5 tips: Choosing a good land surveyor
For both private individuals and professionals in the construction or infrastructure sector, it is important to always work with a good land surveyor. After all, you do not want the foundation of a bridge to be laid out incorrectly, or for your neighbor to possess a piece of land that is actually your property.
To avoid such issues, it is important to always work with a good land surveyor.
To this end, we provide 5 tips for selecting a good land surveyor, for both private individuals and construction professionals.
1. Check the LAN number.
The LAN number is not only a legal requirement for performing certain surveying tasks, such as a Report of Boundary Marking (PV van Afpaling), but it also serves as proof of technical knowledge and experience.
To obtain a LAN number, the land surveyor must:
- Be professionally trained in land surveying
- Undergo annual permanent training and professional development
- Adhere to a specific code of ethics aimed at the competence, dignity, and honesty of the professional
- Be insured for professional liability
All land surveyors with a LAN number can be found via this link.
2. Ask for a calibration certificate.
Land surveying equipment measures with extreme precision, some more accurately than others.
The required accuracy depends primarily on the tasks the land surveyor intends to perform.
However, this accuracy is not guaranteed if it is not tested.
Therefore, most land surveyors have their equipment calibrated annually by the manufacturer. Following this calibration, a certificate is provided to demonstrate that the device measures within the expected accuracy specified at the time of purchase. Any deviations can be noted and adjusted here.
To be allowed to work for certain companies, we must be able to demonstrate this.
3. Look for relevant projects.
Land surveying has become so diverse today that it is difficult to remain perfectly informed about everything.
Consequently, we see more and more surveying firms with specific specializations.
By paying attention to this and checking whether the firm or land surveyor has already completed relevant projects, you have some assurance that they will also be able to execute your assignments.
4. Check for a VCA certificate
Safety first, also for land surveyors.
This plays a particularly important role on construction sites, as the risk of an unsafe situation can arise more quickly.
To have some certainty that the land surveyor will know what to do if an unsafe situation occurs, it is always useful to check the VCA certificate.
5. Modern technology
Innovation in land surveying does not stand still.
Every few years, something new is released that completely changes the way measurement methods work.
Technologies such as the robotic total station, GNSS devices, machine control, CAD programs, laser scanning, and drones have thoroughly reshaped the land surveying field over the last few decades.
The use of these technologies has a huge impact on the efficiency of the land surveyor, the time required to measure something, and consequently, the cost of the assignment.
As a client, it is certainly important to take this into account.
Of course, these 5 points do not guarantee that the land surveyor will perform their work perfectly. However, they do provide private individuals and construction professionals with some assurance that they are hiring a professional.
At Topo4D, we naturally meet all these criteria.
We operate under LAN number 171743 and have our surveying equipment calibrated annually. We calibrate the drones ourselves after every transport and every few flight hours (depending on the device).
We have extensive experience with various assignments and, of course, possess a VCA certificate.
In addition, we explicitly wish to emphasize our embrace of modern technology, which makes our way of working much easier and more efficient.
Any further questions regarding this?