Civil Engineers Indianapolis
Indianapolis civil engineers can help with your construction project in a multitude of ways. You should consult with an Indianapolis civil engineer before you purchase a parcel of land for your development project. In essence, a civil engineering firm helps you figure out how and where you can build things.
Development Consulting and Site Feasibility Studies
An experienced Indianapolis civil engineer can conduct a site feasibility study and provide you with development consulting to ensure that the parcel you’re considering is compatible with your intended use and is properly zoned. Commercial development and site feasibility study services can include:
- Zoning Assistance. An experienced development consultant can guide you through the regulatory maze of rules and regulations that govern commercial building projects and provide permitting assistance.
- Due Diligence Consulting. Part of the development process is conducting due diligence, which means you have exercised “reasonable care” to ensure that all potential risks associated with the building have been assessed. It’s in your best interest to hire an experienced Indianapolis development consulting expert to conduct your due diligence for you.
- Sustainable Design. If having a green building design is important to you, an Indianapolis civil engineer can help you with sustainable, low impact building design. You can design your building to be LEED certified, which increases the resale value of your property and enhances the indoor and outdoor environments of your facility for its occupants.
Recommended Article: How Civil Engineers Help with Development Consulting
Land Surveying
When you’re purchasing a parcel of land in Indianapolis, in addition to a site feasibility study, you’ll need land surveys. There are several types of field surveys to consider:
- Boundary Surveys. The most basic type of land survey you can choose, a boundary survey simply delineates the property lines and identifies any encroachment issues or easements that might be associated with adjoining properties.
- Topographic Surveys. Topographic surveys take boundary surveys to the next level. Think of a topographic survey as a 3-D representation of your parcel. A topographic survey shows you not just the property lines, but elevations, as well as any elements that might affect building placement or future functionality. This includes natural elements, like trees and ravines, and man-made elements, like power lines and existing structures.
- ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys. For a truly complete picture of any possible encumbrances or potential roadblocks to your project, you need an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey. An ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey will help you identify the owners of neighboring properties, zoning classifications for the area around your parcel, floodplains, cemeteries, water features and access routes.
Recommended Article: What is an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey and Why Do I Need One?
Other Services an Indianapolis Civil Engineer Can Provide
Construction Staking
Once you have performed your due diligence on the property you’ve chosen, your plans have been drawn up and your permits have been secured, you’ll need an Indianapolis civil engineering firm to conduct construction staking. Construction staking, also known as site layout surveying, physically stakes out the building plans on the piece of property, per the architectural plans.
As-Built Surveys
Once the construction process has begun, an as-built survey (also known as an “in place” survey) can save you time, money and headaches down the line by catching potentially costly errors early. An Indianapolis civil engineer can conduct an as-built survey at any point during the construction process, to ensure that the construction taking place matches the plans exactly. Once your building project is complete and ready for an inspection, an as-built survey will be required to obtain a certificate of occupancy for your building.
Recommended Article: What is an As-Built Survey and When Do I Need One?