the land to be developed, including onsite, offsite and near-site features that could potentially slow down or put a stop to development. It gives full visibility over the plot of land, helping determine which construction and design methods will be most appropriate.
Topographical surveys provide design and build teams with information on land constraints, as well as showing whether there is a need for any other type of survey, and highlighting any boundary issues that may result in planning permission being denied.
Many issues revealed during a topographical survey won’t have been immediately apparent. Unless there is a particularly prominent element, such as a stream or large hill, the land may appear featureless, where in actual fact there may be hidden ditches, slopes or underlying waterways.
The first step in a topographical survey is consulting with and providing your plans to the surveyor so that they can best understand your objectives. At Callidus Surveys, this is a vital stage, as it will allow us to adapt our process to fit your needs, and make recommendations regarding the level of detail your survey may need.
Our choice of equipment will vary depending on the nature and location of the site and the specific objectives of the survey. Typically, we will put together a two-person team equipped with 3D laser scanners. Sometimes, however, we may use total station instruments in situations where the scanners cannot achieve a clear line of sight through to the land or structure to be surveyed.
We will always carry out our topographical surveys using industry best practice and in accordance with RICS specifications, whilst making use of state-of-the-art technology to ensure the survey is highly accurate, as well as cost effective.
Typically, we will capture detail such as building outlines, roads, pavements, street furniture, service covers (including lifting covers to record pipe sizes, depths and direction of flow), vegetation, trees, fences, walls, overhead lines and levels. All of the data we capture relates to Ordnance Survey national coordinates and levels.
There is also the option to capture further elements, such as level grids, visible neighbouring detail, road markings, contours, and calculations of area and volume.
Once the onsite survey is completed, we transfer the data to CAD software in order to produce site drawings, as well as HM Land Registry compliant and lease quality plans.
At Callidus, unlike with many other measured surveyors, the same team that attended the site to capture the data will carry out the data transfer step. It’s part of our accuracy guarantee, ensuring that the onsite detail is interpreted much more faithfully.
What’s more, every individual topographical survey is overseen by one of our experienced principal surveyors. So you’ll always know that you can trust a Callidus Survey.
The first step is to send us your plans (or an aerial photo mark-up) so we can fully understand your boundaries and objectives for the survey. For us here at Callidus Surveys, this is a vital step, as it enables us to adapt our process to fit your needs, and make recommendations regarding the specific survey boundaries (which may or may not accord with existing legal boundaries) and level of detail your topographic survey may need.
Once we’ve received your outline brief, we’ll get back to you with a tailored quote with detailed specification. You are also welcome to contact us to discuss your individual requirements.
Need a quote for a topographic survey in London?
Email us your survey specification and we’ll get back to you with a tailored quote.
Got a question? Our helpful and knowledgeable team of surveyors are at your service.
- (020) 8543 8884
- web@callidussurveys.co.uk