What is Engineering Surveying?

Engineering surveying is a specialised branch of surveying focused on supporting construction and infrastructure projects. From initial site assessment through to final as-built documentation, engineering surveyors play a critical role in ensuring projects are built accurately and safely. This guide explains what engineering surveyors do and why their services are essential for construction projects in Perth and Western Australia.

What Do Engineering Surveyors Do?

Engineering surveyors work at every stage of construction projects:

Pre-Construction Phase

Before construction begins, engineering surveyors provide essential information for design and planning:

• Topographic surveys – Mapping existing ground levels, contours, and features
• Detail surveys – Recording existing buildings, services, and infrastructure
• Site investigation support – Locating and recording geotechnical bore holes and test pits
• Control establishment – Setting up survey reference points for the project
• Boundary surveys – Confirming property limits before design

This information feeds into the design process, ensuring engineers and architects have accurate data about existing conditions.

Construction Phase

During construction, engineering surveyors translate designs into physical positions on site:

• Construction setout – Marking building positions, levels, and alignments
• Machine control support – Providing data for GPS-guided earthmoving equipment
• Conformance surveys – Checking constructed work matches design specifications
• Progress surveys – Measuring quantities for payment and tracking
• Vertical control – Transferring levels between floors in multi-storey construction

Post-Construction Phase

After construction, surveyors document what was actually built:

• As-built surveys – Recording final positions of all constructed elements
• Services surveys – Documenting underground services before backfilling
• Final measurement – Calculating completed quantities for final payment

Types of Engineering Survey Projects

Engineering surveyors work across diverse project types:

Building Construction

For building projects, engineering surveyors provide:

• Initial site surveys for architectural design
• Foundation setout and level control
• Floor levelness monitoring
• Facade and structural setout
• Floor-to-floor height transfer
• Final as-built documentation

Accurate setout is critical for buildings - errors at foundation stage can propagate through the entire structure, causing significant problems and costs.

Road and Rail Infrastructure

Transport infrastructure requires extensive survey support:

• Route corridor surveys and mapping
• Horizontal and vertical alignment setout
• Earthworks quantity measurement
• Pavement construction control
• Bridge and structure surveys
• Rail track geometry surveys

Civil Works

Drainage, water supply, and civil works projects require:

• Pipe invert level setout
• Manhole and pit positioning
• Grade control for gravity systems
• Service location surveys (using ground penetrating radar and pipe locators)
• As-laid pipe surveys before backfilling

Mining and Resources

Western Australia's mining industry relies heavily on engineering surveyors for:

• Pit and dump volume calculations
• Drill hole setout and surveying
• Processing plant surveys
• Tailings storage facility monitoring
• Underground mine surveys

Construction Setout Explained

Construction setout (also called "stakeout" or "set out") is one of the most common engineering survey tasks. It involves marking design positions in the field so construction can proceed accurately.

What Gets Set Out?

Typical setout tasks include:

• Building corners – Marking exact positions of building footprint
• Offset pegs – Reference marks offset from actual building lines to survive excavation
• Level marks – Height references for floor levels, footings, and slabs
• Column positions – Precise locations for structural columns
• Grid lines – Reference lines for structural layout
• Services – Positions for pits, pipes, and underground services

Setout Accuracy Requirements

Different elements require different accuracy levels:

Monitoring and Deformation Surveys

A specialised area of engineering surveying involves monitoring structures and ground for movement:

Structural Monitoring

Buildings and structures may be monitored for:

• Settlement (sinking)
• Lateral movement
• Tilt or lean
• Cracking and distortion

This is often required during adjacent construction activities to detect any impact on neighbouring structures.

Ground Movement Monitoring

Excavations and earthworks may trigger ground movement. Surveyors monitor:

• Retaining wall movement
• Ground settlement behind excavations
• Slope stability
• Ground heave

Technology in Engineering Surveying

Engineering surveyors use sophisticated equipment to achieve required accuracy. See our guide on modern surveying equipment for details on:

• Robotic total stations for setout and measurement
• GPS/GNSS for large-area surveys and machine control
• 3D laser scanners for as-built documentation
• Drones for earthworks and progress monitoring

Engineering Surveying vs Cadastral Surveying

It's important to understand the difference between engineering surveying and cadastral (boundary) surveying:

Many survey firms, including ours, provide both engineering and cadastral surveying services. For projects requiring boundary work, a licensed surveyor must be involved.

Why Quality Engineering Surveying Matters

Poor surveying on construction projects can have serious consequences:

• Building positioned incorrectly – May encroach on boundaries or fail planning conditions
• Floor levels wrong – Causes drainage problems, access issues, and rework
• Structural misalignment – Compromises structural integrity and appearance
• Services clashes – Underground services in wrong positions causing conflicts
• Quantity disputes – Incorrect measurements lead to payment disagreements

Investing in quality engineering surveying services helps projects run smoothly and avoids costly rectification work.

Related Articles

• Modern Surveying Equipment Guide
• How Much Does a Land Survey Cost in Perth?
• When Do You Need a Licensed Surveyor in WA?
• Perth Surveying Industry Outlook