What is the right survey for a reservoir safety inspection?

Reservoir safety inspections under the Reservoirs Act 1975 may require a combination of bathymetric survey of the reservoir capacity, topographic survey of the dam crest, embankment faces and spillway, and settlement monitoring if an instrumented monitoring regime is in place. For larger reservoirs, UAV survey combined with bathymetric survey provides the most complete dataset. We […]

Do you work with Environment Agency supply chains?

Yes. We hold Constructionline Gold, PAS 128 accreditation, RICS regulation and CDM compliance — the standard accreditation profile required for Environment Agency and Lead Local Flood Agency supply chains. We have delivered survey programmes supporting flood risk management, erosion monitoring and environmental programmes across the North West and nationally, working with environmental consultancies and engineering […]

What survey data does an Environmental Impact Assessment require?

This varies by project type and scale but typically includes: accurate topographic data for the site and its surroundings; watercourse and drainage survey where relevant; existing land use and boundary data; and in some cases long-term monitoring data as a pre-development baseline. The survey data produced for an EIA needs to be accurate, georeferenced, clearly […]

How do you survey a pipeline or energy corridor?

Pipeline and energy corridor survey requires a combination of topographic survey along the route and PAS 128 utility mapping to locate and verify existing services before any trenching or excavation begins. For longer corridors, UAV survey combined with GPS ground control is the most efficient method — capturing a dense topographic dataset along the full […]

What monitoring is required on a flood defence scheme?

Settlement monitoring is typically required during and after construction on earth embankment flood defences to verify that the new structure is performing as designed and that there is no unexpected movement or settlement. Monitoring may also be required on existing structures adjacent to flood defence works — culverts, walls, bridges — to detect any movement […]

Can you survey a river or reservoir without a boat or entering the water?

Yes. We deploy the CHC Navigation Apache 4 — an unmanned surface vessel that captures accurate bathymetric data remotely from the riverbank or reservoir edge without requiring personnel to enter the water. The Apache 4 is fitted with dual GNSS, IMU integration and single or multibeam echo sounders. It navigates the survey route autonomously and […]

What is the difference between a topographic survey and a Digital Terrain Model?

A topographic survey is the field data collection process — a surveyor captures ground levels, features and contextual information using GPS and total station equipment. A Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is a deliverable produced from that data — a mathematical model of the bare earth surface, with vegetation and above-ground structures removed. A Digital Surface […]

What survey is required for a wind farm or solar farm development?

Renewable energy development typically requires survey at three stages. At site selection and feasibility — a large-area topographic survey capturing terrain, drainage, existing tracks, boundaries and significant features. UAV LiDAR is increasingly the standard method for this stage, capturing detailed terrain data across large areas quickly and with minimal ground disturbance. At planning application — […]

Do I need a PAS 128 survey for a water infrastructure or AMP8 scheme?

Yes — on any scheme involving excavation near buried services. This includes AMP8 mains replacement, treatment works upgrade and pumping station installation programmes. Water infrastructure sites often carry decades of buried services — water mains, sewer infrastructure, gas supply, electrical cables and communications — not all of which will be accurately represented in utility records. […]

How do you survey a wetland without disturbing the habitat?

Wetland environments are often too ecologically sensitive for conventional ground-based survey teams. Our approach on wetland sites combines GPS-controlled remote sensing with UAV LiDAR — capturing high-resolution topographic data, vegetation height and ground elevation without personnel walking through the habitat. Where boundary points or control stations are required on the ground, we minimise access to […]