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Surveys
in Town Planning

Surveys do not necessarily mean the work carried

out by a land surveyor, namely, measurement of
distances, levels and typography. The chief
subjects of survey for town planning are:

1. The people, their interests and occupations

and how they follow them
2. The land and buildings and how they serve
their interests

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The preparation of any plan for the development of an

urban area, city or town requires reliable factual data
regarding existing physical and socio-economic
conditions such as housing, transport, industries,
employment and social services such as schools,
hospitals and recreational facilities. The process of
collecting such data is called a "Planning Survey".

Data collected in surveys are properly analyzed in

relation to the area under consideration and they
are recorded on maps, charts, schedules and
sometimes on models.

In town planning it is also referred as civic survey

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The advantages of fully documented and vividly

illustrated survey are as follows:

1. The survey draws attention to the inter-relation

between various complicated activities of
town life.

2. The survey stresses the local requirements and

appropriate treatment to be given socially,
culturally, ecologically. It works as diagnosis
before treatment.

Types of Surveys (Broadly):

A. Preliminary Survey
B. National Survey
C. Regional Survey
D. Civic Survey

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Preliminary Survey: Restricted inquiries made for

the town planning scheme. Data collected fairly
general in nature. Main objective is to decide
approximately the boundary of area to be
planned and to find out the problems requiring
further information.

National Survey: A study of natural resources and

potentialities gives a broad vision for the
requirements town planning schemes.

Regional Survey: Survey is conducted to

investigate the economical, physical, social
conditions of the region to be covered under the
town planning scheme. The town to be planned
should fit into the conditions prevailing in the
region.

Civic Survey: The civic or town survey is conducted

with special reference to the conditions prevailing
in and around the town to be planned.

Collection of Data:
Following four surveys are carried out to collect
data and other relevant information, required in
the process of town planning:

1. Functional Survey
2. Social Survey
3. Territorial Survey
4. Vital Survey

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Functional Survey:
The functional aspects of a town life are studied
under this survey such as means of
communication, conditions of industries,
commercial areas, implementation of plan,
financial aspects etc.

1. Roads including history of roads, traffic survey,

details of width of roads and tree planting
2. Railways with positions of level crossings,
passenger stations and good sheds.
3. Airports & Seaports
4. Waterways and Canals
5. Routes of services by bus, tram, ferry and
suburban railway
6. Facilities provided for access to town
7. Local Industries, their classification and
location, availability of raw materials and type
of labour employed
8. Mines and their location
9. Conditions of Commercial activity
10. Probable cost of planning scheme, sources of
raising funds, preparing schedule of taxes and
chalking out a line of implementation of the
scheme.

Social Survey:
The social aspects of a town life are studied under
this survey such as community structure, history,
architecture, health conditions, housing, public
services etc.

1. Ancient Ruins
2. Architectural character of the locality
including local usages
3. History of growth from the study of old maps
4. Condition favourable for preservation of wild
life and spots of natural beauty.
5. Birth rates, death rates and charts of diseases
6. Residential areas including historical studies,
types of buildings, slums and suburban
development
7. Historical buildings and public buildings, their
location and classificiation
8. Parks and Playgrounds, their size and number
in relation to residential areas
9. Public services comprising of water supply,
sewerage, drainage, electricity, telephone,
street lighting, cemeteries and fire protection.

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Territorial Survey:
The physical aspects of a territory are studied
under this survey such as physical features,
agricultural soil, forests, climatic conditions, types
of soil etc.

1. Geology showing arrangements of underlying

rocks and method responsible for formation of
typography
2. Contours of the land surface showing both the
actual heights and variation of surfaces
3. Rivers, oceans, streams and lakes
4. Climatic conditions including temperature
range, rainfall and direction and intensity of
winds
5. Types of soils including areas of first class
agricultural soil
6. Forest and other natural vegetation
7. Areas which are low lying and are likely to
submerge

Vital Survey:
The population aspects of a town under
consideration are studied under this survey such as
actual population, future population, growth of
town, density of population, occupations os
peopleetc.

1. History of past growth of population

2. Characteristics of present population
3. Factors which influence the future rate of
growth of the town such as migration,
decentralization, development of new local
industries etc
4. Density of population

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Methods adopted to collect data:

1. Questionnaire Form
2. Interviews
3. Specialists
4. Records & Reports
5. Town Planner with his/her team

Drawings:
The data and information collected in survey work are
assembled and illustrated on maps, drawings, charts and
diagrams. Generally the maps prepared are

1. Contour Map
2. Land use Map
3. Net Population Density
4. Programme Map of Town showing development in forst five
years and also subsequent developments
5. Town Map showing proposals

Reports

Drawings are accompanied by a detailed report on proposed

town planning schemes, and if necessary models.

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Base Map of a city/town should consist of the following

a) Physical
(i) hills
(ii) water bodies
(iii) agricultural land and forest areas

b) Topography
(i) transport networks (airport, railways, roads, streets, lanes, etc.)
(ii) utility and service lines
(iii) built-up areas by plots and parcels preferably with survey numbers
(iv) contours at an interval of less than 5 meters depending on
Physiography of town and scale of the map.

c) Cultural Features
(i) parks and gardens
(ii) public and semi-public buildings (important landmarks)
(iii) important archaeological and historical monuments

d) Planning and Administrative Boundaries

(i) municipal boundary
(ii) census ward
(iii) administrative sub-division limits (if any)
(iv) planning area boundary (if identified)
(v) gaothan area/abadi/settlement area (urban village or rural settlement
within the municipal limits or on the fringe of the municipal town)
(vi) cantonment area boundary (if any)
(vii) grids (artificial or latitudes and longitudes)

e. North Point

f. Scale
f.1 Graphic Scale
f.2 Area Scale
. f.3 Numeric Scale

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