The range of services offered by expert surveyors are extremely varied, including resource consent applications, urban and rural subdivision, Maori land partitions, topographical and site survey details, proclamation and GPOS surveys, land stability and photogrammetric survey controls. Land surveying is an essential component of much land development, whether for commercial or residential purposes. In essence, it involves the precise measurement and mapping of geographic areas with various elements that comprise the landscape, the stability and productivity capabilities of such land.

The primary function of land surveyors is to establish and/or verify boundary lines, through the actions of observing, measuring and mapping. Determining boundary lines and obtaining an accurate measure of your current or future property is essential to avoid situations of potential encroachment and the resultant disputes and claims that usually follow. Furthermore, for the purposes of building perimeter fences or buildings within the boundary, it is highly advisable to have the land measured and surveyed prior to the commencement of construction to avoid the same complications if encroachment or non compliancy with local and national building regulations has occurred.

With growing population levels placing an ever increasing pressure on all resources, including residential and commercial land, both in urban and rural environments, the value of property has literally skyrocketed. Furthermore, with rising needs to build infrastructure and housing to accommodate, facilitate and provide services to this enlarging population, the role of land surveyors and the services they provide are, and will continue to be, in high demand. Such development includes the construction of residential areas, bridges, tunnels and roads, commercial buildings and roads. From multi-billion dollar commercial developments to residential planning applications, land surveyors provide the documentation required to satisfy the local and national bodies and organisations charged with responsibility of enforcing property and building regulations.

With the advent of new technologies, the process of land surveying has become faster and more accurate. One such technology employed is global positioning satellites (GPS). GPS surveys afford incredibly detailed and accurate mapping to occur, which identifies existing structures, boundaries and the topography of the environment; being able to be conducted over a wide area. This is most suitable for large areas of commercial development or defining boundaries on large tracts of land, such as farms and agricultural operations.

Additional services from experienced land surveyors include a process of ‘setting out’. This is where the land surveyors coordinate with the building contractors to map out exactly where the future buildings are to be located. This mapping information is then passed onto groundwork contractors, who are empowered with the exact information pertaining to the preparation of the site.