Arthur Surveying is committed to provide you with outstanding customer service. We believe that a well informed business decision is a good decision. In effort to provide you with as much knowledge as possible, we hope that this glossary of terms and the FAQ section will help you with your survey process.
ALTA - American Land Title Association

The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is the national trade association and voice of the abstract* and title insurance industry. ALTA members search, review and insure land titles to protect home buyers and mortgage lenders who invest in real estate. ALTA is headquartered in Washington, DC.

ACSM - American Congress on Surveying & Mapping

ACSM was founded in June 1941 and is incorporated as a non-profit educational organization whose goal is to advance the sciences of surveying and mapping and related fields, in furtherance of the welfare of those who use and make maps. ACSM also encourages the development of educational programs and supports publications that represent the professional and technical interests of surveying and mapping. The society is comprised of four independently incorporated Member Organizations which include more than 5000 surveyors, cartographers, geodesist, and other spatial data information related professionals from private industry, government, and academia throughout the world. Each member Organization serves the specific interests of their respective members, while working collectively to achieve the overall goals of ACSM.

As-Built Surveys

As-Built Surveys are for recently completed commercial construction projects for records, completion evaluation and payment purposes.. These surveys are completed in order to obtain horizontal and or vertical dimensional data so that a constructed facility may be delineated, i.e. foundation survey, or as-built of improvements. As-Built Surveys are used to physically locate structures and improvements on land and are generally for mortgage purposes.

Boundary Surveys

Boundary Surveys are for tracts of land that are not platted. The surveys will illustrate the boundaries, monuments and all improvements on or near the tract. Easement lines may be included in a Boundary Survey as well. A Boundary Survey establishes the true property corners and property lines of a parcel of land. The typical purpose of a Boundary Survey is to obtain building permits, resolve property disputes and for erecting fences on the property.

Construction Staking

Construction Staking is to clearly mark on the ground the location of buildings, utilities, paving, drainage and any other designed improvements as designed by a civil engineer and or an architect. We ask that the customer supply us with a complete set of stamped and approved civil and architectural plans.

Elevation Certificates

An Elevation Certificate is a document provided from F.E.M.A and completed by a surveyor that informs the homeowner, title company and mortgage company of various elevations on the subject tract and building in relation to the floodplain.

Final Surveys w/Drainage

A Final Survey with Drainage illustrates the location of the completed house and improvements in relation to the property lines, building lines and easements. This survey includes drainage on the lot or tract that meets or exceeds city requirements or home warranty requirements.

Forms Survey

Form Survey is used to illustrate the location of the form boards in relation to the property lines, building lines and easements. We suggest that you order this survey before you install the plumbing or dig your piers.

House or Envelope Stake

House Stake is to clearly mark the actual house corners on the lot or tract based on the plot plan or house plan that the customer provides. The corners will be marked with a 60D nail with the stake placed near the nail. A sketch of what is staked can be provided upon request.

Lot Stake

Lot Stake is performed to clearly mark the property corners of a specific lot or tract.

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Arthur Surveying Co., L.P. • 220 Elm Street #200 • P.O. Box 54 • Lewisville Texas 75067 • (Phone: 972.221.9439)

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