Types of Surveys
ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey
(American Land Title Association/American Congress on Surveying and Mapping)
This is the most comprehensive type of survey and improvement location. It covers all the aspects of the boundary survey and improvement location and identification for any additional evidence of possession or use which could be adverse to the interests of the purchaser. This type of survey is normally only performed on commercial property because of the expense involved.
Boundary Improvement Survey
A boundary survey of the subject property will be made and the property corners will be located and verified or reset. The improvements on the property will be located and encroachments onto or from the subject property will be determined. This survey can be used by the property owner for the construction of a fence or other improvements.
Civil engineers prepare improvement plans, feasibility studies and do land development planning for commercial, residential and industrial land developments.
This is abbreviated as simply “EC”. The form for this was created by FEMA and is used nationally. The EC purpose is to report the elevation of the building floors relative to the base flood elevation so the cost of flood insurance can be determined.
Flood Letter provides a flood zone designation, which appears on the “Flood Insurance Rate Maps” (F.I.R.M.) produced and provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.) of the Federal Insurance Administration (F.I.A.). These maps denote the approximate limits of flood zones based upon the ground surface that existed at the time of the flood study. The Flood Zone is determined from Graphic Plotting only. No Field Surveying is performed to determine the Zone. It should be noted that the property may need to be field located in order to properly plot on the applicable Flood Map.
Flood Zone areas are established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This service provides reports about the current flood zone designation and assistance to have current designations revised by FEMA.
Historical Maps and Land Use
These maps and studies provide research data about an existing property relative to historical land uses.
Land Surveyors provide property maps and elevations based upon current field inspections. Sample services include land title surveys, boundary surveys and elevation certificates for rating the cost of flood insurance.
This provides a FIRM map or USGS map showing the location of a dwelling for determining the flood zone in which the dwelling resides.
The creating of new lots or parcels of land by making a plat drawing showing the lots in a form required by local government platting authorities.
Surveyor’s Real Property Report
It is a location of improvements and cursory check for encroachments onto or from the subject property based on existing but not confirmed evidence. This does not constitute a boundary survey and is subject to any inaccuracies that a subsequent boundary survey may disclose, no property corners will be set and it should not be used or relied upon for the establishment of any fence, structure or other improvement. No warranty of any kind is extended therein to the present or future owner or occupant.
Reports elevations on the property in the form of spot elevations or contour lines in addition to the location of buildings, drives, parking areas, etc.