TRM 57

TECHNICAL REFERENCE 1 of 6

MANUAL Rev 3

MEASURED AND TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS Date: 5/00

INTRODUCTION

The following notes are intended to form the basis of a specification for surveys.

The first part deals with measured surveys and the second part with topographic surveys.

Some notes on presentation format are also provided.

The survey information is to be supplied as hard copy drawing(s) at the scales noted and with a
suitable legend. The same information is to also be supplied in digital form as a CAD file.

CHECKLIST FOR MEASURED SURVEYS

1 Identification of buildings(s)

2 Floor plans

2.1 All floors to be surveyed.

2.2 Scale: 1: …….

2.3 External detail:

 on ground floor only
 on all floors
 wall line
 exposed piping and trunking
 window sills
 balconies
 canopies
 fire escapes

2.4 Internal detail to be shown:

 structural walls
 columns
 beams
 non-structural walls
 partitioning
 panelling
 skirting

WSP Group
 TRM 57
TECHNICAL REFERENCE 2 of 6

MANUAL Rev 3

MEASURED AND TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS Date: 5/00

 lift shafts
 fixed cupboards and cabinets
 fixed shelving
 sanitary fittings
 doors
 windows
 staircases
 fireplaces.

2.5 Internal services:

 drainage
 water
 gas
 heating
 fire precautions
 electricity
 air conditioning
 public address systems
 ducting
 lighting fixtures, fuse boxes
 sockets, fittings
 plant outline and description
 others (specify) ………………………

2.6 Dimensions:
 directly measured/computed as indicated on site plan
 main dimensions of all rooms
 windows
 corridors.

2.7 Registration marks to be shown on all floor plans.

2.8 Additional information:

 Direction of floor boards to be indicated
 Wall/floor/ceiling finishes to be described
 Use of rooms with name and/or number
 Outbuildings.

2.9 Level information:

 Level density (specify) ……………………….
 Ceiling heights above datum/floor
 Arch heights above datum/floor
 Beam soffits
 Window and door heights
 Top and bottom of stairs/ramps
 Additional levels (specify) ………………………

WSP Group
 TRM 57
TECHNICAL REFERENCE 3 of 6

MANUAL Rev 3

MEASURED AND TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS Date: 5/00

3 Roof plans

3.1 Scale
3.2 Extent of survey (specify) ………………………
3.3 Detail to be shown:
 Windows/skylights
 Vents
 Chimneys
 Tanks
 Plant
 Window cleaning rails
 Ridge lines
 Fire escapes/catwalks
 Aerials
 Pipes
 Parapets/railings
 Surface materials
 Drainage features
 Others (specify) ………………………

4 Sections

4.1 Scale
4.2 Position of sections (specify)
4.3 Extent of sections (specify)
4.4 Fully detailed/simplified external building face
4.5 Section to include simple outline elevations of facing wall
4.6 Detail to be shown:
 floor levels
 ceiling heights
 sill heights
 windows
 doors
 structural members
 materials
 lights
 coving.

5 Elevations

5.1 Scale
5.2 Level datum to be used.
5.3 Extent: provide a marked-up site plan showing which facades are to be recorded;
include any small returns on building that are required.
5.4 Type of elevation required:
 outline only – suitable for rights of light, model making etc
 screened rectified photographic (approximate scale only)
 drawn fully detailed.
5.5 Treatment of curved surfaces:

WSP Group
 TRM 57
TECHNICAL REFERENCE 4 of 6

MANUAL Rev 3

MEASURED AND TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS Date: 5/00

 orthogonal projected elevations

 screened rectified photographic (approximate scale only)
 drawn fully detailed

5.6 If shrubs/creeper growth obscures part of the elevation please state if:
(a) this will be cleared before survey; or
(b) obscured areas is to be omitted from drawings

5.7 Detail to be shown on drawn elevations:

 door and window reveals
 window sills
 doorsteps
 window detail
 door detail
 stone-by-stone recording over whole façade
 ashlar/terracotta quoins to doors and windows
 string courses
 basement below street level
 railings
 balconies
 parapets
 pediment and entablature detail
 chimney detail
 roof detail
 column detail
 spire/turret detail
 pipes, cables etc
 clocks, plaques etc
 statutory, gargoyles and other ornamental detail
 roof buildings/plant/aerials etc
 cracks and deformation in brickwork/masonry
 annotation of materials
 damp proof courses (where visible)
 fire escapes
 others (specify).

CHECKLIST FOR TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY

1 Indentification

An extract of Ordnance Survey at 1: ………… indicating the area to be surveyed is enclosed.

2 Access

Access is via …………………

Permission must be obtained from …………………………

WSP Group
 TRM 57
TECHNICAL REFERENCE 5 of 6

MANUAL Rev 3

MEASURED AND TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS Date: 5/00

3 Drawings

Produce drawing(s) at a scale of …………… on …………… showing the following:

 north point
 paths with surface
 hedge with height
 ditches with depth and direction of flow
 fences with walls showing height, width and type
 changes of surface
 bushes shown as clumps only
 trees over 300 mm girth with species, girth, spread and height
 copses to be shown in outline
 street furniture on both sides of adjoining roads
 buildings in full outline with lowest floor level and height to eaves
 roads with crown, channel and kerb levels, manholes, gullies and adjoining footpaths
 Levels based on Ordnance Survey datum at 10 m grid and changes of slope by providing
contours at 0.5 m vertical interval
 Manhole cover levels and invert levels together with direction of flow of drains
 Services pits, valve boxes etc with levels
 Overhead obstructions including height
 A coordinated visit to site will need to be made with the engineer carrying out
contamination and soil investigation works in order to record the exact position, ground
level and depth of trial pits (assume …. no)
 The approximate position of the proposed buildings taken from scheme drawings will need
to be marked on the site
 A benchmark is to be provided on the site from which an archaeological survey can be co-
ordinated
 All necessary reduced levels are to be shown on the drawing.

4 Format for CAD Survey Files

 The CAD file is to be supplied in addition to the hard copy printouts. Both the hard copy
and CAD file are to be identical in content showing all reduced levels and relevant
information.
 Files to be supplied in one of the following formats (the proposed format must be
confirmed with our CAD manager before supplying the data):
- Microstation (Version 4 or 5). DGN drawing file format.
- Autocad release 12. DWG drawing file format.
- Moss drawing file format (a specification of the correct format will be supplied
by our Traffic and Highways section). DXF files can also be accepted but are
not preferred.
 Where the survey covers building floor plans these can be supplied on 2D files, separate
files are to be supplied for each level/floor.
 Site survey information should be supplied as a 3D file.
2D files can be accepted but 3D are preferred.
 Working units to be m (metres)

WSP Group
 TRM 57
TECHNICAL REFERENCE 6 of 6

MANUAL Rev 3

MEASURED AND TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS Date: 5/00

 A structured CAD layer system is required. Each type of site entity together with the
appropriate level text with the appropriate point markers are to be split onto their own CAD
layers.
CAD layers eg site boundary - layer 10
Site boundary level text - layer 11
Site boundary level marker - layer 12
 A layering convention is to be agreed before CAD files are submitted
 A full layer sheet must be provided.
 Breakline or string entities (eg kerb lines, wall lines etc) and their associated levels are to
be on separate and different layers from general site spot levels
 Level text is to be one text entity with the origin coincident with the symbol giving the
location of the level.
 Drawings to be to a scale of 1: …………
 A scale bar is to be included on the file to ensure the drawing is to scale.
 All layers must be turned on.

KEYWORDS

Buildings; measured; sites; specifications; surveys; topographic.

Author: Steven Faulkner, WSP South, Wimbledon

Sponsor: Group Technical Centre

WSP Group