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.

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