Site surveys
Site surveys are detailed studies carried out to supplement and verify site information provided by the client and site appraisals carried out by the consultant team.
They may begin with a simple walkover survey and then progress to more detailed surveys focusing on specific issues.
Site surveys might be carried out by members of the consultant team if they have the required skills, or might be commissioned from specialists. The consultant team should assess what surveys are required (generally after initial feasibility studies have been carried out), and request approval from the client to commission those surveys or carry them out themselves.
Site surveys might include:
- Existing buildings (including valuation, measured surveys, structural surveys, structural investigations, condition surveys, and demolition surveys).
- Geological and geotechnical.
- Topographical surveys, perhaps including laser scanning, Lidar or photogrammetry.
- Contamination.
- Ecological survey.
- Archaeological (see Archaeology).
- Traffic and transport.
- Local climate.
- Flood risk.
- Air quality.
- Acoustic.
- Photographic.
- Historic use.
- Boundary surveys.
- Structural surveys (including retained structures, underground structures and obstructions).
- Unexploded bomb survey.
- Railway and tunnel search.
- Asbestos and other hazardous materials surveys and registers.
- Fire hydrants.
- Telecommunications.
- Wireless networks and satellite reception.
- Electrical infrastructure and capacity.
- Gas network infrastructure and capacity.
- Foul sewers and drains infrastructure and capacity.
- Existing water supply infrastructure and capacity.
- Soil survey.
Wherever possible, any information prepared or obtained should be in a format which can be readily shared and used, and should be stored and named in a way consistent with the long-term project and operational needs.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- 3D laser survey.
- Archaeology and construction.
- Building People.
- Building survey.
- Condition survey.
- Desk study.
- Development appraisal.
- Easements.
- Ecological survey.
- Environmental Impact Assessment.
- EWS1 forms not required for buildings without cladding.
- Ground conditions.
- Ground investigation.
- Interferometric synthetic aperture radar InSAR.
- Interview with Elly Ball, co-founder, Get Kids into Survey.
- Land surveying.
- Laser scanning.
- Levelling.
- Measurement of existing buildings.
- Pre-construction information.
- RICS publishes Land Measurement for Planning and Development Purposes.
- Site appraisals.
- Soil survey.
- Surveying instruments.
- Surveyor.
- Technical due diligence.
- Vendor survey.
- Walkover survey.
- What is a valuer?
Featured articles and news
Core construction skills explained
Preparing for a career in construction.
Retrofitting for resilience with the Leicester Resilience Hub
Community-serving facilities, enhanced as support and essential services for climate-related disruptions.
Some of the articles relating to water, here to browse. Any missing?
Recognisable Gothic characters, designed to dramatically spout water away from buildings.
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.