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Civil Engineering & Construction vocabulary · Surveying and Setting Out

Topographic survey

Meaning in civil engineering & construction, with examples

nounCommon term

In civil engineering & construction, topographic survey means: A survey that records the shape and height of the ground and the position of existing features such as buildings, trees, roads, kerbs and utilities.

In Turkish: topoğrafik ölçüm, halihazır harita, topoğrafik harita alımı

How it is used

Usually the first survey on a new project, which designers use to plan levels, drainage and earthworks. It is delivered as a drawing with spot levels and contours and is often called a topo survey.

Example sentences

  1. The topographic survey shows a stream that isn't on the old maps.

  2. We need an updated topographic survey before we design the new car park.

Common collocations

  • carry out a topographic survey
  • topo survey
  • spot levels
  • contours
  • existing features
  • surveyThe work of measuring and recording the position, height and shape of land, buildings or other features, or the report and drawings that result from it.
  • total stationAn electronic surveying instrument that measures horizontal and vertical angles and distances, then calculates the coordinates of points.
  • GNSSGlobal Navigation Satellite System: the general name for satellite positioning systems such as GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou, used to find exact positions on the ground.
  • levelThe height of a point above a fixed reference, such as a site benchmark or sea level. It is also the name of the instrument surveyors use to measure heights.
  • earthworksAll the work of moving soil on a site: excavating, transporting, filling, compacting and shaping the ground to the required levels.

More terms: Surveying and Setting Out

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