ENGINEERING CERTAINTY. DELIVERED.
Accurate design starts with accurate information about the site.
Engineering On Demand provides Land Surveyor Perth services for residential, commercial and development projects, including detailed Feature Survey Perth, Contour Survey Perth and Site Survey Perth services.
Our contour and feature surveys capture the existing levels, structures and physical features of your property, providing designers, engineers, architects and builders with reliable site information to begin planning and design.
From new homes and extensions to granny flats, retaining walls, pools and lar
Before a building can be properly positioned and designed, the project team needs to understand what already exists on the property.
A Feature Survey Perth records the physical features of a site so they can be accurately represented on a survey plan.
Depending on the agreed scope, this can include existing buildings, floor levels, retaining walls, fences, driveways, crossovers, visible services, vegetation and other relevant improvements.
Current WA Government surveying specifications describe feature surveys as capturing visible features together with sufficient spot heights to produce an accurate contour plan. They can include buildings, floor levels, driveways, retaining walls, stairs, visible services and significant vegetation.
This gives your designer a measured representation of the actual site, rather than trying to design from aerial imagery, old plans or assumptions.
A Contour Survey Perth establishes the changes in elevation across the site.
Spot levels are measured at appropriate locations and used to represent the shape and fall of the land.
The resulting contour information allows designers and engineers to understand how the proposed development relates to existing ground levels.
Landgate describes topographic information as including natural and constructed features together with relief represented by contours and spot heights.
This information becomes particularly important on sloping properties or where a project involves retaining walls, drainage, finished floor levels, earthworks or changes between neighbouring properties.
The survey begins by recording the relevant physical features within the agreed survey area.
These may include the existing house, sheds, patios, driveways, fences, retaining walls, trees and visible services.
The required level of detail depends on what the survey will ultimately be used for.
Spot levels are recorded across the property to establish the existing terrain.
These measurements can then be represented using spot levels and contour lines, giving the designer a clear understanding of how the site rises and falls.
Relevant available site information is incorporated into the survey drawing according to the agreed scope.
This can include information relating to structures, services, street features and available property information.
Where additional cadastral, title or AHD information is required, this can be included as an additional service.
The measured information is brought together into a clear survey plan.
Engineering On Demand’s existing service provides professionally drafted topographic site plans, with PDF and DWG formats available, allowing the information to move directly into the subsequent design process.
Your current page has a good inclusion list, so I would retain the substance but present it much better visually. The existing service currently includes items such as a datum nail, building outlines, floor levels where accessible, patios, retaining walls, fencing, spot levels, 0.5 m contours, trees, visible services, driveways/crossovers, boundary information and available sewer information.
Building outlines and relevant accessible floor-level information.
Spot levels across the survey area and contour information showing the site's terrain.
Relevant retaining walls, freestanding walls and existing fencing.
Driveways, crossovers, kerbs and other relevant features around the street interface.
Relevant trees and significant vegetation within the agreed survey scope.
Relevant visible service infrastructure such as water, power, communications and sewer features where identifiable.
Retaining walls near lot boundaries require particular attention.
The design may need to consider the wall’s footing, excavation, drainage and retained ground in relation to the boundary and neighbouring property.
WA’s building framework also contains specific provisions relating to work affecting other land. The City of Perth notes that excavation and retention systems can involve a formal adjoining-land-owner consultation process under the Building Act and Regulations.
This is another reason not to rely solely on the 500 mm threshold when determining whether a project is straightforward.
A retaining wall located beside or beneath a driveway may be subjected to additional loading from vehicles and the driveway structure.
These surcharge conditions need to be incorporated into the structural design where applicable.
If a driveway, building or other structure is associated with the retaining wall, this can also affect whether the wall falls within the minor-work building-permit exemption.
Where retaining walls are positioned near houses, garages, pools or other structures, the interaction between them needs to be understood.
Building loads can affect the retaining wall, while excavation for the wall can potentially influence surrounding foundations.
The engineering approach should therefore consider the overall arrangement rather than treating the wall as an isolated landscaping feature.
Concrete and masonry retaining systems can provide durable solutions for residential and development projects.
The appropriate wall type depends on the project constraints, required height, available space, site conditions and loads behind the wall.
Rather than forcing a particular wall system onto every property, the engineering should respond to the site’s actual requirements.
Breaking a large level difference into several smaller walls can sometimes produce a more practical and visually integrated solution.
However, closely spaced tiered walls do not necessarily behave as completely independent structures.
Their geometry, spacing, retained material and loading need to be considered as part of the engineering assessment.
Planning requirements can also consider the overall site works and relationship with natural ground levels.
If a retaining wall has already been constructed without the required approvals, don’t assume that applying for a normal new Building Permit will solve the problem.
Existing unauthorised work follows a different approval pathway and may require drawings, structural assessment, inspections and supporting documentation before retrospective approval can be considered.
The exact requirements depend on the wall, available construction evidence and local government.
This is where I would differentiate EOD heavily.
A customer doesn’t necessarily want five consultants and a list of documents they have to coordinate themselves.
Engineering On Demand can assist with the different professional services required to move a retaining-wall project through the approval process.
I’d show this as a horizontal journey:
SITE SURVEY
Existing features and levels.
→
SITE / SOIL INFORMATION
Establish relevant ground conditions.
→
RETAINING WALL DESIGN
Structural engineering and drawings.
→
PLANNING REVIEW
Determine whether Development Approval is required.
→
BUILDING DOCUMENTATION
Prepare the required application package.
→
COUNCIL APPROVAL
Submit and respond to applicable requests for information.
Provide the property address, available drawings and information about the proposed retaining wall.
We review the proposal to establish the likely planning, building and engineering requirements.
Any required survey, site investigation or additional project information is obtained.
The retaining wall is structurally designed and the required drawings and supporting documentation are prepared.
The applicable planning and/or building approval documentation is prepared and submitted.
We assist with relevant requests for additional information and progress the application toward determination.
Retaining-wall design depends heavily on site geometry.
A contour and feature survey can establish the existing ground levels, walls and other relevant site conditions required before a retaining solution is developed.
This becomes particularly important where there are significant differences in level between neighbouring properties or where new earthworks are proposed.
A Feature Survey records the existing physical features of your property, including relevant buildings, structures, walls, fences, driveways, vegetation and visible services.
It provides your project team with an accurate base plan showing the existing site before new work is designed.
A Contour Survey records spot levels and changes in elevation across the property.
The resulting contour information helps establish the relationship between the proposed development and existing ground levels, particularly where the site slopes or earthworks and retaining are required.
A land surveyor measures and represents land and the features associated with it. For building-design projects, this can include establishing existing site features, structures and levels so they can be accurately shown on a survey plan.
A feature survey records the relevant physical features of a site, which can include buildings, driveways, retaining walls, fences, vegetation and visible services depending on the agreed scope. WA Government specifications similarly describe feature surveys as capturing visible site features and sufficient levels to create an accurate contour plan.
A contour survey measures levels across the property so the terrain and changes in elevation can be represented using spot levels and contour lines.
The feature component primarily records what exists and where it is, while the contour component records the levels and shape of the land. They’re commonly combined because designers generally need both.
No. A feature survey records physical site conditions for design purposes. A cadastral/boundary survey establishes legal property boundaries and falls within WA’s licensed cadastral surveying framework.
The WAPC’s current Planning Online guidance states that subdivision plans must be based on an accurate and up-to-date feature survey, except for amalgamation applications.
Depending on scope, a site survey can show existing structures, walls, fences, driveways, trees, visible services, spot levels, contours and other relevant physical features.
Your existing EOD service states that professionally drafted survey plans are supplied with DWG File.
A title/easement search is offered as an optional addition.
It may be appropriate where construction is close to a boundary or the legal boundary position needs to be accurately established. This is different from a standard contour and feature survey.
Yes. One of the principal purposes of a contour and feature survey is to provide accurate existing-site information that can be used as a base for subsequent planning and design.