Point To Point Land Surveyors is happy to announce that with the addition of new associates to our staff we are expanding our Cell Tower Survey coverage to include Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky. With these additions we can better serve our existing client base when it comes to telecommunication surveys and hopefully attract new clients. Rest assured we will be offering the same level of service that our clients have grown to expect over the years. All of our work will be done in house and not 'brokered" out or subcontracted to outside firms. This will allow us to deliver a quality survey consistently, have control over the final product, and achieve quick turnaround times.

Building Column Line Staking

Building column line staking is an integral part of constructing a building. It ensures builders that the structure that are constructing is built in the correct place and that the columns are placed exactly where they were designed to be placed. Any type of construction staking is done specifically by professional land surveyors to make sure that improvements are built in the right area based on the site plan and engineering plans. What happens is that the surveyor uses structural or architectural plans to mark where the columns and other features will be built, marks the dimensions and sizes, and then allows the construction crew to build the improvements at the location without worry of whether things will be in the right place or not. 

Surveyors do a lot of different projects on a construction job, but building column line staking is critical since columns are typically a support structure for the property. Being able to mark an entire line that is level and straight for the construction of the columns will allow the builder to ensure that everything is right where it needs to be based on the site plan and for the sake of structural integrity, which is critical in the building and construction process. It is always in the best interest of the construction company or builder to rely on a professional land surveyor for the staking process. 

A qualified professional land surveyor has an advantage because they can interpret the plans and then layout the site with temporary markers to fit the goals of the builder, engineers, or architect. The builder will be able to trust that the building column line staking is correct and that everything can continue to be built accurately and reliably because the land surveyor has taken the time to mark everything for the construction crew. Staking is critical because it requires a boundary and topographic survey to make sure that the site plan matches the actual property built. 

Building column line staking is not the only type of staking done. While this will ensure that columns are constructed evenly and at the right distances, there are other types of staking in a construction build. For example, mass grading, curb, fences, storm drains, sanitary sewer lines, utilities, building offsets, sidewalks, roads and even parking lots require staking to ensure that they are all in the right places and that the construction crew can work around them or perform their job correctly. All land staking is done first and then building staking will begin with a survey that will utilize the dimensions and controls of the property to find the exact locations for staking that aids the building process. 

Improvement location surveys are intended to depict on-site property improvements that have been proposed or to record existing or recent improvements that have been made on a property. These surveys ensure that improvements are within the boundary lines of the property and are not lying in setbacks or other rights-of way or easements. The need for land surveying is because of a need for accurate property records and assurance of compliance within building regulations and land use, as well as to confirm zoning requirements are met within a building project. Any time that improvements are made to a property, it is typical to get a survey performed so that the property can be verified for accuracy and regulated use. These survey drawings may be required by local zoning authorities or by mortgage companies. It is also useful to have an improvement location survey completed before purchasing a home to be sure that you are not buying a property with encroachment issues.

There are a variety of different types of equipment that can be used in land surveying for improvements on a property, and these tools make it easy for surveyors to get the information that they need much quicker than ever before. Identifying property improvements through a survey is necessary for many renovations or modifications that are made to a property for legal reasons. Keep in mind that improvement surveys are NOT the same as Improvement Location Certificates (ILCs), and that a certificate is not for the use of a property owner.

A certificate of improvement locations is simply for the title insurance company and/or the mortgage broker, and people need to be certain that they are actually getting a survey when they request one. Certificates will be cheaper and require less time to complete, but they are not going to provide what most land owners need when they are seeking improvement location surveys. Home owners and land owners need to be cautious in seeking this type of survey and ensure that they are actually getting a survey done on the property that is useable for their needs. 

Improvement location surveys are ideal for property owners to have proof that their improvements are within regulations and approved by regulating authorities. They help to keep the property deed record updated so that the county can track the property exactly as it is and ensure that its use falls within legal allowance. Getting land and building surveys done can be a complicated process for some people, but taking the time to understand what you are getting involved with will often make it easier than you might realize. In order to know whether an improvement location survey is necessary for you, check with your regulating authorities to see what they require or call your local professional land survey company.

Although professional land survey companies that do improvement location surveys are not hard to find, a home owner should do background research and keep in mind though that not all land survey companies provide the same level of service. 

House site plans are created after a survey is performed. These plans will be used to demonstrate the proposed development of a parcel of land. Typically, a site plan will include a drawing of the land, to scale, including legal boundaries, as well as the following information:

• Easements
• Proposed and existing structures
• Property lines with accurate dimensions
• Title, legal description, and scale of drawing
• North arrow to demonstrate property location
• Roads, sidewalks, and driveways in existence
• Drainage paths and bodies of water when applicable

In the event that a site plan is being developed for a property that is in a flood plain, graded area, or eroded location, engineers might be required to develop a grading plan for the property, as well. 

House site plans are a necessary part of the construction process because they verify the accuracy of the land parcel, project the building that is to be erected and ensure that it is built according to codes and regulations as to the proper use of a parcel of land. Building a house is a lot of work, but taking care of details like planning and surveying always make things easier in the end. 

In the event that house site plans are not accurate or errors are discovered after a building project is completed, the surveyor will need to come back in and do a correction survey to determine which elements are out of place, whether the build is legally and accurately compliant, and what things need to be changed or re-done in order to make the property legally accurate and to meet the requirements of the regulating authorities. This can be a lot of hassle, which is why having accurate site plans done in the first place is often the better option for builders and land owners. 

House site plans have become much easier and more accurate in the past few years simply because technology has provided surveyors with better tools and resources to create the best site plans possible. Today, getting a site plan survey and drawing done is easier, more accurate, and more affordable than ever because there are so many innovations used to complete the process. Regardless of the cost or time required, though, this is something that has to be done in order to ensure the accuracy and proper use of a land parcel either before, after, or during the construction process. Having it done before is the best option because it can eliminate the need for relocation of structures or other issues that can arise.

How Old is the Land Surveying Profession?

Land Surveying might not be the “oldest profession”, (we all know what that is), but it’s close.  The first legal description of land was recorded in the Bible when God gave the Israelites the “Promised Land”. 

(Num 34:1-12 NIV)  The LORD said to Moses, {2} “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance will have these boundaries: {3} “’Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern boundary will start from the end of the Salt Sea, {4} cross south of Scorpion Pass, continue on to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon, {5} where it will turn, join the Wadi of Egypt and end at the Sea. {6} “’Your western boundary will be the coast of the Great Sea. This will be your boundary on the west. {7} “’For your northern boundary, run a line from the Great Sea to Mount Hor {8} and from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad, {9} continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north. {10} “’For your eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. {11} The boundary will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Kinnereth. {12} Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. “’This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.’”

In modern times, legal descriptions are part of the Title Deeds that we have written and recorded when we convey property to each other. Today’s modern descriptions are much more accurate with language containing “metes and bounds” (directions and distances) which describe the direction of each line beginning at a known point and running around the property and hopefully, (if the calculations are correct) making a closed figure.  These descriptions usually also contain references to monumentation (physical points like iron pipes, pins, stones or concrete monuments) which a surveyor can find when he actually performs the survey. It is these points that Land Surveyors measure to accurately retrace the intention of the legal description and accurately survey the land.  These property corners are considered evidence of boundaries very similar to evidence in a courtroom and should never be tampered with or removed.  Many States have very strict laws and fines in place for the purpose of protecting each property owners boundary corners; however, as we have already covered, this isn’t a new idea.   (Deu 27:17 NIV)  "Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's boundary stone." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"

Do you know if your land is in a flood zone? If not, you should. Even if your land does not flood yearly (or even every decade), you may need flood insurance to protect you from a flood that is destined to happen at some point in the future. Most homeowners insurance policies do not automatically cover a flood, even if your property is in a flood zone.

Knowing whether or not your home is in a flood zone is important whether you are a property owner, homeowner, or tenant. You’ll need to know this information if you wish to determine the cost or apply for flood insurance. It’s also important to know about the dangers of flooding so that you’re not caught unprepared. Flood zones also have implications for public utilities, real estate development, and other actions on the land.

To find out if land is in a flood zone, you’ll need to look at a flood map. This map, which covers all areas of the United States, is produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and is updated every few years. FEMA flood maps are available for free viewing on the internet. The process for determining whether your land lies in a flood zone is very easy. Simply find your property on the FEMA flood zone map.

To find a particular property on the flood map, you'll need a little information about where the property is located. All properties are represented in the map, regardless of their flood zone designation. You can use the street address or the state, county, and city to go to that part of the flood map directly. You can also view the entire map of the area, zooming in until you have located the particular lot in which you're interested. If you've already viewed the flood map and known the Panel ID for the FEMA flood map of your area, enter that ID number to be taken directly to that section of the map. Once you've found the area of the map that is of interest to you, you can purchase a copy, or print it for free on your own printer.

On this map, you’ll see the various flood zones, from areas likely to flood annually to those that may flood every century or even less frequently. Some areas that you may not think of as being in a flood zone are actually located in a flood zone. Floodplains are described by the expected frequency of flooding. For example, an annual floodplain is expected to flood once each year, while a 100-year floodplain is expected to flood about once every 100 years. Anywhere it rains, flooding is possible, even if you've never heard of floods in the area. In fact, according to the National Flood Insurance Program, nearly a quarter of flood insurance claims come from areas with low to moderate flood risk. The flood risk shown on a FEMA flood map is based on history, rainfall, riverflow, topography, and other data, and is re-evaluated every few years based on new data.

The lower the degree of risk, the lower the flood insurance premium you'll have to pay. Flood insurance providers use the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for insurance evaluations. This map shows your community's base flood elevation, flood zones, and the boundaries of the floodplain, or area that is most at risk of frequent flooding. If your home is located in a flood plain likely to flood at least once per century, you are required to have flood insurance. This can be a problem if you have modified your land, for example building up the land under your home so that it no longer lies in the floodplain. In order to reduce your flood insurance requirements, you may need to have a land surveyor survey your land to provide elevation certification.

If you are applying for a Liquor License, Alcohol Beverage License, Distilled Spirits License or Beer and Wine License for your restaurant or store the agency overseeing the license may require a survey. Most agencies have a set of criteria that a store or restaurant must meet in order to obtain a license. Typically the survey will have to show distances from the building applying for the license to churches, schools, treatment centers, parks, or other alcohol licensed establishments. 

This survey has to be certified and signed by a professional land surveyor registered and in good standing with the state. 

POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS has years of experience in providing liquor license surveys through out Georgia and Maryland. Contact us today toll free 866-706-9114 or CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE QUOTE REQUEST or to discuss you individual liquor license needs.

Liquor license surveys are required for establishments that are going to serve or sell alcohol. Any business that wants to obtain a liquor license will need to ensure that they get a professional survey performed of the property, including all buildings and land included, to include with the application for a permit or license with the state regulating agency. These surveys will include all of the pertinent information that is required by regulating authorities to determine that a building or business is in the right location or in a useable location for selling or serving alcohol. 

The information collected in liquor license surveys includes things like:

• Location of the building
• Size of the building
• Distances from churches, schools, parks, treatment centers, or other establishments that serve or sell alcohol
• Safety and security features of the building
• Access to the building, including major streets and highways

Basically, a survey for a liquor license serves to prove that an establishment is not located too close to schools or other places that would be adversely affected by the establishment’s existence in the community. Typically, zoning regulations are checked out and surveyors will determine that a building is in the right location and capable of conducting business without a negative impact. 

Liquor license surveys are not always going to prove a business worthy of operation. In some cases, they are even educational to the potential business owner because they might not be aware of other buildings or facilities in their area that would be negatively affected by their sale or service of alcohol. Utilizing the liquor license survey, they can better understand where they are setting up shop, why their location works or doesn’t work, and then submit the survey with their application in hopes of being approved to open an establishment and have a valid liquor license. 

Requirements vary by state for liquor license surveys. The only constant throughout all areas is that a survey IS required in order to apply for licensing. By taking the time to learn about local laws and research what your liquor licensing authority requires, you will be much better able to ensure that your survey presents your business as a place that is capable of serving or selling alcohol without interfering with other buildings and businesses or having a negative impact on the community. In the process of getting a liquor license, this might seem like a tedious chore but it can also be educational for business owners. 

Point To Point Land Surveyors is now offering cell tower land surveying services in the state of Massachusetts. With the addition of Massachusetts, Point To Point Land Surveyors is now able to serve our telecommunication clients in 9 states including: Georgia, Maryland, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Massachusetts. What separates Point To Point Land Surveyors from other cell tower surveyors is that our work in done in house. We do not broker work to outside firms so our quality and accuracy remains consistently high in every state in which we work. Contact us for any cell tower land surveying needs including: 1A and 2C Letters, height verifications, raw land surveys, co-location surveys, or title surveys.

The border between the United States and Mexico has a long and often tumultuous history. After the end of the Mexican American War in 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the U.S. over half of Mexico’s land. This area eventually became all of California, Nevada, Utah, and Texas, and parts of Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

The land that Mexico gave up in this treaty was still relatively unmapped when the treaty was signed, so the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo also called for commissions from both the United States and Mexico to map the boundary and place permanent markers on the ground. The U.S. and Mexico Boundary Commissions mapped this boundary between 1849 and 1857, producing over fifty maps in the process.

During survey negotiations, the United States-Mexico boundary was marked by negotiators on a map. The surveyors’ job, then, was to find this drawn boundary on the land itself. The treaty writers understood that they could not define the boundary line exactly where the surveyors would end up placing it on the ground, so they decided that the surveying commissions would have the final decisions as to its exact placement. Because the commission included members from the United States as well as Mexico, the results and conflicts often reflected varying politics as each side vied for as much land as possible.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did describe some of the boundary areas, following both natural rivers and geometrical lines. These geometric lines were nearly always drawn by a treaty committee with no personal knowledge of the area’s geography, meaning that surveyors often found it difficult to access the land in order to conduct a survey and place boundary monuments.

However, river-based boundaries were not perfect either. The precise location of river banks is likely to change over time, and in several occasions differing lines following the various river channels could be interpreted as the true boundary. In fact, the Rio Grande became a point of contention for several decades following the completion of the boundary surveys, and an International Boundary Commission was created in 1889 to resolve problems related to changes in the Colorado River and the Rio Grande.

Another issue complicating the matter was the map upon which the treaty writers based their decisions; much of the area had not been properly mapped before this time, and the treaty writers were relying on an old and incorrect map. In many places, the treaty writers wrote that the boundary would be drawn at a particular point shown on the map, but they did not ensure that this map actually coincided with geographical reality. The map they used did not correctly show the location of several existing towns or the route of the Rio Grande, which were used as important points to describe the location of the boundary.

These issues caused problems almost as soon as the surveyors began their work. The boundary was particularly questioned to the west of the Rio Grande. The result, known as the Bartlett-Garcia Conde compromise, was soon embroiled in controversy too. In California, the surveyors began entangled in a political battle over the port of San Diego, which was wanted by both sides. In 1853, a new U.S.-Mexico treaty known as the Gadsden Purchase was signed to further describe the boundaries, removing several sources of controversy and clarifying what the surveyors had already accomplished.

The surveying of the U.S.-Mexico boundary, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, was completed in 1855, Once this fieldwork was complete, the then produced the first maps of the surveyed boundary line; these were completed in 1857.

The USGS, or United States Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The role of the USGS is to study the landscape and natural resources of the United States. There are four major disciplines contained within the United States Geological Survey: biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The purpose of USGS findings is research, not regulations.

The USGS is a very large mapping agency, best known for its topographic maps of the United States, drawn at 1:24,000 scale. The USGS publishes many maps, charts, and related documents. These maps are sold by multiple business partners and used by commercial web mapping services.

Other functions of the USGS include monitoring worldwide earthquake activity, magnetic field activity, astrogeology research, and other scientific research programs. The USGS is also working to create a National Volcano Early Warning System throughout U.S. territory. The National Wildlife Health Center run by the USGS provides scientific support for wildlife and ecosystem projects; there are a total of 17 biological research centers from the USGS across the United States. The USGS is also involved in the Geographic Names Information Center, among many other organizations.

The motto of the USGS is “Science for a Changing World.” The USGS was created by Congress in 1879, cared with the "classification of the public lands, and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain." Its first task was to inventory the lands added to United States territory through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803; as late as 1879, these lands had not yet been completely mapped.

Some of the most important early activities of the USGS were geological surveys. Early surveys had taken place throughout the 1800s, mostly in support of agriculture. These soon shifted to surveys for metal mining purposes. In the early 1830s a few individual states established state surveys to examine the geology and mineral resources of their land. In 1834 the Topographical Bureau of the U.S. Army began constructing a geological map of the United States, although it was soon discontinued. Throughout the 1830s there was growing awareness throughout the Federal government of the importance of science, culminating in the 1839 establishment of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, whose purpose was to explore and map the continent.

With the discovery of gold in California in 1848, these activities became even more important. In 1853, Congress appropriated $150,000 to the Corps of Topographical Engineers for surveys to determine the best route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. By 1867, Congress had authorized four major western explorations under the General Land Office, in which geology would be a main objective. These were conducted by both military and civilian parties, creating conflicts between the four surveys. In the end, Congress concluded tat additional surveys needed to be done. These surveys became the reason for the Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, which went on to become the USGS.

Today, the mission of the USGS has shifted more towards science, and the providing of scientific information to understand and describe the earth, particularly with regard to natural disasters and natural resources.

March 21-27, 2010 is designated by the National Society of Professional Surveyors as National Surveyors Week. It is a time for all Professional Land Surveyors to spend educating the public about the Land Surveying profession. As Professional Land Surveyors we are following in the footsteps of some of the most prominent surveyors in American history.  Presidents Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln all began their careers as land surveyors, which is why surveyors of today claim Mt. Rushmore as a monument to “three surveyors and another guy.”  Surveyors have figured prominently in the development of this country from its inception down to the present day, from Banneker, Ellicott, Lewis, and Clark to Dave Doyle.  Modern day surveyors are integral to the planning, development and construction of projects which are not simply subdivisions or housing projects, but which are designed to be and truly become real communities all across this great country.  We are also helping to build and rebuild energy distribution systems and the nation’s infrastructure.  

Also known as “topogs,” the Corps of Topographic Engineers was a division of the U.S. Army during the nineteenth century. The Corps of Topographic Engineers was created as an offshoot of the Corps of Engineers, which was founded in 1775 to build fortifications for the army. Established in 1838, the purpose of the topographical engineering division was to make the American West accessible by exploration. One of the first projects of the Corps of Topographical Engineers was to improve the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers for navigational purposes. This project actually began in 1824, more than a decade before the Corps was officially established.

The Corps also began long-running projects to address flood issues in the mid-1800s. The Corps of Topographical Engineers was also tasked with mapping and the design of lighthouses, navigational routes, and other federal civil projects, including the Lakes Survey District for surveying and mapping the Great Lakes area. The General Survey Act authorized the Corps of Topographic Engineers to survey roads and canals throughout the nation. One of the first road surveying projects conducted by the topogs was the survey and construction of the National Road, which continued until Federal funds dried up a few years later. This division was also constantly involved in boundary surveys throughout the country, most notably in Texas and in the West.

In addition to roadway, waterway, and boundary projects, the Corps of Topographic Engineers was involved in surveying projects for the Mexican-American War in the 1840s and the U.S. Civil War in the 1960s. During the Civil War, the Corps of Engineers was responsible for surveying and constructing railroad bridges, forts, and roads. This division served a major function in making the war logistically feasible, particularly for the Union forces.

In 1866, the Corps of Topographic Engineers was merged with the Army Corps of Engineers, which remains a federal agency to this day. It is the world's largest public engineering, surveying, and construction design agency in the world. Today the Corps of Engineers has projects in all fifty states and ninety countries around the world. The Corps owns and operates over 600 dams, and each year dredges more than 255,000,000 cubic yards during construction or maintenance projects. Nearly all of the Corps of Engineer's projects involve substantial surveying efforts, prior to groundbreaking, during the construction process, and as part of maintenance and repair work.

The Corps of Engineers has undertaken several massive and notable surveying and construction projects, including the Washington Monument, completed in 1884, the Panama Canal, completed in 1914, and Bonneville Dam, completed in 1937. The Corps of Engineers was also involved in the surveying, planning, and construction of the Pentagon in 1942 and 1943. Another major project of the Corps of Engineers, the 17 mile-long Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, is known for its immense  construction challenges. Though usually associated with dams, canals, and flood protection, the Corps of Engineers is actually involved in a wide range of construction projects. In addition to these projects, the Corps of Engineers also conducts research related to mapping and topographical terrain analysis and geospatial surveying.

Charles Lee Iner, RLS
February 2010

If you are thinking about installing a fence or having someone install a fence for you, contacting a Professional Land Surveyor like POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS should be a top priority. Many times a homeowner or fencing contractor will say they "found the pins" and don't need a professional to help out. In some cases this is fine, but as you can see in this picture it can lead to major problem and possible lawsuits.

This fence was installed without the benefit of a land survey. The wood stakes with pink flagging mark the actual property line. The fence encroached 6 feet in the front and 22' in the back unto the neighboring property. Not only is the fence over the property line the wooden play set is encroaching too.

The owner said, "I thought I knew where the pins were and the fence installation crew agreed with me." Unfortunately neither party was correct and a land survey would have saved this home owner a lot of time, money, trouble and head-aches.

Don't put yourself in this situation. Call POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS and have your property surveyed before installing a fence or other structure that could impact the property line.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE QUOTE REQUEST.

POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS offers surveys in the following Maryland counties:

Allegany County Land Surveyors
Anne Arundel County Land Surveyors
City of Annapolis Land Surveyors
Baltimore City Land Surveyors
Baltimore County Land Surveyors
Calvert County Land Surveyors
Caroline County Land Surveyors
Carroll County Land Surveyors
Cecil County Land Surveyors
Charles County Land Surveyors
Dorchester County Land Surveyors
Frederick County Land Surveyors
Garrett County Land Surveyors
Harford County Land Surveyors
Howard County Land Surveyors
Kent County Land Surveyors
Montgomery County Land Surveyors
Prince George's County Land Surveyors
Queen Anne's County Land Surveyors
Somerset County Land Surveyors
St. Mary's County Land Surveyors
Talbot County Land Surveyors
Washington County Land Surveyors
Wicomico County Land Surveyors
Worcester County Land Surveyors

As a member of the National Society of Professional Land Surveyors (an American Congress on Surveying & Mapping member organization) and as a Professional Surveyor, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skills to the advancement and betterment of human welfare.

I pledge:

To give the utmost of performance;

To participate in none but honest enterprise;

To live and work according to the laws of humankind and the highest standards of professional conduct;

To place service before profit, honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations;

In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge.

Canon 1. 

A Professional Surveyor should refrain from conduct that is detrimental to the public. 

Canon 2. 

A Professional Surveyor should abide by the rules and regulations pertaining to the practice of surveying within the licensing jurisdiction.

Canon 3. 

A Professional Surveyor should accept assignments only in one's area of professional competence and expertise.

Canon 4. 

A Professional Surveyor should develop and communicate a professional analysis and opinion without bias or personal interest.

Canon 5. 

A Professional Surveyor should maintain the confidential nature of the surveyor-client relationship.

Canon 6. 

A Professional Surveyor should use care to avoid advertising or solicitation that is misleading or otherwise contrary to the public interest. 

Canon 7. 

A Professional Surveyor should maintain professional integrity when dealing with members of other professions.

POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS is an industry leading land surveying company. POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS is a firm dedicated to exceeding your expectations. POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS differentiates itself from other land surveying companies by offering a highly skilled land surveying team with the talent and versatility to provide you with excellent service, accurate results and a quality product on time and on budget.

Founded in 2004, POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS, INC. is a full service surveying firm dedicated to exceeding expectations with a highly skilled land surveying team with nearly a century of combined survey experience. We have the talent and versatility to provide excellent service, accurate results and a quality product on time and on budget. POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS, INC. currently employs over 30 highly qualified and motivated individuals consisting of professional land surveyors, field and office project managers, certified survey technicians, field crew chiefs and survey instrument operators. Point to Point Land Surveyors, Inc. is a corporation, incorporated in the state of Georgia. We do not qualify as a minority, female owned or disadvantage business enterprise. However, we do qualify as a Small Business under the current Small Business Administration standard.

POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS, INC. is licensed and provides services in the Georgia, Maryland, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina.

The increase in the Fort Benning infrastructure has created a lot of construction demand in that area. Point To Point Land Surveyors is on-site assisting in construction layout, staking and as-built surveys. Our relationships with grading and construction contractors has enable us to develop partnerships that are mutually beneficial.

Residential Land Survey
This is a typical lot survey, useful for placing a fence around your property, to proceed with an addition, landscaping, or to remove a tree. Read more about residential land surveys.

ALTA Land Title Surveys
(American Land Title Association/American Congress on Surveying and Mapping)
This is the most comprehensive type of survey and improvement location. It covers all aspects of a boundary survey and improvement location and identification of any additional evidence of possession or use which could be adverse to the interests of the purchaser. This type of survey is most commonly performed on commercial property.

Topographic Surveys
These surveys are graphic representations of physical features of the land depicting natural and man-made features, such as fences, buildings, utilities, hills, valleys, streams, lakes, roads, etc. They can be performed by field ground methods or by aerial photographic methods. A "topo" locates and displays all of a property's features, natural and man-made (as-built), including buildings, roads, fences, creeks, rivers, wetlands, and elevations and contours of property. Incomplete or inaccurate base maps can result in design issues during construction, causing costly delays and additional expenses.

Boundary Surveys
An accurate boundary survey or property line survey is a vital first step for any property acquisition, development or improvement. These surveys are normally described by Metes and Bounds and may require extensive research of adjoining deeds, original government surveys, highway plans, etc. A Boundary Survey usually requires field work on neighboring lands to verify or find existing monumentation.

Construction Layout
Surveyors are an essential part of design/build community that includes engineers, architects, grading contractors and utility contractors. Accurate site layout is essential when performing any type of construction work. Our surveyors are prepared to make sure you get the timely response you need. Read more about the neccessity of accurate construction staking.

Subdivision Platting
Subdividing land into parcels for homes may sound straight forward, but in practice it is an involved process that requires experience and the ability to communicate effectively with engineers, and local, city or county officials. Whether for a single lot "cut-out" or a multi-lot subdivision, our plats are prepared to meet or exceed the standards set forth by county or city review agencies

Telecommunication Tower Surveys
When performing surveys for telecommunication sites time is of the essence. Our surveyors are prepared to deliver accurate Tower Surveys including 2C and 1A Certification Letters, Legal Descriptions and Lease and easement layouts. Our clients have come to trust us and depend upon our timeliness.

Contact Point To Point Land Surveyors for all your Telecommunication Survey needs in Georgia, Maryland, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Massachusetts, North Carolina and South Carolina.

As-Built Surveys
When you need to know exactly how your entire site or any portion thereof was constructed an As-Built survey may be what you need. Many review agencies are requiring an As-Built survey to verify just how close to the construction plans your site was built. Our surveyors will locate those features needed and prepare an exact map of those items.

FEMA Flood Elevation Certificates

Accurate, fast, and dependable flood elevation certificates. Point To Point Land Surveyors have the experience and knowledge to provide you the correct information on your FEMA Flood Elevation Certificate or Letter of Map Ammendment.

Liquor License Surveys
A requirement of some government agencies in order to obtain a liquor license.

LiDAR Mapping
Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) is a remote sensing system used to collect topographic data. This technology is being used to collect data with aircraft-mounted lasers capable of recording elevation measurements at a rate of 2,000 to 5,000 pulses per second and have a vertical precision of 15 centimeters (6 inches).

Expert Witness
Contact us for all your Land Surveying Expert Witness Testimony needs.

Digital Terrain Modeling
A digital terrain model, also known as a digital elevation model, is a digitally-created representation of ground topography and terrain. Although maps depicting topographical information have been produced for hundreds of years, it is only recently that such elevation data has been collected in such a precise digital form as to allow the creation of digital models. Read more....

Accident Surveys
When it comes to accident surveys, clients including insurance or law enforcement agencies may require such a survey as part of their investigative process. In other cases, the person involved in the accident will hire a surveyor to conduct the accident survey.

POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS is happy to announce that Virgil Shugars has been hired as a Survey Pary Chief in our Mount Airy, Maryland office. Virgil is a respected surveyor with 25 years plus experience in all aspects of surveying such as highway and roadway staking, residential and commercial construction staking, telecommunication surveys and utility surveys.

The Great Depression of the 1930s significantly impacted virtually every occupation. Land surveyors and civil engineers were not immune to the economic downtown, and thousands soon found themselves looking for work in once-booming towns. By 1933, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, a government agency, contacted the United States Coast & Geodetic Survey, or  C&GS, to implement a program to create employment opportunities for surveyors and engineers.

The initial goals of the C&GS program included employment of up to 15,000 surveyors and engineers. Despite an initial shortage of precise surveying equipment and vehicles needed for transportation to survey sites, the program was formally established in November of 1933. In many cases, C&GS borrowed unused equipment from railroads, state highway departments, municipalities, and construction companies. Still, this equipment often did not offer the level of precision to which surveyors were accustomed.

Work began nearly immediately in every state of the country under the auspices of the Civil Works Administration (CWA). However, because the program was founded in November, work began in Winter, traditionally the least productive season for surveying. Federal funding dried up by January of 1934, resulting in orders to cease hiring new surveyors. Nearly 10,000 skilled surveyors and engineers continued on the project, under all but four states.

Projects undertaken by surveyors during the Great Depression varied widely between states. As with many other Depression-era work programs, many of these programs would not have been considered were it not for the pressing need to create employment. Often the projects were water related, including the establishment of horizontal and vertical control lines on rivers, canals, and dams. Although some surveys continued under this program as late as 1939, in most states the surveys were completed by early 1935. Statistics through June 1934 show that 20,000 miles of leveling, 1,200 miles of triangulation, and 14,000 miles of traverse had been completed as part of the project.

In one of many similar attempts to employ land surveyors during the Great Depression, Georgia commissioned a large-scale survey which led to the first time in the state's history that all of the land and boundaries were measured and monumented. The Wisconsin Land Economic Inventory, often referred to as the 'Bordner Survey,' is another example of Depression-era surveying projects. The goal of this project was to inventory Wisconsin's land resources. Field workers, usually foresters, worked with land surveyors to map current land use across the entire state. Each map created as part of the Bordner Survey covers one survey township.

Most surveys throughout the country began or stopped at known C&GS survey monuments, where possible. The monuments used for Depression-era surveys under C&GS are brass disks lettered with the words “state survey” in addition to recording the usual survey information. Surveys in the states of North Carolina and Pennsylvania  used brass monuments cast with folk legends particular to those states.

The Depression work projects for surveyors and engineers certainly employed thousands of surveyors, and in many cases taught surveyors more modern methods of surveying. However, it has been argued that poor planning and hasty implementation resulted in far less actual field work than could have been accomplished with similar manpower at another time. Most of the actual field work measurements, in fact, have been lost to time, as only the final measurements were transmitted to C&GS. As a result, the field work cannot be verified today to ensure that the monuments are in the correct position.

Charles Lee Iner, RLS
February, 2010

Point To Point Land Surveyors is happy to announce that with the addition of new associates to our staff we are expanding our Cell Tower Survey coverage to include Georgia, Alabama, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. With these additions we can better serve our existing client base when it comes to telecommunication surveys and hopefully attract new clients. Rest assured we will be offering the same level of service that our clients have grown to expect over the years. All of our work will be done in house and not 'brokered" out or subcontracted to outside firms. This will allow us to deliver a quality survey consistently, have control over the final product, and achieve quick turnaround times.

Charles Lee Iner passed the Tennessee Land Surveyors Board exam and now is licensed to practice Land Suveying in the Tennessee. Mr. Iner is also licensed in Georgia and Alabama. This allows Point To Point Land Surveyors the oppurtunity to expand the area that they cover for their clients,

Have you ever tried to read an old survey or map without success? Terms like 'rod' or 'township' were once commonplace, and indeed are still in use in specific applications, but most people have no idea what they mean. How can you visualize a property without having a basic understanding of these distances and measurements?

Today's surveyors continue to use measurement systems that were developed by long-ago surveyors. A rod (sometimes known as a pole) is a measurement of 16.5 feet. Each rod is comprised of 25 links. A two pole chain is twice the length of a rod, or 16.5 feet. Likewise, a four pole chain, which is also known as a surveyor's chain, measures 66 feet (or 100 links). Originally, these measurements were based on the equipment used by surveyors. The chain consisted of 100 links, each measuring 0.66 feet, for the total length of 66 feet. If a distance on a plat map is represented in chains (usually abbreviated Ch), multiply by 66 to determine the number of feet.

The surveyor's chain was was devised in the seventeenth century by an English astronomer so that ten square chains are equivalent to one acre. The pole, or rod, was a wooden pole used for survey measurements. Abbreviated P, it was also known as a 'perch.' The more modern term for this piece of equipment and its associated measurement is a 'rod,' although the actual wooden rod has not been used by surveyors for over 200 years. Still, the particular length of the rod, or 16.5 feet, had an enormous influence on  surveying and land development. According to folklore, the distance of the rod was established in the sixteenth century as the combined length of the left feet of the first 16 men out of church one Sunday. And yet, references to a pole or perch measuring 16.5 feet can be found as early as the thirteenth century.

Survey measurements are also commonly stated in miles or feet. This measurement system is more easily understood by people today, but even this system can be converted into chains and rods. For example, a quarter mile measures 20 chains or 80 rods. One mile, or 5280 feet, can also be stated as 80 chains or 320 rods.

Especially when reading plat maps, you may run into the section and township system of measurement, which is related to the property's measurement in acres. In this system, one township contains 36 sections. Its total area is 36 square miles. Each section within the township is one square mile, or 640 acres. The sections can be further divided into 1/2 section or 1/4 section.

Today, land measurements are generally in acres. Each acre is equal to 43,560 square feet, or 10 square chains, or 160 square rods. Still, many people cannot visualize the size of an acre. A parcel of land exactly one acre in size and perfectly square measures 208.71 feet along each side. A rectangular acre with a width of 100 feet would measure 435.60 feet long. Each square mile has exactly 640 acres, which is also a section under the township system. Although older surveying measurement systems use seemingly odd distances, most can be easily converted into acres.

Still, there are many variations which may show up on surveys or maps, especially those from centuries past. Even in the relatively standardized acre, there are still variations, including the Scottish acre and the Irish acre, which measure 1.27 and 1.6 English acres, respectively. Regional terms abound, from the Morgen (used in Germany to represent the amount of land that could be plowed in one morning) to the Colpa (an Irish term representing the amount of land required to support a horse or cow for a year).

Charles Lee Iner, RLS
February 2010

POINT TO POINT LAND SURVEYORS offers a highly skilled and professional Tennessee land surveyor team. With nearly 40 employees we have the talent and versatility to provide you with professional land surveyor services.

Point to Point Tennessee land surveyors provide the following services:

• Construction Staking
• Boundary Surveys
• ALTA Land Title Surveys
• As-Built Surveys
• FEMA Flood Elevation Certificate Surveys
  
• Easement Surveys
• Topographic Surveys
• Subdivision Platting
• Digital Terrain Modeling
• LiDAR Mapping
• Telecommunication (Cell Tower) Surveys
  

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE QUOTE REQUEST.

Our ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys are the most comprehensive type of land survey. Our Tennessee land surveyors cover all aspects of a boundary survey and identification of any additional evidence of possession or use which could be adverse to the interests of our clients. Usually, our ALTA / ACSM Land Title Surveys are performed on commercial properties.

Our Topographic Surveys are graphic representations of physical features of the land. Our Tennessee land surveyors perform topographic surveys by field ground methods or by aerial photographic methods.

Our Boundary Surveys are generally described by Metes and Bounds and may require extensive research. A Boundary Survey usually requires a good amount of field work on neighboring lands to verify or find existing monumentation. Our Tennessee land surveyors provide an accurate boundary survey, which is a vital first step for any property acquisition or development.

Accurate Construction layout / Construction Staking is essential when performing any type of construction work. Our Tennessee land surveyors are prepared to make sure you get the timely response you need. Point to Point Tennessee land surveyors are an essential part of design/build community that includes engineers, architects, grading contractors and utility contractors.

Subdivision Platting / Final Plats for homes may sound straight forward, but in practice it is an involved process that requires experience and the ability to communicate effectively. Whether for a single lot cut-out or a multi-lot subdivision, our plats are prepared to meet or exceed the standards set forth by county or city review agencies.

When performing surveys for telecommunication sites, time is of the essence. When it comes to telecommunication tower surveys in Tennessee, our Tennessee land surveyors are prepared to deliver accurate Cell Tower Surveys.

If you need an As-Built Survey, we can help you find exactly how your entire site or any portion thereof was constructed. Many review agencies are requiring an As-Built survey to verify accurately how close to the construction plans your site was built.

When it come to Tennessee land surveying, our Tennessee land surveyors will provide the most comprehensive type of land survey that fits your budget. Point to Point Tennessee land surveyors have the talent and versatility to provide you with excellent service and accurate results.

Did you know that George Washington was a land surveyor? Young George Washington learned the art of surveying from his brother Lawrence and from established regional surveyors. By 1746, barely into his teens, he began running lines for farms near his home. His first known survey, of the Ferry Farm, is dated 1747, and amazingly, is still in existence.

In 1749, at the young age of 17, future President Washington was appointed the Surveyor General of Virginia. As surveyor for Culpeper County, Virginia, he became the first official county surveyor in the colonies. At that time, the colony of Virginia was planning to promote expansion by offering speculators a thousand acres for every family they could convince to move to the colony. Before the land could be distributed, it was necessary to survey it. In 1750, at the age of 18, Washington was invited to assist in the surveying and platting of lands along the Shenandoah Valley, where he worked under experienced wilderness surveyors. The skills learned during this time would prove essential to his developing surveying career.

As settlers pushed inland, the need for accurate surveys and maps grew. County and colony (and later state) boundaries, as well as boundaries between individual land plots, needed to be drawn. At this point in time, numerous educated colonial landholders turned into surveyors, including not only George Washington but also future President Thomas Jefferson. Between 1747 and 1799, Washington would survey over two hundred tracts of land. Like most surveyors of this day, he also held substantial amounts of real estate, including more than 65,000 acres in 37 different locations. His skills in land surveying certainly helped him become a profitable land speculator.

During the French and Indian War, Washington served as a lieutenant colonel, thanks in part to the mapmaking and backcountry skills he had gained from surveying. During the war, he was responsible for constructing a chain of forts covering over 400 miles, as well as the layout and construction of roads in the vicinity. To this day, one of these roads is still known as “Washington's Road.” He was also involved in the awarding of land claims to veterans of the war, all of which lay West of the Ohio River and none of which had been surveyed at that point in time. In fact, a complete survey of that area so that lands could be dispersed did not even begin until 1770.

Even after becoming President, George Washington remained involved in surveying matters. Concerned about the accuracy of the maps available to the Continental Army, Washington created the office of Geographer to the Army. In 1777, in the midst of the Revolutionary War, he appointed Robert Erskine to begin a complete survey of the nation, resulting in the development of the first official maps of the United States. These surveying and mapping projects, supported by Washington, would help greatly in military operations and other activities in the new nation, as well as laying the groundwork for future surveys.

Charles Lee Iner, RLS
January 2010