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Why Land Survey Companies Are Moving to the Cloud

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The exponential growth of data is disrupting many different industries, and land surveying is no exception. Land survey companies are finding themselves handling more data than ever before.

On the one hand, this fact allows them to provide their clients with more complete, accurate survey results, which in turn can help the clients make more informed decisions regarding their projects. On the other hand, handling this influx of new data using traditional data management technologies may not always be possible, and companies that aren’t properly prepared may find themselves completely overwhelmed. Fortunately, new developments in cloud computing are empowering land survey companies to adjust to this new reality and use data to its fullest potential and provide project managers with a simpler, more cost-effective alternative.

Read on for a closer look at how moving to the cloud is redefining what companies can do with land survey data.

Flexible, Scalable Data Storage

Today’s land survey companies have to store survey results for thousands of different projects, with some of that data stretching back hundreds of years. As time goes on, each new project the company takes on will likely be more data intensive than the last one, especially with the amount of data that new technologies like drones generate.

Storing all of this data in a traditional on-premises data center would be impractical. Every time the company outgrows their existing data storage capacity, they would have to manually add new capacity to their data center, causing great expense and inconvenience.

By adopting a cloud-based infrastructure, the land surveying company can simply scale up its storage capacity whenever they need to, and the CSP will handle it behind the scenes. The result is that the land survey company will never have to run out of capacity. In addition, they’ll also free themselves up to spend less time worrying about their storage infrastructure, and more time thinking about the work that actually matters for their business.

Make Data Available Across Geographic Locations

Today’s construction project work is more distributed than ever before. Keeping everybody on the same page—whether they’re in the main office or out on the job site—is a key factor in ensuring the project goes according to plan.

Professional Land Surveying

As survey document files become more data intensive, and thus larger, sending them from person to person becomes time consuming and inefficient. With cloud data storage, users can simply pull the latest copy of a document from a centralized location. The cloud server can be accessed using any device. This includes mobile devices, so any worker in the field will have the same ability to access the documents they need as their counterparts back at the office.

Easily Share Data With Customers

At the end of the day, the land survey company’s whole reason for collecting data is to make it available for customers to use, and cloud data storage platforms like Landpoint’s True Atlas helps in this regard as well. Land survey companies that take advantage of cloud data storage can provide an added level of value for their customers.

Instead of simply dumping the processed data into their customer’s lap and then leaving them to figure out how to store, manage and apply it, a cloud-enabled land surveyor can store the data themselves, giving their customers with one less thing to worry about. In addition, the cloud can provide security and access control, ensuring that the right people—and only the right people—have access to the data when and where they need it.

Final Thoughts

Cloud technology is making it easier than ever for land survey companies to manage data. In an era that’s increasingly defined by data growth, shouldn’t you work with a land surveying partner that’s equipped to handle that growth with the latest technology? Contact Landpoint today to learn more about our innovative approach to cloud data management.

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How Tablets Are Used For Field Work on Surveying Projects

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Land SurveyLand surveying teams are benefiting from sophisticated tablet technology that combines collection, real-time data access, and a plethora of other utilities in a mobile environment. Surveyors are able to interact with their data to obtain realistic, multidimensional knowledge of the survey area. Essentially, tablet technology has revolutionized how field surveyors operate, allowing them to work smarter and faster.

Here is a look at how surveyors are using tablets for field work boosts project efficiency.

Real-Time Communication

Land survey teams can coordinate efforts from disparate locations with ease as they utilize 2D and 3D views that inform their work in real-time. Data can be shared in real-time and quantitative data, including analytics, can also be accessed. Field agents can synchronize data with data technicians and surveyors in the office to get real-time support, minimizing the need for field crews to revisit the site

Mobile Workforce Management Tools

These tools enhance productivity in the field with applications that help withteam and asset management, mobile workforce routing and field service scheduling. Surveyors can review the progress of other teams, send out messages, and answer emails from individuals back at the office.

Calculation Tools

Mobile devices offer a variety of handy tools, such as calculation and productivity apps, which helps to increase onsite efficiency. Essentially, many of the tasks that would have to wait until the surveyor got back to the office (or at least back to an internet connected computer) can now be performed with a tablet in the field, greatly cutting down turnaround times on projects.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is a potentially dynamic view of real-world information enhanced by computer resident data that includes sound, graphics, GPS data and video. This technology is becoming more widely used by surveyors since it allows them to get a clearer view of a project and make better recommendations.

In AR, targets become registration points that orient the tablet to the identical point where construction is occurring. As targets are scanned, the original design of the construction is displayed. This view updates as location changes.

Visualization is an extremely important part of augmented reality. In a proposed site development, ease of access for large installations can be determined and reviewed in 3D to foresee how any phase of project construction can be best accomplished with optimal access and best fit. Trial and error belongs to the model world when problems can be solved virtually. Tablets show exactly what a project will look like at any stage of development, provided the data is available.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a target resource utilizing AR. It provides improved visualization and information retrieval, as well as the ability to coordinate project documentation. The ability to embed and link vendor specific data, location details, and quantities required for estimation and tendering is invaluable to project efficiency.

Tablets and 3D Laser Scanners

When paired with other surveying technology, tablets can dramatically increase a surveyor’s productivity and further improve turnaround time. One good example of this is when tablets are paired with 3D laser scanners.

With 3D laser scanning, points are scanned at 2mm intervalsby the scanner’s high resolution digital image and are then colored according to the photo. Scan stations are set up in multiple areas for comprehensive data collection. When GPS is associated with data scanned, it can be tied to a local coordinate system. With the latest laser scanning techniques, it becomes possible to convert three-dimensional surfaces into highly accurate mathematical models, which can be viewed on the tablet device. This means that a surveyor can utilize 3D scans, upload the information to the project management site and then review that data on the tablet.

Overall, when tablets are used for field work, project managers can enjoy better data collection, decision making, problem solving, and accuracy. To learn more about how the latest land surveying technologies can benefit your business, please contact us.

Image Source : Martin Voltri

The Dangers of a Poor Property Line Survey

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land surveyingWe all know the importance of having accurately mapped-out property lines, but do you know how this is actually accomplished and what some of the consequences are if it is not done correctly?

Determining an accurate boundary line is accomplished by considering many factors. First, a land surveyor will review the deed work and the legal description of the property and surrounding properties. This entails that all common boundaries are addressed. Then a field search is performed for existing monumentation. The land surveyor will use specialized GPS systems to measure exact angles and distances of these located monuments. This data is then compared with previous survey data by a professional land surveyor. After the boundary is resolved, the surveyor will set any new monuments that were destroyed or lost and mark all finalized monuments with stakes, flagging, or spray paint. Finally, any deliverables such as a survey plat will be provided to the client or corresponding companies.

When is a property line survey needed?

Professional land surveys may be needed to establish boundary lines when an individual or a business purchases a new property or refinances an existing one. Financial institutions need to know the precise acreage of land, and insurance companies must be aware of the proximity of hazards, like streams or creeks, to the property.

Boundary lines may also need to be established if an individual or business wishes to make changes on their land, such as erecting a fence or building service roads. It is important that whatever is built does not go onto a neighboring property because the property owner may face criminal trespassing charges or be told to destroy it, therefore losing their investment. A professional boundary survey can prevent this issue from becoming a problem.

Why do I need a property line survey? Why can’t I just use an approximation?

An approximation of a location stems from “hunches,” but a professional land survey is based on precise calculations that considers all legal requirements. Approximations may not be used in a court of law during disputes; only the professional opinion of a certified land surveyor may be admitted as evidence. Establishing the true property line protects your property value and rights and helps you plan better projects.

Choosing to invest in a property line survey is a great decision, but the company you choose is just as important. Contact a professional, reputable, skilled surveying firm, like Landpoint, to get the most accurate results and avoid any pitfalls when mapping out your property lines. If you would like to receive a free quote on your project, click here and provide the necessary information.

Image By: Johan G

Land Surveying Techniques: How Construction Staking Helps Projects Run Smoothly

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and survey service, land survey, land surveyingLand survey services provide vital support to construction projects, most importantly through construction staking. This crucial step can influence whether a project is completed on budget, on time and free from errors, and it is in the best interests of a developer or construction company to invest in land survey services to perform the staking. An experienced, knowledgeable land surveyor can use the data collected to assist with project planning to ensure an optimal outcome.

A Land Surveying Technique That Streamline the Construction Process

Land survey companies provide construction staking for many different projects, such as utilities, subdivisions, multi-story building sites, streets and more. A team of construction stakers lays out survey points that act as a guide for creating site improvements, and the process ensures that the project is being constructed according to the builder’s, engineer’s and architect’s plans. Good construction staking is essential to good buildings.

To complete construction staking, land surveyors complete topographic and boundary surveys and perform field staking for utilities, streets, gutters, curbs, parking lots and more. They then address the proposed buildings by staking the structures’ walls, foundations and column lines. This is an essential step in the construction process because building foundations that are not properly staked can be detrimental to the entire project and costly to fix. To avoid future problems, an experienced land survey service is the best tool a builder can have.

It is important to choose a professional land survey service for construction project support. If the staking process is not correctly completed, the consequences can be dire for the remainder of the project. The importance of a properly completed staking is even more magnified in commercial construction projects due to the larger budgets and structures.

Ensuring that a qualified professional from a reputable land survey service is conducting your staking survey is the most worthwhile investment you can make. Learn more about construction staking and other land surveying techniques by contacting Landpoint today.

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