Accurate construction set-out for building and civil work
A construction set-out survey transfers positions, levels or alignments from approved design information onto the physical site. It gives builders and contractors reliable marks to establish the proposed works before and during construction.
AIM Surveying provides set-out surveys for residential and commercial projects throughout Wollongong, Shellharbour, Albion Park and all of our service areas.
Set-out services may include
- Building corners, gridlines, offsets and reference marks.
- Footings, slabs, formwork and structural elements.
- Retaining walls, drainage, services and civil alignments.
- Levels and benchmarks for agreed construction stages.
- Checks or surveys at nominated stages where included in the scope.
What we need before set-out
Reliable set-out depends on receiving the correct, current and approved design information. Before attendance, provide the latest architectural, engineering, civil or structural plans; relevant digital files where available; the required elements and offsets; site contact details; and the date the site will be ready.
Changes between plan revisions can create costly site errors. The builder or project manager should confirm that the supplied drawings are the current construction issue and clearly identify what is required at each attendance.
Site preparation
The work area should be safe, accessible and sufficiently clear for survey observations and marks. Formwork, excavation, machinery, stockpiles or incomplete site preparation can obstruct the required points. Contact us early if you are unsure whether the site is ready.
Construction set-out FAQs
Can you set out directly from a PDF?
The appropriate information depends on the project and accuracy requirements. Native digital design files can reduce ambiguity, but the surveyor must review the available drawings and confirm what is suitable before the work proceeds.
Who confirms the plan revision?
The builder, project manager or client should provide and confirm the current approved construction information. Revised drawings should be sent before attendance with changes clearly identified.
Can set-out be completed in stages?
Yes. Many projects require several attendances for different construction elements. The quotation can identify the intended stages or each stage can be scoped as the project progresses.
For residential building work, also see our house set-out survey service.