BACKGROUND:

  I first began surveying in November of 1971, and acquired my license as a Professional Land Surveyor in Pennsylvania in 1978. Since that time, I have also acquired licenses in Delaware, Maryland and Louisiana. In the past 29 years, I have personally performed every type of survey listed below. This work has included projects in over a dozen states at residential, commercial, industrial and institutional sites, and government installations. In addition to homeowners and private property owners, clients have included small businesses, major corporations, and government agencies, such as the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Coast Guard.

 MISSION STATEMENT AND PLEDGE:

  My only goal is to faithfully serve my clients to the best of my ability by providing a quality service at a fair price. I am self-employed and personally handle all aspects of every project. I take great pride in my work, and use only the finest instruments and equipment, well maintained and regularly serviced and calibrated. I do not answer to a corporate structure or bookkeepers who care more about chargeable ratios and billable hours than client satisfaction. My terms and contracts are simple and straightforward, and I offer discounts for prompt payment. I pledge that all surveys will be done promptly and professionally, and in the most cost-effective manner consistent with the requirements of the project. How may I serve you?

1. TYPES OF SURVEYS:

BOUNDARY RETRACEMENT SURVEYS:

A boundary retracement survey, also referred to as a boundary or property survey, is a survey for the express purpose of locating the exact boundaries and corners of a given parcel of land. This involves a thorough search of the public records and field measurements, with the findings usually being shown on a survey plat that is given to the landowner. A description may also be required for purposes of recording a new deed.

LAND TITLE SURVEYS:

A Land Title Survey, also referred to as an ALTA (American Land Title Association) survey is a boundary survey which also meets the specific needs of title insurance or mortgage companies. The plat of such a survey must show additional information relative to a given parcel of land, such as improvements and their distance to parcel boundaries, easements and rights-of-way, and encroachments, either way, across property boundaries. Without an ALTA Land Title Survey, most title insurers will exempt discrepancies in boundaries or area from their coverage.

TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS:

A topographic survey is made for the purpose of preparing a topographic plan or map. Natural and man-made features are located by conventional field measurement techniques or by the use of aerial photographs (aerial photogrammetry). Determining elevations may also be required if contours need to be shown on the map. When using aerial photographs, field surveys must also be performed to properly orient and scale the photographs. The detail of the survey is determined by the intended use and required scale of the finished map. If topographic surveys are performed before and after earthmoving activities, quantities of material can be calculated.

HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS:

A Hydrographic survey is performed to determine the elevation and contour of the Earth’s surface beneath a body of water. Hydrographic Surveys are conducted for various specific purposes, including: preparation of nautical charts; periodic condition surveys to check for shoaling or silting of shipping channels or reservoirs; before and after dredging to calculate pay quantities of removed material. In many coastal areas, combination topographic and hydrographic surveys are done periodically to monitor beach erosion.

CONTROL SURVEYS:

A control survey is one in which the measurements are made with very great precision and special procedures are used to ensure accuracy and to provide a mathematical check on the work. Special instruments are often used, and redundant and additional measurements are made to allow the surveyor to verify and fine-tune the position and elevation of control points to a high degree of accuracy. As the name implies, they are usually used over a large area to “control” smaller surveys of any type within them, or to precisely establish the horizontal and vertical location of diverse points for mapping and orientation of aerial photographs. A Geodetic Survey is a control survey in which the required precision is so high or the survey covers such a large area, that the curvature of the Earth must be taken into account.

FORENSIC SURVEYS:

By definition, a Forensic Survey is any type of survey whose purpose is to provide data in support of a court proceeding. Often, survey plans are prepared for use as courtroom displays or exhibits. Examples include: survey of an accident scene to prepare plans showing traffic control signs or pavement markings, obstructions to lines of sight, and roadway grades; location and mapping of accident damage to aid accident reconstructionists; survey of crime scenes to prepare courtroom display maps or models; surveys to resolve litigated boundary disputes. Usually, the surveyor is required to testify as an expert witness to affirm the accuracy of the survey and survey maps.

CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS:

The purpose of a Construction Survey is to layout upon the ground that which the engineer or architect has designed. Commonly, stakes are set along a line that is offset from and parallel to improvements to be constructed, such as curbs, storm and sanitary sewers, water and gas pipelines, etc. Stakes are also set to mark the centerlines of roads, foundation and column lines of buildings, and grid points for site grading. “Cut sheets” are usually given to the contractor to provide a vertical reference from the top of the set stake to the designed finished elevation of the improvement. After construction, an “As-built (topographic) Survey” may be performed to verify that the improvements were constructed as staked-out, in accordance with the engineer’s or architect’s design.

VOLUME SURVEYS:

A Volume Survey is a survey made for the purpose providing the information required to calculate quantities of material, usually expressed in cubic yardage. Often, excavating or dredging contractors are paid by the cubic yard, and therefore surveys are required to calculate payments due the contractor. This is accomplished by conducting topographic or hydrographic surveys, both before and after the dredging, excavating or filling. Volume Surveys are also used to determine the accurate quantity of any stockpiled material, such as soil, stones or gravel, coal, etc.

STRUCTURE SURVEYS:

Surveys of structures, when required, are normally performed on a regular basis to monitor changes over time. Examples include: periodic alignment and elevation checks of key points along flood control structures, such as floodgates, dams and floodwalls to detect heaving or horizontal displacement; elevations on building foundations or large heavy machinery within buildings to detect settlement.

2. OTHER SERVICES:

  In addition to professional surveying and mapping services, I provide a wide range of supplemental services in support of land developments or subdivisions, or any site improvement projects requiring municipal or governmental approvals or permits. If you have any questions regarding services not listed, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone, fax or E-mail.

CADD Services: Preparation of subdivision, land development, and survey plans, and topographic maps; processing of digital aerial photogrammetric data; geodetic conversions; contouring and earthwork calculations; file conversions and electronic transfer in AutoCAD, Terramodel and Microstation formats.

Subdivision Design: Layout of lots, streets, utilities and community facilities; wetland location and delineation of slopes; grading and sediment and erosion control plans.

Boundary Disputes: Title research at local courthouses, and State archives for original land warrants and patents; retracement and forensic surveys; boundary agreement plats.

FEMA Elevation Certificates: Elevation surveys and floodplain delineation; preparation of elevation and flood zone certificates; appeals to revise Flood Insurance Rate Map plans.

PennDOT Driveway Permit Applications: Measurement of sight distances; preparation of permit applications; driveway design and preparation of plans and profiles.

Expert Witness Testimony: Professional testimony in support of forensic surveys; preparation of courtroom exhibits and displays.