How Land Surveying Supports Sustainable Development in Brisbane
How Land Surveying Supports Sustainable Development in Brisbane
While urban development and sustainability may not immediately seem related, the relationship between them is intrinsic. In a city such as Brisbane that is quickly growing and evolving, sustainable development is essential to ensure that the region’s liveability is maintained for future generations. Everything from land use choices to urban density and infrastructure planning impacts how we live today and will affect our quality of life tomorrow. In this regard, land surveying can have a major impact on sustainable development in Brisbane.
The key thing to understand about land surveying is that it is often underestimated as to its contribution to the construction process. Many people might assume that surveyors do work that is purely technical or provide a service that simply measures and maps out a piece of land, but it is really the essential first step for any building project. Whether sustainable development is on the mind of a client or not, a good surveyor will be involved with planning a new building or infrastructure project in Brisbane from start to finish.
Ideally, of course, sustainability should be on the mind of clients, contractors, architects, engineers, government regulators and all other parties involved in building and infrastructure projects. Sustainable development is not simply the focus on passive design and building green homes, it is also the planning of neighbourhoods, the management of our infrastructure and the care of the natural environment.
Land surveyors are in a unique position to help with all these elements as their work provides the base information and critical analysis that other professionals need to make their planning decisions. In this respect, surveying can have a significant impact on sustainability in urban development by providing clients with information that will lead to best practices.
Firstly, a site survey will help any developer determine the most efficient and suitable place for development. This can include areas with a gentle slope for a building or site works and places that can be retained for vegetation, waterways and other environmental features. By providing a visual and measured analysis of existing infrastructure and resources on a property, a land surveyor is helping a client to identify the best possible use of a site and what needs to be protected or preserved. From an early stage of a project this also means developing in a way that is sympathetic to the land rather than trying to force a building into a place. Aspects like slope and the natural flow of water across and under a site will impact how erosion, flooding and stormwater can be managed or mitigated through design.
Surveying also has an important role in reducing waste, overruns and other inefficiencies in the construction process. Whether it is minimising over-excavation on site, over-ordering materials, missing design elements or other avoidable costs and delays, a high-quality and up-to-date survey will provide clients with the information they need to ensure their development project is on track and minimising waste.
In urban infill projects, where pre-existing lots are reused or subdivided, surveyors also have a part to play in ensuring that development works are harmonious with the surrounding neighbourhood. This can include correctly delineating boundary lines and legal easements, ensuring buildings do not overhang neighbouring properties and deprive them of access to light and airflow, working around natural site features, and other aspects that improve liveability and integration with the urban fabric.
Surveying is a critical part of the planning of new roads, cycle paths, pedestrian networks and public transport. A sustainable approach to transport that can reduce our reliance on cars also benefits from surveying as the layout of bike paths, roads and transit stops can all be planned with careful analysis of the natural topography of the land. Better public transport and low-carbon transport options help to improve the liveability and affordability of a city and surveyors can help with this goal by helping with the planning and implementation of such infrastructure.
Regional and greenfield developments also require careful balancing of development and conservation to maintain the region’s character and natural features while also meeting the need for new housing and infrastructure. Surveyors play a vital role in this process as they work closely with environmental consultants, government agencies and planners to ensure sensitive wetlands, bushland, koala habitat and other areas are correctly marked out and set aside in the planning process. Surveyors Brisbane will always work closely with both town planners and environmental engineers to assist with the compliance and sustainability of projects throughout the region.
Water management is another area where land surveying has a major impact on sustainable development. Brisbane is prone to both drought and flooding in equal measure. The surveyor’s role in stormwater design and management can mitigate some of these effects, both through smarter planning and design that can reduce the potential for flooding as well as protecting our waterways and stormwater systems from pollution and sediment run-off. Water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) principles have become an increasingly important part of planning our urban spaces and surveyors can provide data and mapping information for the planning of WSUD elements in streetscapes, parks, gardens, and residential and commercial areas.
Commercial and industrial developments often call on surveyors for assistance with site selection and layout. In this way, surveyors can help buildings operate more efficiently through choices made on positioning to better use natural ventilation and lighting, planning of the site and other considerations that will help businesses reduce their energy and resource consumption over time.
New technology is also improving the ability of land surveying to have a positive impact on sustainable development. Tools such as drones, 3D scanners, mapping software and other tech are speeding up the surveying process and allowing data to be shared more quickly and easily than in the past. This can reduce the time required for key planning processes while also improving the ability for interdisciplinary collaboration on projects, a key to meeting environmental and other sustainability goals.
In many ways, land surveying is helping the city of Brisbane to grow in a way that is both more practical and more responsible. It supports the building of homes, schools, transport infrastructure and commercial development while maintaining and where possible improving the character and natural qualities of our built environment. Sustainable development is not possible without accurate data and thoughtful planning, and that starts with surveyors.