The Different Types of Land Surveys

While most people think of land surveys in the most basic sense, the drawing of the boundaries of a property, in actuality there are many varied and different ways of surveying that service many different industries. Property surveys are a large part of the business, but there are also surveys and surveyors that service the construction industry, the environmental sector, and many others. The kinds of surveys that are conducted would surprise most people, and some things that you might think are surveys aren't surveys at all. Instead of the standard two-dimensional measuring from one point to another, today's surveys not only measure the land, but also the air and water above and below us.

The most common and well-known surveys conducted today are boundary surveys, mortgage surveys, and topographic surveys. An ALTA survey, which is actually a shortened title for ATLA/ACSM, combines elements of all three, with a set of standards put forth jointly by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. ALTA surveys are most commonly used for commercial properties; by having a universal standard, companies can assure themselves of the level of thoroughness and be confident when the results are guaranteed by an ALTA survey.

Boundary Surveys are exactly what the name describes: a survey to establish the true boundaries of a given property. Through previously recorded markers and the establishment of new landmarks, a surveyor will establish the true boundaries of a property and then mark the corners and lines of the plot, using markers such as iron rods, pipes or concrete monuments in the ground, or nails set in concrete or asphalt. In the past, piles of stones, trees or other, less permanent markers were used, which led to confusion when the markers were either destroyed or changed.

Mortgage Surveys are simple surveys that, for the most part, determine land boundaries and building locations. They are usually required by title companies and lending institutions when they provide financing to show that there are no structures encroaching on the property and that any structures on the property meet current zoning and building codes. It is important to ensure that you are getting an officially licensed mortgage survey performed by a licensed land surveyor, and not a mortgage inspection, which is a substandard survey which does not adhere to any set standards and is not regulated or accepted as an official land survey.

Topographic Surveys are land surveys which locate natural and man-made features. For example, buildings, improvements, fences, elevations, land contours, trees and streams. These are then measured for their elevation on a particular piece of land, and presented as contour lines on a plot. Topographical surveys are sometimes required by the government. Engineers and architects also use topographical surveys to aid in the design of improvements or developments on a site.

One of the largest and most rapidly growing segments of land surveys are in the construction industry. Surveys are crucial tools from inception and planning, to actual construction and maintenance afterwards. Most construction surveys fall under the discipline of civil engineering, which may require additional degrees and certifications in order to conduct. All construction projects begin with the Plot Plan or Site Plan, which sets out the plan for the entire project, including all existing and proposed conditions on a given site. As-Built Surveys are conducted several times during a construction project to verify for local and state boards that the work authorized was completed to the specifications set on the plot plan. Foundation Surveys are a type of as-built survey which collects the positional data on a foundation that has been poured and is now cured. Foundation surveys are done to ensure that the foundation has both been constructed in the proper location and has been built in the proper manner according to the plan.

For existing structures, a Deformation Survey determines if a structure or object is changing shape or moving. By the taking of three-dimensional positions on specific points on an object, then letting a period of time pass before retaking and measuring the points, a determination of whether a structure is moving can be made.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, land surveyors are also responsible for performing Hydrographic and Bathymetric Surveys. Hydrographic surveys collect data relating to any body of water, and the data collected may include the water depth, bottom contours, the direction of the current, observing and recording high water marks and water levels, as well as location of fixed objects and landmarks for navigational purposes. They can also be conducted to gather information for engineering or resource management purposes, such as hydro power plants. Bathymetric surveys deal exclusively underwater, and map the seabed profile.

Geodetic surveys fall under both the land and water category, as they map out the shoreline. Thomas Jefferson commissioned a geodetic survey in 1807 as the Survey of the Coast. Progress on the survey moved slowly at first, as they did not even have the proper instruments to perform the survey until 1815. It still exists today as the National Geodetic Survey and its responsibilities now include the interior lands of the United States as well as its coasts.

Wetlands Delineation and Location Surveys belong in a category all on their own; they are performed when construction work that is being planned on or near a site containing defined wetlands. Local, state, or federal regulations vary, but wetlands are usually classified as areas that are completely inundated with water more than two weeks during the growing season. Boundaries of wetlands are determined by observing the soil colors, vegetation, erosion patterns or scour marks, hydrology, and morphology of the land in question. Data is then collected on the locations of the placed flags and a plan is drawn to reference the boundary of the wetlands and compare it to the proposed boundaries of the surrounding plots or parcels of land and the construction work proposed within.

While there are many more forms of land surveys, to list them all and their attributes would result in a very long article. The options presented above are simply the most common forms of land surveys, and the ones that the general public is most likely to encounter.

Online Electronics Gifts THE FUTURE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING HDTV Black Friday Cheap & Deals

Mechanical Engineering Helps in Making Our Lives Easier Through Its Different Disciplines

Mechanical engineering influences our lives in many ways. The different fields of mechanical engineering try to make use of force, energy, and motion to build machines or gadgets to make our lives easier.

Mechanical engineering impacts our daily lives without us noticing it. When you turn the switch of your light, ride a train or bus, when you cross a bridge, and many more day to day activities - are all under the discipline of mechanical engineering.

The Different Disciplines of Mechanical Engineering

Like any other engineering fields, mechanical engineering has many subfields where people can specialize. The set of skills learned under these subspecialties are applied to practical use so our existence can be more productive and meaningful.

Here are some of the disciplines under mechanical engineering:

o Mechanics- this field entails the study of forces and its effects on things. This involves the analysis and prediction of how objects will react to the different stresses it may be subjected to. There are several sub disciplines in this field like statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, mechanics of materials, and continuum mechanics

o Kinematics- under this discipline one will learn about the motion of bodies and system of bodies. The pistons of you cars or the crane that lifts heavy loads are practical uses of the principles of kinematics

o Robotics- involves the collaboration of different engineering disciplines like electrical engineering and software engineering with mechanical engineering. The fancy robots that we see being developed to help man assemble cars and other things primarily depend on the application of skills learned under this mechanical engineering discipline

o Structural Analysis- mechanical engineering shares this discipline with civil engineering and is primarily focused on why objects fail. It will decipher why structures will break or why they will not function as supposedly designed.

o Thermodynamics- this is a shared study with other fields of engineering. It deals with energy applied through building of power plants, ventilations, refrigeration, radiators, and anything that involves transformation of energy from one form to another.

o Drafting- this involves the instructions used to build machineries. Drawings are now aided by computers in a three dimensional representation.

What Lies Ahead

Mechanical engineering is a field that doesn't stop on looking for answers to make life easier for us.

Boundaries are being crossed and minds pushed to their limits so mechanical systems can be safer, cost effective, and more efficient. Computer aided engineering is continually being developed to create more detailed and accurate models of products, assembly parts, and other interfaces.

There are recent advancements in the design and production of composite materials. Some good examples of these are carbon composite materials which are used in cars, airplanes, spacecrafts, and the simple high technology fishing rods.

There is also a considerable effort to build more machines which helps the automation of assembly lines and other things. Mechanical engineering helps build cars, automated parking lots, and simple automated dispensing systems.

Aside from the big things mentioned above, mechanical engineering also focuses on the small things. Nanotechnology interplays with molecular engineering which primarily aims to produce molecular assemblers. This field of engineering has big dreams that will have big impact on warfare, exploration, and health but is still on the exploratory stage.

Netbook Deal Of Black Friday LCD 1080p HDTV Car Gps Navigator

13 Different Types of Engineering Explained

As a student considering your options for college or university, the choices can be overwhelming. This is the case even within certain disciplines where there might be a dozen different subcategories and / or specialties within the profession. Let's explore some of the more popular Engineering disciplines, shall we?

Agricultural Engineering is the engineering discipline that strives to apply engineering science to agricultural production and farming. In some circles it is commonly accepted that the scope of agricultural engineering is broader than all other forms of engineering, as it combines elements of mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering with animal and plant biology.

Architectural Engineering involves the application of engineering principles to building construction and design. In some parts of the world, the words architect and architectural engineer are used interchangeably.

Biomedical Engineering strives to apply engineering principles and technology to the field of medicine. Originally considered an interdisciplinary specialization, biomedical eng has grown to become a respected discipline of its own. Tissue engineering, while also considered a specialization within biotechnology, is one such example of biomedical engineering in action.

Ceramic Engineering relates to the practice of designing and creating objects from inorganic, non-metallic materials. The process generally includes the purification of raw materials, the production of compounds, their formation into components, and the study of their composition, properties and structure.

Civil Engineering is a discipline that deals primarily with the design, construction and maintenance of bridges, roads, canals, and the like. As a point of interest, this engineering discipline was enshrined to distinguish itself from military engineering. It is considered the second-oldest discipline, after military.

Computer Engineering is a combination of computer science and electronic engineering. Computer engineers design both computer software and computer hardware, in addition to developing solutions for the integration of the two.

Electrical Engineering is the study and application of electromagnetism, electronics, and electricity. It's a broad-based discipline that encompasses the design and implementation of various electronic / electrical systems such as circuits, generators, motors, and transformers.

Environmental Engineering refers to the application of scientific principles to environmental improvement. Generally speaking, this discipline attempts to provide healthy air, water and land for safe habitation. Additionally, this particular discipline attempts to find ways to reverse environmental damages caused by pollution.

Industrial Engineering is a discipline concerned with the development and ongoing improvement of integrated systems. In manufacturing systems, focus is placed on finding ways to eliminate waste (time, money, materials, energy, etc). Industrial engineering is not necessarily limited to manufacturing, however.

Manufacturing Engineering, on the other hand, deals almost exclusively with the design and maintenance of different manufacturing processes, tools, equipment and machines. Lean manufacturing principles are one such example of scientific manufacturing in action.

Materials Engineering is concerned with the properties of matter and it's application to science and technology. This generally refers to the study of the structure of materials at the molecular level, and includes elements of applied physics and chemistry. Nanotechnology is one such example of materials engineering in action.

Mechanical Engineering is one of the oldest disciplines, and is primarily concerned with the design, production and use of tools and machines. It is primarily concerned with the generation and application of mechanical power.

Nuclear Engineering is a discipline that is primarily concerned with finding practical applications of nuclear energy. This includes the development and maintenance of nuclear reactors, power plants, and weapons.

LCD 37 Inch HDTV