Home and business owners, civil engineers, contractors and other parties and individuals rely on and surveyors to provide accurate information. Decisions, valuations, and designs such are based on the information they provide. Therefore, if they make a mistake, it would be a costly one. The question is, can surveyors make mistakes?
Surveyors can make mistakes
Land surveyors undergo advanced training before they are given licenses to practice. However, this does mean that they don’t mistakes. Land surveying is a process that is highly technical. It needs an advanced understanding of mathematics and technical subjects as well as the use of highly specialized equipment. However, this does not eliminate all chances of human error.
Common mistakes that surveyors make
Miscalculating property boundaries is one of the most common surveying mistakes. This is often because of disorganization or just a simple mistake. It may also be because of malfunctional equipment that gives inaccurate readings. Such errors can result in inaccurate mapping or the failure to show property easements or other boundaries.
There are no minor problems because even a small problem can cost a lot. For instance, if a boundary is off by even one meter and this is discovered after a building or home has been completed or is near completion, it can be a very expensive error to correct.
Another common problem is miscommunication between clients and surveyors. Some clients such as engineers and architects may understand the terms and language that surveyors. However, a home or landowner may not. A surveyor must be clear in their reports so that even those who don’t speak their language can understand them. For instance, a surveyor should make it clear to a landowner who has a development project such as a block of flats with a swimming pool can be achieved or not.
A surveyor should communicate with clients clearly and in a way that they can understand. Surveyors should aim to show and not just tell clients what they are saying using aids like 3D models and detailed maps. 3D laser scanners are also ideal. They can be used to gather data quickly and to create detailed CAD drawings and models. This is understood better than only telling a client how an easement would affect their plans for a pool, driveway or other feature.
Some surveyors also take too long to deliver. Unless they are in a related field, clients don’t understand how long surveying takes including visiting a site and putting together a detailed report.
A surveyor should aim to give a client a realistic time frame within which they will complete a job. If a particular surveying project will take longer than expected, this should be communicated to the client and with a good reason why. Surveyors should also be professional and not fail to deliver on time because of improper scheduling, inaccuracies or other problems caused by their failure to organize themselves properly.
Avoiding and correct the mistakes that surveyors make
One thing surveyors should aim to do is keep up with continuing education. There are new practices and technologies that are constantly coming up every year and it is important for surveyors to stay updated. One such development is software. Developers are constantly creating and updating surveying software which can help you to work faster and more accurately.
Surveyors should also be meticulous about double-checking their surveying equipment and readings. Double-checking property records online can also go a long way to ensuring accuracy and avoiding legal disputes.
Can surveyors make mistakes? The answer is yes
So, can surveyors make mistakes? The answer is yes. The good news is that there are measures that they can take to avoid them and in so doing, avoid disputes that would inconvenience clients and cost a lot to rectify.
