FAQs
Questions About Surveying and LiDAR Services
Common Questions
What to Expect From Your Project
These services are commonly used on projects that require accurate existing conditions before design or construction begins. This includes commercial developments, infrastructure upgrades, industrial facilities, drainage and grading projects, and sites with complex terrain or limited access where traditional surveying alone may not provide complete coverage.
Yes. While Aerial Metrology & Inspection is based in Northeast Florida, we provide services throughout the entire state of Florida and also support select projects in Alabama.
Yes. Many projects require a combination of airborne LiDAR, terrestrial scanning, and photogrammetry to fully document a site. We often integrate these methods into a single deliverable set so clients receive a complete, consistent dataset without gaps between different survey types.
We use survey-grade LiDAR systems, terrestrial laser scanners, and calibrated aerial imaging platforms depending on project requirements. All equipment is paired with GPS and control networks to ensure accurate georeferencing and consistency across datasets.
Yes. Our deliverables are commonly used to support permitting applications, design submissions, and engineering reviews. The level of detail provided helps demonstrate existing conditions clearly to regulatory agencies and review boards.
Local regulations vary by municipality, but most jurisdictions define protected trees based on trunk diameter measured at breast height (DBH). This typically begins at around 12 inches for hardwood species and approximately 18 inches for pines, with additional protections depending on species, condition, and local environmental ordinances.
A boundary survey establishes the legally recorded property lines and compares them against existing site conditions such as fences, structures, and pavement. This process helps identify encroachments, easements, or discrepancies early, allowing potential conflicts to be addressed before permitting or construction begins.
Topographic data should be collected early in the planning phase, prior to final design development. Capturing accurate elevation data and surface conditions at the start ensures that grading, drainage, and layout decisions are based on current site conditions rather than outdated or incomplete information.
Many Florida jurisdictions require tree inventories to support land development regulations focused on canopy preservation. These surveys document protected trees, support mitigation calculations when removal is necessary, and provide the data needed for permit approval and compliance with local environmental requirements.
Topographic surveys include elevation data collected at a resolution suitable for contour mapping, along with the location of key site features such as buildings, pavement, utilities, drainage structures, fences, and other visible improvements. This level of detail supports accurate design, engineering, and permitting workflows.
Lenders typically request specific Table A items to support underwriting and risk evaluation, such as flood zone designation, zoning classification, building area calculations, parking counts, and utility access. These requirements vary by transaction but are often necessary to satisfy lender guidelines and title insurance standards.
Unlike a basic boundary survey, an ALTA/NSPS survey follows a nationally standardized format with detailed reporting requirements. It incorporates boundary verification along with extensive record research to identify easements, encumbrances, rights-of-way, and site improvements, making it suitable for commercial transactions, title review, and lender due diligence.
An ALTA survey should be initiated early in the due diligence phase of a transaction. This allows sufficient time for review by lenders, attorneys, and title companies, as well as the opportunity to resolve discrepancies or request additional information before closing deadlines.
Title companies use ALTA surveys to confirm the relationship between recorded title documents and actual field conditions. The verified information on boundaries, improvements, easements, and encroachments allows them to properly assess risk and determine any exceptions or conditions within the title insurance policy.
If an issue is discovered, it typically becomes part of the negotiation and due diligence process. Depending on severity, parties may renegotiate terms, require corrective action, obtain legal review, or adjust the transaction structure. In some cases, unresolved issues may impact the buyer’s decision to proceed with closing.
Single-beam sonar collects depth readings directly beneath the survey vessel along defined transects, creating a profile of the underwater surface. Multibeam systems, on the other hand, transmit multiple sonar signals across a wide area beneath the vessel, producing a much denser dataset and a more complete three-dimensional representation of the seafloor. Multibeam is typically used when higher resolution and full surface coverage are required.
Because water levels can fluctuate during data collection, surveyors continuously monitor tidal conditions and apply vertical corrections to all depth readings. This process aligns measurements to a consistent vertical reference system, ensuring that the final dataset accurately reflects true elevations regardless of when or where the readings were taken.
Hydrographic surveys are most effective when completed early in the design phase to support planning and permitting decisions. A second survey is often performed immediately prior to construction to verify that underwater conditions have not shifted, particularly in dynamic environments such as channels, shorelines, and dredging areas.
Subsea cable routes must be carefully planned to avoid unstable slopes, hard substrate, and areas prone to sediment movement or scour. Accurate bathymetric data allows engineers to evaluate multiple routing options, determine appropriate burial depths, and design protective measures that reduce the risk of long-term exposure or damage.
Clients typically receive detailed bathymetric maps, contour models, cross-sectional profiles, and three-dimensional surface representations compatible with CAD and GIS platforms. Supporting documentation includes survey metadata, coordinate and vertical datum references, and reported accuracy thresholds to ensure the data can be used reliably in engineering and design workflows.
Terrestrial LiDAR captures dense spatial data that can resolve features at millimeter-level precision, depending on site conditions and scan configuration. This level of detail allows project teams to take direct measurements from the point cloud, verify installed conditions, and assess alignment with a level of accuracy that exceeds conventional field measurement methods.
Pre-pour scanning is used to confirm that embedded elements such as conduit, plumbing, and mechanical sleeves are positioned correctly before they are permanently encased. If any deviations from the design model are identified, adjustments can be made while the systems are still accessible, helping avoid costly rework once concrete is poured.
Anchor bolt verification is typically performed immediately after installation and grouting, prior to steel erection. This ensures that bolt placement aligns with fabrication tolerances, allowing structural steel components to be set without field modifications or delays.
In warehouses, manufacturing plants, and distribution centers, slab tolerances directly affect equipment performance, storage systems, and operational efficiency. LiDAR-based elevation data provides a detailed surface model that can be used to verify compliance with required flatness specifications and support commissioning requirements.
Clients receive classified point cloud data compatible with major design platforms such as AutoCAD and Revit, along with extracted deliverables including 2D drawings, deviation reports, and annotated measurements. These outputs allow project teams to integrate as-built conditions directly into existing design and coordination workflows.
We are fully licensed in Florida to perform all required surveying services. Florida Business License Number: LB8710. This ensures all LiDAR and reality capture deliverables meet professional surveying standards and can be used for engineering, design, and permitting workflows.
Airborne LiDAR is best suited for large or inaccessible sites where broad terrain coverage is needed quickly. It is commonly used for corridor mapping, drainage analysis, and vegetation-heavy areas where ground access is limited, providing reliable elevation data even under tree canopy.
Terrestrial LiDAR is used when detailed, ground-level accuracy is required for structures, utilities, or interior/exterior site features. It fills the gaps that airborne data cannot capture and is often combined with aerial datasets to create a complete, continuous site model.
Deliverables typically include classified point clouds, georeferenced orthomosaics, surface models, and 3D reconstructions. Files are provided in industry-standard formats compatible with CAD, GIS, and BIM platforms such as LAS, E57, and other project-specific exports upon request.
Photogrammetry captures high-resolution visual imagery and surface detail, making it useful for documentation and visualization. LiDAR provides precise elevation and spatial measurements, including ground data beneath vegetation. When combined, they produce both an accurate and visually rich representation of the site.
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