Survey Department

Our effective team of 15 surveyors and survey technicians focus on providing your product in a manner as seamlessly as possible. In the last two years, we have provided survey and mapping for over 210 projects. Thirty-four of these have been locally administered projects and 30 have been federal-aid projects.

Having a completed base map is critical to each design schedule; few design tasks can progress without it. Using either photogrammetric or conventional ground survey methods, we turn around base mapping quickly and efficiently. To expedite your receipt of basemapping, upon award (and, if time is of the essence, prior to receipt of a formal contract) we schedule survey crews to set horizontal and vertical control and prepare for rapid deployment of our field surveyors. We utilize our relationships with photogrammetric consultants to quickly queue up your project for a fly-over or for base map processing.

For managing utility conflicts, locating underground utilities and providing design engineers with the best available data is critical. Our surveyors obtain record plan mapping from utility companies so that record plan information can be carefully anchored to physical features of the field-edited mapping. Our 3D location of aerial appurtenance (wires, signal heads, and luminaries) allow designers to plan overhead components of projects, including placement of signal poles and arms and coordination with impacted utilities for relocations.

If Subsurface Utility Exploration (SUE) is needed, we retain a firm to excavate test holes and provide more precise information on the depth and run of utilities. As survey subconsultants on two NYSDOT statewide agreements, our survey crews have worked on specialty SUE investigations in seven counties. By providing more accurate information on the location of underground utilities, designers can more readily modify the alignment of roadway features, thus minimizing expensive utility impacts and relocation costs.

By identifying and resolving right of way issues, we ensure that public works improvements will be made within jurisdictionally-owned land. We clearly identify highway boundaries and property lines and then provide this information to project designers, owners, and real-estate representatives so that adjacent owners can be appropriately compensated and needed acquisitions can be made in sufficient time to resolve right of way issues prior to letting.

When right of way determinations are required for highway reconstruction projects, our research allows involved agencies to determine if any acquisitions are needed. We’ve researched historical records as far back as the late 1700’s at county law libraries, state, county and town offices, public libraries, and local historians’ offices. This extensive research effort allows government agencies to accurately determine the needs for acquisitions, and, at the same time, minimize these acquisitions.

In the past eight years, Fisher Associates has prepared over 898 maps, including temporary and permanent easement maps, deed maps, abandonment maps, abstract request maps, key maps, and boundary surveys.