American Land Title Association (ALTA)

 ALTA/NSPS survey: a surveying standard jointly proposed by the American Land Title Association and the  National Society of Professional Surveyors  that incorporates elements of the boundary survey, mortgage survey, and topographic survey. ALTA/NSPS surveys, frequently shortened to ALTA surveys, are often required for real estate transactions 

As-Built Survey: a survey conducted at the completion of a construction project to verify, that the work authorized was completed to the specifications and details set on the Construction/Engineering Plans or Plot Plans . This usually involves a complete survey of the site at the end of the construction phase of the project to confirm that the structures, utilities, and roadways (proposed) were built in the proper locations authorized in theConstruction/Engineering Plans or Plot Plans. 

Boundary Surveys: "any line or thing making a limit, whereas Corpus Juris Secundum states that a boundary is a line or object indicating the limit or furthest extent of a tract of land or territory; a separating or dividing line between counties, states, districts of territory, or tracts of land." A boundary survey, also known as a land survey or property survey, is the process of determining land ownership typically witnessed by monuments or markers, such as, but not limited to, iron rods, pipes or concrete monuments in the ground as well as recorded information such as plats and deeds. NOTE: The willful destruction and or removal of above said monuments is illegal in the United States. These acts will always result in fining and rarely, but not never, in jail time. 

Construction Layout: construction surveying consists of three basic objectives:

1. providing layout stakes, both horizontal      and vertical locations, that construction personnel can utilize to      position structures and perform earthwork accurately and efficiently. 
2. ongoing layout, replacement of previous      stakes, and periodic checks of the overall project as a project progresses      toward completion to ensure that everything complies with the original      design. 
3. providing a As-Built/Record drawing upon      completion of the project to show the final location, dimensions,      elevations and overall configuration of all structures, roadways,      earthwork, etc. and any changes or modifications to the proposed Construction/Engineering      Plans or Plot Plans. (see As-Built Survey) 

Elevation Certificates: A form used to certify building and land elevations to ensure compliance with community and Federal floodplain regulations, determine proper insurance rates. Elevation Certificates are also used in conjunction with Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) 

Horizontal & Vertical Control: a known permanent or temporary marker(s) containing state plane coordinate data or gis information and/or vertical data,(NAVD 88/NGVD 29 Datum) in relation to the current project. 

Legal Descriptions: the description of real estate used to identify a specific parcel of land used in real estate transactions. Legal descriptions can be found in any purchase document such as a mortgage or deed. 

Sketches: A graphic representation, specifically a detailed plan for the proposal or intention of constructing a structure, vacating a right-of-way, or the dedication of an easement for example. 

Topographic Surveys: the three-dimensional location of pre-existing conditions of the earths surface identifying the location of artificial and natural features on the earth including permanent features such as, but not limited to, buildings, highways, lakes, ponds, trees and sewers. 

A Builders Package includes, but not limited to:

1. Plot Plan
2. House Layout
3. Wood Form/Stemwall Survey
4. Final Boundary/Mortgage Survey
5. Elevation Certificates(if needed)