Land surveying establishes the legal and physical facts of a parcel: boundaries, easements, topography, and existing improvements. Every design decision downstream depends on it. We coordinate boundary, topographic, ALTA, and as-built surveys, plat preparation, and construction staking through licensed Georgia land surveyors, then bring that data straight into our engineering and Revit models.
What it is
A survey is the measured truth about a property. Where the lines actually are. Where the easements run. How the ground falls. What is already built and how close it sits to a line it should not cross.
In Georgia, boundary determinations, plats, and replats must be prepared and certified by a licensed Professional Land Surveyor. We coordinate that work through licensed Georgia surveyors and manage the scope, the schedule, and the deliverable format so the data arrives usable.
That last part matters more than most owners realize. A topographic survey delivered at the wrong contour interval, without the right control points, or missing utility inverts has to be redone before engineering can start. We specify the scope up front so the survey feeds the site plan and the Revit model directly, with no remobilization and no lost weeks.
What you receive
Boundary survey · topographic survey · ALTA/NSPS land title survey · as-built survey · plat and replat preparation · minor plat and subdivision plat coordination · easement exhibits · tree survey and specimen tree location · construction staking and layout · elevation certificates and floodplain location
When you need it
Before you buy — recorded acreage and actual acreage are not always the same number, and easements that do not appear on a listing appear on a survey. Before you design — engineering and architecture built on assumed topography get rebuilt on real topography, at your expense. Before you split or replat a parcel — Georgia requires a licensed surveyor’s certification on plats. Before a commercial closing or a loan — lenders and title companies commonly require an ALTA/NSPS survey. And before you build near a line, a buffer, or a wall — staking is cheaper than moving a foundation.
How it fits into a Mack Development build
Survey is the first field task on a Mack build. We order it, we specify the scope, and we receive the data in a format our engineers can use immediately. From there the surveyed topography becomes the base for the grading plan, and the grading plan sets the finished floor elevation used in the Revit model of your house — same survey, one time, carried all the way through design and construction. On the back end, construction staking puts the engineered plan on the ground so what gets built matches what was permitted.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a boundary survey and a topographic survey?
A boundary survey establishes the legal property lines, corners, and easements. A topographic survey measures the shape of the ground — contours, spot elevations, drainage features, and existing improvements. You need the boundary survey to know what you own and the topographic survey to know what you can build. Most projects need both.
Do I need a new survey if the property already has a recorded plat?
Usually yes. A recorded plat shows boundaries but rarely carries current topography, utility locations, tree data, or improvements built since recording, and it may not meet current county standards. For design and permitting, an older plat is a starting reference, not a substitute.
Who has to certify a plat or replat in Georgia?
A licensed Georgia Professional Land Surveyor. Boundary determination and plat certification are surveying practice under Georgia law and cannot be performed by an engineer or a builder. We coordinate that work through licensed surveyors and manage the county submittal and recording around it.
What is an ALTA survey and when do I need one?
An ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey is a detailed survey prepared to a national standard that title companies and lenders rely on for commercial transactions. It ties boundaries to title exceptions — easements, encroachments, rights of way. If a lender or title underwriter is involved in a commercial or investment closing, expect one to be required.