Surveys for roads and linear infrastructure

Linear infrastructure — roads and railways, trunk and distribution pipelines, power transmission and fibre-optic lines, irrigation canals — can stretch from a few hundred metres to tens of kilometres. Surveying for such projects differs from a typical site survey: the focus is a narrow corridor along the route, the longitudinal change in terrain and every place where the route crosses other features.

This work is needed by design institutes, road construction companies, energy and water utilities and telecom operators. The survey data is used to choose the best route option, estimate earthworks, locate bridges, culverts and crossings, and agree each crossing with the relevant owners.

On long routes the main tool is SOUTH GNSS RTK (±1–2 cm in plan), with total stations used under dense vegetation, beneath bridges and in tunnels. Temporary benchmarks are placed along the corridor and elevations are verified by levelling. In the office we produce the strip topographic plan and longitudinal and cross profiles in Credo and Civil 3D.

Each crossing with roads, utilities, rivers or railways is surveyed separately in detail and listed in a crossing schedule.

When you need it

• Design of new roads or road reconstruction
• Route selection for gas, water and sewer pipelines
• Design of power transmission and telecom lines
• Construction and rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage canals
• Inventory survey of existing linear assets

What's included

• Route reconnaissance and comparison of alternatives
• Control points and temporary benchmarks along the route
• Strip topographic survey (1:500 – 1:2000)
• Chainage and longitudinal levelling
• Cross-section survey
• Survey of road, utility, river and railway crossings

How we work

1. Reviewing the brief and route options
2. Establishing control along the route
3. Strip survey, chainage and crossings
4. Office processing: plan and profiles
5. Report and handover to the designer

Deliverables

• Strip topographic plan (DWG, PDF)
• Longitudinal and cross profiles
• Crossing schedule
• Control point catalogue and technical report