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S-02 · Service

Land surveying

Boundary, topographic and subdivision surveys done to legal standard. You get beacons on the ground, plus the diagrams and coordinate lists needed for deeds, sales and approvals.

Get a quoteSee what is included
A survey instrument set up on the coast, with mountains across the bay
Coastal survey

What is included

10 kinds of land surveying.

A total station on a tripod, set up on a levelled pad in a mountain valley

01

Boundary / Cadastral Surveys

Establish or re-establish legal property boundaries for deeds, sales, construction, or dispute resolution.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • GNSS RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) receivers for high-precision positioning
  • Total Stations for angular measurements in obstructed areas
  • GIS software for integrating boundary data with legal records

Deliverables

  • Survey diagrams and coordinate lists (legal standard)
  • Beacon placement or replacement on-site
  • CAD files & PDF maps for legal submission

Why it mattersEnsures legal compliance, prevents disputes, and forms the basis for any land transaction or development.

A total station at a stadium with the pitch under construction

02

Topographic Surveys

Map natural and man-made features, terrain elevations, and site details for planning and engineering design.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • UAV photogrammetry with survey-grade ground control
  • LiDAR scanners for dense vegetation or complex terrain
  • Digital Levels for height verification

Deliverables

  • Contour maps (1m, 0.5m, or finer intervals)
  • Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and 3D point clouds
  • CAD layers showing utilities, roads, vegetation, and structures

Why it mattersProvides architects, engineers, and planners with accurate site data to design efficiently and avoid costly redesigns.

A survey instrument on a rocky hillside above the coast

03

Subdivision / Land Division Surveys

Divide a parcel of land into two or more portions for sale, development, or estate planning.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • GNSS RTK for accurate parcel corner marking
  • GIS & CAD integration for layout planning and compliance checks

Deliverables

  • New cadastral diagrams for each subdivided portion
  • Beacon placement for each new boundary
  • Digital submission packages for land registry approval

Why it mattersEnsures legal recognition of each new parcel and compliance with municipal planning laws.

Foundation trenches cut into red soil

04

Construction Set-Out (Staking)

Transfer design coordinates from construction plans to the physical site.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • Robotic Total Stations for rapid, one-person set-out
  • GNSS RTK for large-scale or remote site positioning

Deliverables

  • Markers, stakes, or paint indicating building corners, road centrelines, utility routes
  • As-built coordinates for post-construction verification

Why it mattersEnsures the physical build matches the approved design, preventing costly alignment or structural issues.

An aerial view of a stadium with a running track

05

As-Built Surveys

Verify that completed structures and infrastructure match approved design plans and specifications.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • 3D laser scanners for detailed structure capture
  • Total Stations for structural control checks

Deliverables

  • CAD and PDF drawings comparing built vs. designed positions
  • 3D models for complex structures

Why it mattersProvides proof of compliance for project close-out and future maintenance planning.

A surveyor with a GNSS pole at a fence corner post in open veld

06

GPS / GNSS Control Networks

Establish a network of fixed survey points for all future measurements on a project or site.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • Dual-frequency GNSS receivers
  • Static & RTK surveying methods for accuracy and redundancy

Deliverables

  • Control point coordinates and descriptions
  • Benchmark diagrams and physical markers on-site

Why it mattersProvides a consistent, high-accuracy reference framework for long-term projects.

A ground penetrating radar cart at an industrial site

07

Utility Mapping & Underground Service Locating

Locate and map underground utilities to prevent accidental damage during construction.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for non-invasive detection
  • Electromagnetic locators for metal utilities

Deliverables

  • Utility CAD layers and GIS databases
  • Depth and location reports

Why it mattersReduces risk, avoids service disruptions, and ensures regulatory compliance.

Surveyors working in a wetland

08

Hydrographic / Floodplain Surveys

Map water bodies, riverbeds, and flood zones for engineering, environmental, and insurance purposes.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • Echo sounders for water depth measurement
  • GNSS-linked hydrographic software
  • UAV photogrammetry for floodplain modelling

Deliverables

  • Bathymetric maps
  • Flood hazard overlays
  • 3D surface models of riverbeds and coastal zones

Why it mattersEssential for bridge design, flood management, and waterway maintenance.

A surveyor finding a beacon next to a palisade fence

09

Tree & Vegetation Surveys

Document the position, species, and size of trees for environmental and planning requirements.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • GNSS handheld devices for quick tree location mapping
  • LiDAR & photogrammetry for canopy analysis

Deliverables

  • Tree inventory spreadsheets
  • GIS/CAD layers with tree positions and attributes

Why it mattersSupports environmental compliance and guides site clearing decisions.

An aerial orthophoto map of a settlement

10

Aerial Mapping & LiDAR Surveys

Rapidly capture large areas with high detail for planning, environmental, and engineering applications.

Method and deliverables

Technology

  • Fixed-wing UAVs for large-scale mapping
  • Rotary UAVs with LiDAR payloads for high-detail scanning
  • PPK/RTK correction for survey-grade accuracy

Deliverables

  • Orthomosaic imagery (2-5 cm GSD)
  • LiDAR point clouds and surface models
  • Contour and feature maps

Why it mattersReduces field time, captures inaccessible areas safely, and provides comprehensive datasets for multiple stakeholders.

Why Geovantage

Why teams pick us for land surveying.

Registered surveyors
Qualified, SAGC- and SAGI-registered engineering and land surveyors.
The right instruments
GNSS RTK, robotic total stations, UAV LiDAR and GPR.
Part of your crew
Our surveyors work inside your site team.

Projects

Where we have done this.

Questions

Land surveying: common questions

What is a boundary (cadastral) survey?

It establishes or re-establishes the legal boundaries of a property for deeds, sales, construction or dispute resolution. We place or replace the beacons on site and supply survey diagrams and coordinate lists to legal standard.

What do I get from a topographic survey?

Contour maps at 1 m, 0.5 m or finer intervals, digital terrain models and 3D point clouds, and CAD layers showing utilities, roads, vegetation and structures.

Can you find underground services before we dig?

Yes. We use ground penetrating radar and electromagnetic locators to find and map underground utilities, and deliver utility CAD layers with depth and location reports.

How detailed is drone mapping?

Orthomosaic imagery at 2 to 5 cm ground sample distance, with LiDAR point clouds, surface models, and contour and feature maps.

Get a quote

Need land surveying?

Email the scope, the site and your dates to arne@geovantage.co.za, or call. We will come back with a quote.

Email usCall 082 839 4811