SURVEY & GEOMATICS

Part of our Data Acquisition Solution

Our Survey Team

Our Survey & Geomatics team has a reputation for providing practical and innovative surveying solutions. We understand time, accuracy and compliance are of paramount importance to the profitability of our customer projects.

Our staff of highly trained professional surveyors can tackle a project of any size. Whether it is simple utility clearance work before commencing a small project, or a large construction site requiring topographical and utility surveying, drainage and aerial surveys, our survey department has the resources and technology to provide the results our clients expect and deserve.

Supported in-house with the latest AutoCAD and GIS software, we guarantee accurate and timely results every time. In addition, our recently expanded resources enable us to ensure surveying crews are on site quickly, so our clients projects can be delivered on time.

Central Alliance worker dressed in hi-vis clothing, operating a total station at the side of a road behind a barrier, completing survey monitoring works on the M60, with trees and the sky in the background.

Our Core Surveying Services

Topographical Surveys

Topographical surveying provides a detailed picture of an area of land. All features are shown to a level of detail and are scaled appropriately to the individual project. Surveys can be related to any specified grid and datum origins, most commonly the National (OS) Grid and datum by the use of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). Each surveyed point is positioned in 3D, enabling drawings to be shown with contours and spot levels, which then enables us to produce accurate ground models and 3D visualisations if required. 

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A trimble set out on the right hand side of a platform at Royston train station in Hertfordshire. The trimble is grey at the top, and the three legs are bright yellow. In the background there is a view of platform two of the station.
3D Laser Scanning

High-definition 3D laser scanning surveys offer an alternative to traditional surveying methods, providing accurate and rapid data capture with a comprehensive level of detail, particularly valuable for building and civil engineering projects.

A 3D laser scanning survey enables us to capture information within line of sight without the need for direct access, making it an ideal solution for reducing risk in high-hazard areas or avoiding work at height. The resulting point cloud data, comprising millions of data points, can be used to construct detailed 3D models. Each scan takes just minutes to collect the data and is fully georeferenced during the registration process.

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Utility Surveys (PAS128:2022)

We offer a comprehensive in-house utility survey service that includes a wide range of utility mapping solutions to gain a clear understanding of what lies beneath ground. Our offering ranges from the acquisition of buried services plans from statutory providers (Desktop C2 STATS Search) to full site surveys which locate and map the location, depth and alignment of buried services, using non-intrusive technology.

We trace and map underground utilities and service routes using the latest electromagnetic location (EML) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technologies which is deployed as necessary to comply with PAS128:2022, to produce outputs in accordance with industry best practice. These tools allow us to detect metallic items such as power cables, cast-iron mains, and certain telecommunication cables as well as non-metallic utilities that may not be identified through electromagnetic methods alone. GPR is sensitive to geophysical changes and can detect buried structures, voids, or other anomalies.

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Aerial Surveys

We combine the latest advances in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopter-based systems, with innovative uses of imaging equipment to perform a wide range of high-quality mapping and aerial surveying techniques.

Our survey department combines the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and manned aircraft with a range of aerial imaging and LiDAR capture technologies to perform a wide variety of aerial mapping surveys.

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A black helicopter sat on dry, concrete land, with Central Alliance aerial surveying equipment sat in front of the helicopter, with trees and green bushes, and a blue cloudy sky in the background.

CAD & Modelling

Our dedicated team of office staff, comprising experienced surveyors and computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, can undertake a variety of data post-processing and modelling processes to produce a range of survey outputs. We can produce bespoke deliverables from site data (normally a registered point cloud) to meet our clients’ requirements.

Drafting 2D & 3D dimensional CAD (Computer-Aided Design), drawing from different inputs data sources.

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A Central Alliance worker dressed in hi-vis clothing, sat in a small four wheel vehicle parked up in a parking bay, with the ROBIN piece of equipment on top of the small vehicle. The robin is green and black, and looks like a piece of machinery. In the background there is grassland and a blue sky.

Mobile Mapping

We’re the first surveying company to offer the groundbreaking ROBIN LiDAR mobile mapping system that provides multiple alternative mounting options rolled into one solution, enabling the user to map a variety of areas via walking, driving or flying.

The adaptable and innovative, ROBIN LiDAR system is capable of capturing high-density 3D data by walking, driving or flying. This flexibility allows our team to survey a wide range of environments, including remote or hazardous locations, with speed and precision.

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Railway & Track Surveys

Working as a principal contractor within RSK, our dedicated rail team at Central Alliance can provide safe systems of work to allow our experienced surveyors to measure for movement on track.

Services We Provide

  • Track surveys
  • 3D laser scanning
  • Overhead line equipment (OHLE) surveys
  • Gauging surveys
  • Precise levelling & monitoring

We can also provide safety-critical remote monitoring, including triaxial tilt sensor installations on the trackbed, which measure twist and cant, ensuring the safety of trains by sending instant alerts when movement is detected. We can also offer earthwork failure detection on slopes, adjacent to the tracks to monitor for landslips.

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A total station set out on a concrete ground on a platform in London Victoria Station. In the background you can see the railway line, a train parked in a different platform and the general area of the train station.
A Central Alliance worker dressed in hi-vis clothing and wearing a white helmet, operating laser scanner equipment, completing a survey in front of a tall block of flats.

Measured Building Surveys

Measured building surveys provide accurate structural and architectural representation of all building elements and features, and assist with design and planning projects. Using a wide range of the latest innovative surveying technology and software, our surveys can be tailored to very specific requirements to provide a complete solution for our clients’ building measurement and planning needs.

All measured building survey data can be delivered in a variety of formats, and laser scan/mobile mapping data can be accessed through panoramic point cloud viewers, as well as in a BIM-compatible format.

Survey Data Can Include:

  • Floor plans
  • Elevations & cross sections
  • Roof plans
  • 3D CAD models
  • Point cloud viewers

Setting Out Surveys

Setting out surveys are an essential component of the construction process, serving as the blueprint for successful building projects. These surveys involve precise measurements and markings on the construction site, ensuring accurate placement of structures and features. Our land surveyors employ advanced instruments and technology to establish reference points, boundaries and elevation levels. By meticulously mapping out the site’s terrain and incorporating architectural plans, it enables construction teams to commence their work with confidence, minimising errors and ensuring that buildings align flawlessly with the intended design. This meticulous approach not only enhances construction efficiency, but also guarantees the safety and longevity of the built structures.

A total station set out on a rocky slope next to a railway line. You can see the rail tracks in the background, with lots of greenery and a cloudy sky.
Two Central Alliance workers dressed in hi-vis clothing and waders, one worker stood in a river operating a total station, the other worker stood by a dinghy in the river, completing topographical and 3D laser scanning works at a site in Hull.

Bathymetric Surveys

Bathymetric surveys are essentially an underwater topographical survey that maps out the features and depth of underwater terrain. Our survey team can provide a bathymetric survey for inland waterways, lagoons and reservoirs using both conventional techniques and remotely controlled sonar boats. Data can be used to inform flood assessments, dredging activities, aid navigation and project developments.

Precise Levelling & Monitoring

Precise levelling is a cost-effective and accurate method to monitor the smallest changes in elevation, associated with any site activity or ground movement. Monitoring surveys let us see if or how far a structure, building or the earth has moved over time. The process involves monitoring specific locations at regular intervals that vary depending upon the nature of the work. Monitoring surveys are particularly useful for monitoring subsidence that is causing movement of structures, ground movements and settlement.

A Central Alliance worker dressed in hi-vis clothing, operating a total station on a pavement, with green hills, grasslands and trees in the background.
A Central Alliance worker dressed in hi-vis clothing, sat in the opening of a drain, smiling at the camera with a total station and signage in the background.

Drainage Surveys

From pipe clearing, CCTV drainage surveys and diagnostics to drainage repair using traditional and no-dig techniques, RSK Group companies offer total drainage solutions and accurate investigation of blocked drains, pipelines and sewers without the need for digging and excavation work. We use remotely controlled specialist camera systems and software to carry out CCTV drainage surveys. The specialist software used enables you to see the results for yourself on DVD, all supported by a full technical report.

Confined Space Work

We have the experience, certification, skills and knowledge to undertake drainage-based projects ranging from tanks, enclosed drains and sewer systems, to manhole chambers. Confined space entry needs to be undertaken by trained engineers using certified and tested safety equipment, including harnesses, safety tripods and winches, gas detectors and escape equipment.

Drainage Connectivity

Where full CCTV drainage inspection and high-pressure water jetting are not required, we can undertake basic drainage connectivity surveys to map all drainage assets and associated routes of the drainage network, where the system is operable and access allows.

Using a combination of visual inspection, electromagnetic location sonde tracing and ground penetrating radar, we can identify route connectivity and provide accurate geo-referenced survey drawings to represent the survey findings.

Our Services