Land surveying is a very complex profession. No matter what the industry is, you can’t rule out the margin for human error. Although professional surveyors receive formal training, they might still make mistakes. Even the most experienced surveyor can falter or commit errors every now and then. Continue reading to learn about land survey errors and how they can be avoided.
When do you need a land survey?
A land survey is needed to establish the boundaries of a property. Architects, homeowners, business owners, and construction firms rely on land surveyors to improve their projects. Whether it’s for personal or professional reasons, land surveys provide reliable information regarding boundary lines.
Whenever you’re making changes to a parcel of land, you need to hire a land surveyor. Here are some of the situations when you need one:
- Buying or selling land
- Building a new property or structure
- Locating property lines accurately
- Finding easements
- Complying with mortgage requirements
- Identifying drainage and utility lines
- Getting title insurance
- Setting boundary disputes with your neighbor
What are the common land survey errors?
Miscalculations
This is one of the most common mistakes committed by surveyors. Miscalculations or gross errors tend to occur due to disorganization and carelessness. Measuring the wrong mark and writing down the wrong value are some instances of miscalculations. Aside from these examples, an incorrect reading of the survey instrument might be given by the surveyor.
Miscalculations may also happen because of machine malfunction. Errors related to the equipment can lead to inaccurate mapping. To avoid miscalculations, land surveyors can avoid mistakes like these in several ways, including:
- Review existing property records and documents.
- Stay up to date with the current practices and standards in the industry.
- Utilize advanced software designed to organize surveying records.
- Only use modern survey equipment with the highest accuracies.
- Double-check the accuracy and calibration of the equipment.
- Carefully evaluate whether the measurements of the survey equipment are correct.
Miscommunication Between Client and Surveyor
Land surveyors serve a wide array of clients. They work with private individuals and businesses across all different industries. For homeowners and business owners, it’s hard to understand jargon and terms related to the land survey. This results in poor communication between the client and the surveyor. Miscommunication is one of the biggest causes of problems for any project.
As a surveyor, it’s our job to communicate with our clients on all aspects of the process. Starting from the initial consultation, Pittsburgh Land Surveyors work closely with clients and keep them informed as the project goes along.
Instrumental Errors
This type of error arises due to the wrong or faulty calibration of the survey instrument. It’s always important to check the calibration of the tools used during surveying. If not, you might get inaccurate measurements. Aside from improper calibration, incorrect use of the instruments might result in miscalculations. Such errors can be reduced by measuring with different survey tools.
Natural Errors
Sometimes, there are errors beyond human control. Natural errors in surveying may be caused by natural phenomena. Some examples are changes in temperature, humidity, wind, and Earth’s magnetic field. Variations in atmospheric conditions are unavoidable. However, the land surveyor should observe these changes while taking measurements.
What to do if there’s a problem with the land survey?
On rare occasions, land surveyors may commit mistakes related to measuring a property or valuing a parcel of land. They might overlook an important piece of evidence that is crucial. If you think your land survey went wrong, reach out to the surveyor who did the work for you. Verify if there’s indeed a problem with the boundary lines.
By doing this, you can ask them how they could correct the survey errors and make adjustments. They may be able to offer solutions regarding the matter.
Another alternative is to hire a second land surveyor. They can perform a separate survey to solve the issue.
Final Takeaway
Choosing the right surveyor can save you from wasting your time and resources. At Pittsburgh Land Surveyors, we guarantee that our survey findings are accurate and reliable. We invest in a wide range of survey instruments to provide our clients with cutting-edge services.
Our company offers mortgage surveys, construction surveys, flood elevation certifications, ALTA surveys, and more. Contact us today to receive a free quote on your project!
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