I have found the perimeter markers to a 100acre parcel that belongs to my Grandmother. She wants to deed that property to (3) children, and I have been tasked (as the Grandson) to not only find the markers, but 'clear the survey lines' to make it cheaper/easier for the surveyor to come in and do his job of sub-dividing. In doing this, what exactly would a surveyor like to see so that his job can get done quicker? I found the markers to be roughly (150ft) apart, but different size trees have grown up between the markers after decades of rest. Does a surveyor need clear line of sight, or will just a glimpse of the next marker suffice?
Any Land Surveyors out here?
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westcliffe01
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It depends on how the surveyor is equipped. My neighbour and I split the bill on having the boundary between our properties surveyed because of some suspicious activity that had taken place with his driveway. The surveyor was equipped with a GPS surveying system that is extremely accurate. Like probably all surveyors he also had a metal detector. A handheld GPS gets the surveyor close to the markers and he will then try to find them with the metal detector. In our case he found the original markers and replaced them with new ones with his current seal. Then drove in the new flagged stakes above the ground.
If you have an irregular parcel, then there may be many markers and depending on vegetation one may need everything from a chainsaw to a brush hog to access the "proper" location of a pin. Areas of dense brush would especially be a problem. If you have a square or rectangular parcel all you should need are the corner markers. So be guided in what you need to do based on haw many markers are needed to properly identify the boundary lines.
If you have an irregular parcel, then there may be many markers and depending on vegetation one may need everything from a chainsaw to a brush hog to access the "proper" location of a pin. Areas of dense brush would especially be a problem. If you have a square or rectangular parcel all you should need are the corner markers. So be guided in what you need to do based on haw many markers are needed to properly identify the boundary lines.
Not a surveyor, but I would think they could offset the line a few feet for a clear line of sight, then move subdivision markers back the appropriate amount.
That's what I do for building fence through trees.
Bruce
That's what I do for building fence through trees.
Bruce
s219
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Not a surveyor, but I write survey software and have done field testing. Most surveyors around here will carry a machete for clearing light brush/saplings as needed to do their work -- mainly to lay out markers or clear a sight line. Some line of sight techniques are used, some GPS. Really, it depends on what they need to do on your particular property and how good the previous markers are. As mentioned, they will use metal detectors to find old markers.
Do you have a plat to look at for guidance? Based on the plat and how the land will be sub-divided, you may be able to get an idea where they will need to place new markers and establish new boundary lines.
Do you have a plat to look at for guidance? Based on the plat and how the land will be sub-divided, you may be able to get an idea where they will need to place new markers and establish new boundary lines.
Billrog
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Not a surveyor but have hired them and they appreciate have brush cleared good size trees are no problem they just off set . They knocked $1,000 off the quote on 1 job because I'd made their job faster and easier.
dodge man
Super Star Member
Well guess what, I am a surveyor.
There is two ways a surveyor will do this job, one with a total station and the other with GPS, or maybe a combination of the two.
First off, survey grade GPS does not need a line of sight but a clear overhead instead. This time of the year helps since the leaves are off the trees but if there is a lot of trees, or pine trees, or very large trees, GPS is out. From what you describe it sounds like there is a lot of trees.
Second, a total station. This is the device we use that measures angles and distances and looks a little bit like a movie camera on a tripod. I rarely ever set up on the actual property corners any more. I run what is called a random traverse. This means I set random points that are near the boundary line and from these points I measure to the actual pins. I need to be able to see in between these random traverse points, but I can run this random traverse through areas that might be more open.
To be honest you would be wasting your time trying to clear line ahead of the surveyor. You don't know how he is going to do it or where he would want line cleared. The best thing to do is flag up all the corners you can find and then show them to the surveyor. You can ask if he wants help carrying stuff in and clearing line as he goes. He may accept help or may just as soon you weren't there. A three man survey crew used to be the norm, but then two man became more common and when I use the GPS I often work alone. When I work alone I will often accept help from the landowner, it can save time and money. I've also accepted the use of a 4 wheeler of UTV to drive me around and help me get into difficult places.
I will never forget one time the land owner showed up to help clear line one day. My boss set this up but the truth is we didn't really need his help. He shows up all dressed up to be in the woods and carrying a machete. The first day we needed his help for a total of about 3 minutes and we ended up telling him we didn't need his help the second day, it was just wasting his time. Just get a feel for what the surveyor wants you to do, if anything.
There is two ways a surveyor will do this job, one with a total station and the other with GPS, or maybe a combination of the two.
First off, survey grade GPS does not need a line of sight but a clear overhead instead. This time of the year helps since the leaves are off the trees but if there is a lot of trees, or pine trees, or very large trees, GPS is out. From what you describe it sounds like there is a lot of trees.
Second, a total station. This is the device we use that measures angles and distances and looks a little bit like a movie camera on a tripod. I rarely ever set up on the actual property corners any more. I run what is called a random traverse. This means I set random points that are near the boundary line and from these points I measure to the actual pins. I need to be able to see in between these random traverse points, but I can run this random traverse through areas that might be more open.
To be honest you would be wasting your time trying to clear line ahead of the surveyor. You don't know how he is going to do it or where he would want line cleared. The best thing to do is flag up all the corners you can find and then show them to the surveyor. You can ask if he wants help carrying stuff in and clearing line as he goes. He may accept help or may just as soon you weren't there. A three man survey crew used to be the norm, but then two man became more common and when I use the GPS I often work alone. When I work alone I will often accept help from the landowner, it can save time and money. I've also accepted the use of a 4 wheeler of UTV to drive me around and help me get into difficult places.
I will never forget one time the land owner showed up to help clear line one day. My boss set this up but the truth is we didn't really need his help. He shows up all dressed up to be in the woods and carrying a machete. The first day we needed his help for a total of about 3 minutes and we ended up telling him we didn't need his help the second day, it was just wasting his time. Just get a feel for what the surveyor wants you to do, if anything.
davrow
Veteran Member
Easier here, most of the survey markers were in place and county records told where they belonged. Our surveyor was mostly just him saying "yep, them's your property markers". No line of sight needed since he was using GPS. But it is all brush on a hillside so he really appreciated that I had made a walking path to the furthest corner before he came out. Not a straight path, just a way through the brush.
