The civil engineering profession involves the design and construction of numerous infrastructure facilities that are needed in the modern world. For example, it can range from construction of roads, bridges, and railways to power stations, to water supply and sewerage pipes.

Civil Engineering Surveying is an important function which is involved in every stage of a project from initial conception stage to design and construction, to monitoring and evaluation of the quality and performance of the completed facility.

Surveying can be separated to two areas such as: 1) Quantity Surveying (Commercial Management) and 2) Engineering Surveying (Geospatial Engineering).

Commercial Management

Under Commercial Management, or quantity surveying, more focus is given on to financial management of a civil engineering project. As such, the Quantity surveyors work closely with other project professionals in preparing the contract documents which projects are formulated, proper measuring of the work completed or progress on site and ensuring that the contractors involved in the construction are paid fairly.

More specifically the Commercial Management or Quantity Surveying involves:
. Preparation of contract documents, including legal documents;
. Selection of various contractors and subcontractors through evaluation of bids or prices received.
. Preparation of detailed cost estimates of the construction project;
. Advising project managers and engineers on financial issues;
. Continuous monitoring, measuring and costing of the construction work carried out;
. Valuation of the contract periodically during the project.

Geospatial or Engineering Surveying

Work in the construction industry involves measurement and monitoring of projects, producing maps, plans and charts of various aspects of the project. In essence, engineering surveying is an integral part of civil engineering profession. In many cases, the surveying is known as land surveying.

Engineering surveying involves the following:

. Site investigation and selection using computerized measuring instruments including geographic or topographical information, to identify the best site location or trace to construct roads, bridges, tunnels, pipe lines etc.
. Turning out detailed or latest plans for the design of a project;
. Site setting out to locate the exact position and size of the structure to be built.
. Continuous monitoring of construction to ensure that the structure is constructed at the exact position rather than deviations. Also, noting the final constructed (as-built) location.
. Establish control or reference points on dams or bridges to record or monitor any future movements of the structure due to static and dynamic loadings or during the service life of the structure.

The Surveying generally includes the following areas:

. Turning out of maps and plans required for planning and designing of civil engineering structures. Also, it involves monitoring construction to ensure accuracy of dimensions and tolerances.
. Hydrographic surveying: mapping and measuring of water or ocean surfaces of the earth.
. Photogrammetry: Use of photographic images on the earth surface to prepare a plan of an identified area;
. Geographic Information Systems: Systematic collection geographic information and presenting such information in using computers including predetermined formats.
. Cartography/ Visualization: involves two or three dimensional presentation of information using precisely prepared maps and plans.

Land Surveys Pty Ltd are land surveyors [http://www.landsurveys.net.au/land-surveying.html] who can also provide 3d maps as part of their services in Western Australia.

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