NCEES FS·Section 1 · Surveying Processes and Methods

Land Development

Subdivision design and platting, land use, environmental considerations, flood plains, wetlands.

The hook

Land development takes raw land through planning, design, approval, and construction into finished lots ready for buildings. The surveyor is involved at every stage: boundary, topo, preliminary plat, final plat, construction layout, as-built. Knowing the workflow makes you a useful project partner, not just a vendor.

  1. 1
    Pre-acquisition / due diligence
    Boundary survey, topo, ALTA if commercial. Helps the developer evaluate the site before buying.
  2. 2
    Preliminary plat
    Conceptual layout of lots, streets, drainage. Submitted to the planning commission for approval. Often goes through several revisions.
  3. 3
    Engineering design
    Civil engineers design utilities, grading, stormwater. Surveyor provides accurate base data and may set construction control.
  4. 4
    Final plat
    After approval, the final recordable plat is prepared by the surveyor. Includes lot dimensions, easements, monumentation. Recorded with the county.
  5. 5
    Construction layout
    Surveyor stakes the design (centerlines, corners, slopes) for the contractor. Adjusts as design changes.
  6. 6
    As-built
    After construction, document where things actually got built. Required for utility records, insurance, and the eventual ALTA on the finished lots.
Memorize these

Concepts that show up on the exam

Subdivision regulations
Local ordinances controlling minimum lot size, street widths, easements, drainage. Vary by jurisdiction; the surveyor must know the specific ones for the site.
Zoning
Land-use category controlling what can be built (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.). Constrains the development concept before any layout begins.
Variance / waiver
A request to deviate from a regulation (e.g., a smaller lot than minimum). Requires a hearing and is not guaranteed.
Final plat requirements
County-specific list of items the plat must include: monumentation, surveyor's certificate, owner's consent, dedication of streets/easements.
Bonding
Developer posts a bond to guarantee construction of public improvements (streets, utilities). Released when work is accepted by the jurisdiction.
Test yourself

How well did it stick?

A quick 5-question check on Land Development. See where you stand and what to review.

More in Section 1
A. Instrumentation
Guide
Total stations, levels, GNSS receivers, scanners, robotic instruments, UAS — what each one does and when to reach for it.
B. GNSS / GPS Surveys
Static, kinematic, OPUS, real-time networks. Choosing the right method for a given accuracy + speed tradeoff.
C. Control Surveys
Horizontal and vertical control. Network design. Order + class accuracy standards.
D. Cadastral Surveys
PLSS, boundary, metes and bounds, land title — the legal-survey workflow.
E. Topographic Surveys
How topographic data is collected, what density it needs, and how the deliverable is built.
F. Construction Surveys
Layout, as-built, quantity. Site survey lifecycle from grading to final inspection.
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