One of the most important tasks before beginning practical work on a project is to survey the site where the task will be performed. This not only provides information to the project manager, but it can also save a lot of time and potential hazards to the task. Many hazards can be reduced during the project planning stage by utilizing technology. Typically, a site survey involves a series of visits to the site, and numerous aspects are kept in perspective while doing so. This blog post will talk about the following sub-topics: what is a site survey in construction and architecture, how to do a site survey, and also an on-site survey.
Site surveys are common in large-scale technology projects, such as the installation of a new network or the upgrade of an existing one.
What is a Site Survey?
A site survey is an examination of a location or spot to gather data or information. This data includes feasibility reports as well as cost and time estimates for completing a specific task. A site survey consists of different techniques and factors depending on what type of plan needs to be execute at the location.
Site survey In Construction
In the construction industry, a site survey is a detailed study performed to supplement and verify site information provided by the client and site appraisals performed by the consultant team. They could start with a simple walkthrough survey and then progress to more detailed surveys focusing on specific issues.
A site survey in construction may be performed by members of the consultant team who have the necessary skills, or it may be commissioned by specialists. The consultant team should determine which surveys are required (usually after preliminary feasibility studies have been completed) and seek client approval to either carry out those surveys or submit them to the commission for approval.
A construction site survey may include the following items:
- Dimensions and area of your site;
- The location and terms of any easements that may burden or benefit your property;
- The topography of your land and the adjacent land;
- Trees on the property and adjacent land;
- Drainage on and near the land;
- The location of underground services on and near the property;
- The location of adjacent buildings, as well as their roof heights, window/door openings, and heights in relation to the land.
Any structure or improvement built on the land must take these constraints into consideration.
Site Survey Architecture
An architecture site survey considers all land aspects, including soil, past and present buildings and roads, and even archaeological data, when planning a new development. It is similar in many ways to an engineering survey in that it collects, analyzes, and manages infrastructure.
These surveys provide a background and history of that specific area in terms of population and activity over a long period of time. Understanding past events allow developers and architects to plan projects in such a way that they can adapt to the needs and culture of the area. An architecture site survey is essential for ensuring structural integrity based on earth conditions, as well as community and employment participation based on the building’s purpose.
Aspects of Architecture Site Survey
The majority of building plans begin with a topographical survey to identify weak points in development. Surveyors examine land components such as roads, curbs, and fences, as well as natural aspects such as trees, bushes, and soil. Construction workers will benefit from the information gathered during the architecture site survey in a variety of ways, including:
- Where to set foundations
- Where to construct barriers to safeguard the foundation
- How to make a development waste disposal plan
A topographical survey will show how the land has changed and how it may change in the future if a land plot has not been used recently or has been abandoned. To ensure the most accurate measurements, thorough calculations are performed and then inspected. Builders and developers are the most likely users of this information.
However, this information is also useful for many other professionals, such as architects, engineers, and geologists. Topographical surveys are also use by municipal and state governments to develop building and zoning codes. In addition, an architectural survey is use in conjunction with a topographical survey to aid in the construction of any building.
3 Reasons Why An Architecture Site Survey Is Essential
The site survey is one of the most important aspects of the process; here is a brief explanation of why it is so important for the success of a building project.
A good starting point for the design concept
One of the most important aspects of Architecture drafting and design services is an on-site survey. It frequently serves as a solid starting point for design conceptualization because, according to the concept of organic architecture, a building should emerge from its surroundings, appearing to be an integral part of its immediate surroundings.
Avoiding errors and omissions
A new site survey is an absolute must before beginning a construction project. Although clients provide existing site drawings or building authorities, this information cannot be to depend on completely. These drawings may contain errors or inaccuracies that could lead to problems in the future. This holds true both for a new site or an existing building for renovation, extension, or remodeling jobs.
Providing precise inputs
It is nearly impossible to construct a structure without the proper inputs. This is where a site survey comes in handy. It depicts the exact topography of the site, the various resources available, access roads and points; as well as the adjacent structures and locations. By physically visiting the actual site, you can get a good idea of the sun and wind orientation, which is an important part of the design conceptualization. These suggestions are critical to making the design more interesting and better suited to its surroundings.
How to do a Site Survey
A successful site survey will provide you with the answers you need to plan and execute a project successfully. A poor site survey, on the other hand, can be extremely frustrating for both you and your clients. Wondering if your site survey process could use some improvement? Consider the following eight requirements for conducting a site survey.
#1. When possible, begin with a floor plan.
Begin by obtaining a floorplan of the site you’ll be surveying before proceeding any further. Building floorplans will provide the most accurate representation of actual dimensions and may reveal hidden features or obstacles that your team would miss during a site visit.
#2. Make a site visit or walkthrough.
As important as it is to begin with a floorplan or digital map, don’t skip the site visit. A site visit ensures that what you have on paper corresponds to the reality you see in the building and allows you to begin designing with your customer or stakeholder.
Walk the site with your customer or stakeholder, deciding where each device should go together. Involving them in this stage of the process aids in gaining their support and trust. Furthermore, if they are involved from the start, there should be fewer revisions later in the process.
#3. Be Prepared Before You Go
Your site visit has the potential to reveal almost everything you need to know in order to create an exceptional design and execute a flawless installation. Planning time, like most things in life, will benefit you in the long run.
Spend some time working with the floorplan to create a physical plan for your walkthrough.
- Where and when do you need to go, and in what order?
- What questions do you need to ask while you’re looking at a specific area?
- Are there any aspects of the building’s floor plan or space that are particularly hazy or troubling?
Going to the location without a plan is risky – and it could mean the difference between a single site visit and multiple visits.
#4. Find out what each space is used for.
When conducting a site survey to plan and implement a security system, make sure you learn what each space is used for. Blueprints and site visits are important tools, but they leave many questions about usage unanswered.
Some spaces (restrooms, offices, residence halls) appear to have simple use cases. However, asking more questions and making fewer assumptions is the way to go in this situation. Only after you understand what each space in a building or campus is used for can you design a comprehensive and truly effective security system (whether you use campus security software or another method).
#5. Inventory Existing Infrastructure (If Any)
You won’t be starting from scratch if you’re upgrading or outfitting an existing space with a new or updated security system. Some of the existing infrastructure may be preserved. Make a list of everything electronic that already exists and will be integrated into your new installation. Tools or devices that haven’t reached the end of their useful life and integrate with selected campus security software or integrated building management system software may be worth keeping.
#6. Keep a centralized (cloud-based) record of everything.
Everything that occurs prior to, during, and following your site survey should be documented. And by “documented,” we don’t mean handwritten notes on scraps of paper stuffed in the backseat. We’re talking about something much more structured and formal: electronic documentation.
Ensure that all project-related information is electronically documented, using a system design platform or tool (or integrated building management system software) such as System Surveyor. Whatever tool you use, the key is to ensure that all documentation is electronically stored in a central location accessible to everyone who may require it.
#7. Examine Access Control Requirements
As a corollary to point 3, make sure to confirm which spaces—right down to the individual rooms—require access control. Because access control will be configured and managed separately using security software, you don’t need to know who needs access to what at this point. However, you must know which spaces should be controlled, right down to the room level.
#8. Make Use of the Appropriate Digital Tools
Our final piece of advice for conducting successful site surveys is to use the appropriate digital tools. Many of the steps listed here can be successfully implemented using a collaborative system design platform like System Surveyor, from cloud-based centralized documentation to building systems based on blueprints, floorplans, or Google Earth imagery.
On-site survey
While both on-site and customer surveys fall under the umbrella of ‘qualitative research,’ the former is significantly different in terms of goals and execution. While customer surveys ask questions of people who have purchased something from your website, an on-site web survey can be used to ask questions of a variety of different segments of visitors who use your website.
The main goal of conversion research is the same for both types of surveys; you’re trying to identify sources of friction. On-site survey are useful because they provide real-time feedback as visitors interact with your site.
Web and exit surveys are types of pop-up boxes that appear to visitors based on certain rules, such as time spent on the site, the number of pages visited, and activity (e.g. moving the mouse cursor next to the browser window closing X).
What can you learn from the on-site survey?
An on-site survey can teach you a lot. For example, you can:
- Determine the demand for new products or enhancements to existing ones.
- Determine who the customer is in order to create accurate customer personas.
- Investigate UX issues;
- Identify process bottlenecks;
- Recognize the underlying causes of abandonment;
- Separate visitor segments whose different motivations for similar on-site activity are missed by analytics.
- Determine their intention. What are they attempting to accomplish?
- Discover how they shop (comparison to competitors, which benefits they are looking for, and the language they use, etc).
On-Site survey tools
Your strategy should take precedence over the tool. When it comes to tools, however, there are some options (or read our huge conversion optimization tools guide, all reviewed by experts)
- Qualaroo
- HotJar
- Qualtrics
- Webengage
- Informizely
On-site survey are an important component of conversion research. They assist you in identifying and removing friction from the purchasing process, thereby increasing the conversion rate.
Because you’re polling traffic, and because polling tools have advanced targeting and segmentation capabilities, you can do a variety of things with an on-site survey.
But make no mistake: simply putting up a HotJar exit survey with a random question will not help you at all. With qualitative research, you must have a very clear goal in mind, one that will inform how you conduct the surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is site survey necessary?
Site surveys are critical for ensuring desired operations by assessing radio frequency (RF) and how it reacts in a specific location or environment. If proper assessment and planning are not carried out, there are a variety of issues that will arise as a result of inadequate coverage.
What is a site survey NZ?
Topographic or site surveys serve as the foundation for any development on a property. The architect uses the plan to calculate the overall height and height in relation to the boundary of the building. The Site Survey, most importantly, provides a snapshot of what is on-site at the time of the survey.
What are 4 pieces of information that can be identified from a site survey?
The report specifies the street number, building description, lot number and deposited plan, any encroachments by and upon the land, fencing, and encumbrances as listed on the title. These surveys are frequently performed prior to the sale of a property.
How do archaeologists survey a site?
Surface Investigations
A team of archaeologists will walk back and forth across the study area in straight lines. They walk around looking for signs of previous human activity, such as walls or foundations, artifacts, or color changes in the soil that may indicate features.
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