7 Different Types of Land Surveys in Malaysia

Land surveying in Malaysia commonly refers to basic land survey type which is cadastral survey and engineering survey. In this day and age, land survey markets are experiencing shifting of consumer’s priorities and paradigm shift due to new technologies.

Beyond land surveying, there has been rapid advancement in computing, networking, and geospatial data mapping as well as consumer’s demand. Currently, to attain Geographical information, is within reach and effortless due to these modifications.

As a result, society now places a higher value on accurate, timely, and user-friendly geospatial information than ever before. To meet the demands, various types of surveys have been developed. The following are the various types of land surveys available in Malaysia:

1. Cadastral Survey

Cadastral surveying is the discipline of surveying that deals with the laws of land ownership and the establishment of property boundaries.

It involves interpreting and advising on the location of boundaries, land ownership status, and rights, restrictions, and interests in land, and recording this information for use in plans, maps, etc.

It also includes the physical delineation of land and the determination of dimensions, areas, and certain rights associated with land, whether located on land or water or defined by natural or man-made features.

Cadastral surveys are usually conducted to divide the land into parcels and to redefine the boundaries of previously surveyed land in order to determine the physical extent of ownership or to facilitate the transfer of title.

There are two (2) types of cadastral survey:

• a) Land Title Survey – is carried out to distinguish, map, and define property boundaries forthe issuance of legal ownership titles.
  
  
• b) Strata Title Survey - is required when there are separate property ownerships for eachunit for multi-level apartment block and horizontal subdivisions with shared areas administeredby a Management Committee.

2. Engineering Survey

An engineering survey is a survey of a land parcel that is used to determine the best location for infrastructures such as roads, railways, or pipelines. There are different types of engineering surveys:

• a) Topographic Survey - A topographic survey is a process of collecting data on the land's natural and man-made features, as well as its terrain. Buildings, fences, trees, and streams are permanent features that accurately define the ground and its boundaries.
  
  Architects, engineers, building contractors, and others use topographic plans to visualize their sites and accelerate development accurately.
  
  
• b) Demarcation Survey - Carried out the resurvey of the lot/area boundaries based on a certified plan or any available information. This survey identifies the lot boundaries and any encroachment of the lot.
  
  
• c) As-built Survey - The as-built survey consists of measurements to verify previously reported dimensions and spatial perimeters. Essentially, it is a way of verifying the design work that has already been completed.
  
  During the building process, if measurements do not match the plan, engineers must take steps to correct the issue. Sudden changes in the building process can cause discrepancies between the original plan and the final construction.
  
  As such, as-built surveys are particularly useful in determining where design revisions are needed during construction.
  
  
• d) Setting Out Survey - The setting out survey process is used to determine the precise location of a proposed structure within the legal boundaries of a plot of land.
  
  The purpose is to determine the actual position and levels of building lines and road alignments for a projected structure per construction plans by using various techniques and instruments.
  
  
• e) Precise Levelling Survey - Precise Levelling Survey is a more precise method of differential levelling that employs highly accurate levels and more stringent observing procedures than general engineering levelling. This intends for high levels of accuracy such as 1mmper1 km traverse.
  
  
• f) Deformation Monitoring - Deformation surveying, also known as deformation monitoring, is the systematic measurement and tracking of changes in an object's shape or dimensions caused by stresses induced by applied loads.
  
  Deformation surveys are caused by changes in the bedrock, an increase or decrease in weight, changes in material properties, or external influences.
  
  
• g) Profile Survey - The process of determining the elevations of a series of points at measured intervals along a line such as the centerline of a proposed ditch or road or the centerline of a natural feature such as a stream bed.

3. Underground Utilities Detection and Mapping

The process of locating buried utilities is known as underground utility mapping. These underground assets could include telecommunication, electricity, natural gas, and water lines.

It becomes even more complicated in the urban area, where utilities compete for underground space with subways, rail lines, and road tunnels.

Generally, in the cities area, underground utility detection equipment such as Pipeline Cable Locator and GPR systems, generally, could only detect depths up to approximately 2 meters to 3 meters with positional accuracies of +/- 0.1m to 0.3 meters.

The depths of detection capability correlates directly to the soil type and ground conditions. The detection work will determine the presence of any buried power cables, metallic utilities (steel pipes and copper telecommunication lines), and to some extent, non-metallic utilities (fibre optic ducts) that are accessible.

The range of detection, accuracies, and capability of detecting the buried services depend on the soil conditions. It may only sometimes be possible for some utilities (particularly the non-metallic ones) to be detected.

Underground utility mapping is a survey to create a digital representation of the underground systems in a geographic area. The survey uses ground penetrating radar and electro-magnetic locators to generate a detailed below-surface profile.

4. Aerial Mapping Survey

• a) Aerial Photogrammetry Survey - Aerial photogrammetry is a technique to create 2D or 3D images from aerial photographs.
  
  Photogrammetry is used to turn images into 3D geometric drawings. Usually, images from different points angles are used, and often a low-magnification aerial view is employed.
  
  Photographs must be taken from multiple angles to perform this type of photogrammetry. This method mainly used to create topographical maps. These maps can be 2D or, more recently, 3D computer terrain models.
  
  The maps and models that result could help analyze both small and large geographical areas. These maps are usually used as base maps or with Geographic Information System (GIS) data.
  
  
• b) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Surveying and Mapping - Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widely used for high-resolution mapping.
  
  Compared to aerial mapping or satellite imagery, UAV mapping is more accurate and cost-effective. Low cost, high temporal resolution, quick mobilization, and mission time are all advantages.
  
  
• c) Airborne LiDAR Mapping - Airborne LiDAR mapping is one of the large-scale mapping technologies available today.
  
  It uses a large-format high-resolution digital camera and LiDAR mounted on a fixed-wing aircraft such as Skyvan. Typical LiDAR data elevation accuracy is ±15cm RMSE over flat terrain and ±0.5m to 1.5m over hilly areas.

5. Hydrographic Survey

Hydrographic surveying or bathymetric surveying is the surveying of physical features underwater.

It is the science of measuring all factors underwater that affect all maritime activities such as dredging, marine construction, offshore drilling, etc. Hydrographic survey is mainly carried out on behalf of government agencies.

It is mainly carried out using sensors, soundings or electronic sensor systems for shallow waters.

6. Terrestrial Laser Scanning

Terrestrial laser scanning is a surveying method that provides detailed and highly accurate 3D data in a timely and efficient manner. This technology is becoming increasingly important for surveying applications.

Applications are diverse and include topography, mining, as-built surveying, architecture, archaeology, monitoring, civil engineering and urban modelling.

The terrestrial laser scanner is a non-contact measurement device that can capture densepoint clouds of objects. After processing, X, Y and Z coordinates, colour and reflectance value are assignedto each point. The relative precision, i.e. the ratio between absolute precision and measurement range, is better than 10-4.

7. Mobile Mapping

Mobile mapping is the process of collecting geospatial data from a mobile vehicle, typically fitted with a range of GNSS and 360-degree panorama camera.

Mobile mapping systems can be used to acquire high-resolution and precise data quickly. With its patented calibration and superior global shutter sensors, the camera can captures high-quality images with an accuracy level of 10 cm with 10 m radius from the center of the camera.