Case Study: Topographical Survey of Land & Lake for Private Estate in Birmingham
A private homeowner in Birmingham required a comprehensive Topographical Survey to act as the foundation for an ambitious design project. Their goal was to aid with the design for the alteration of their extensive land and adjoining property, enabling them to make better use of the field and its central lake.
The project presented specific challenges right from the start. The survey area was a large, sloping field leading down to a small lake, featuring overgrown boundaries and, crucially, an island in the middle of the water. To design with confidence, the client needed meticulous detail on all natural and man-made features across the entire site.
The Solution: Precision Surveying by Land and Water
As your “Architect’s Ally”, Axis Surveys executed a comprehensive plan of action to overcome the terrain and access issues. Our two-person survey team covered the field, lake, and road frontage, following our rigorous RICS specification to capture all essential features, including earthworks, vegetation, and the species of all visible trees.
The Topographical Survey detail was captured using a combination of Leica Geosystems Total Stations and GNSS rover on a precise 10m level grid, ensuring uncompromising accuracy across the large area. The most notable challenge was surveying the island: our team had to secure access via boat to ensure every detail of the land and lake was accurately mapped, completing the fieldwork in just one day.
Surveyors POV across a lake
The Outcome: Empowering Confident Design
Once the field work was complete, the data was processed in LSS before being exported to AutoCAD to produce the final survey drawings. The topographical survey was supplied to the client ahead of schedule as a digital 3D survey and a PDF file.
Our meticulous and detailed plans provided the client with a reliable basis for design, directly assisting them in securing planning approval for the alterations. The project’s lasting impact is that the client was able to successfully renovate their property and integrate the field and lake, creating a harmonious connection to nature. This successful outcome highlights our commitment to Precision and Partnership.
The final 2D digital survey provided a reliable, solid foundation for the client’s alteration designs and planning application.
