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Surveying after Natural Disasters

Surveying after natural disasters

A natural disaster is one of the most devastating events a community or business has to come back from. And when they do happen it is difficult to tell how much damage has been done so that people can start to rebuild. Surveying often has a role to play after a natural disaster by helping to determine what’s left and if anything is left, if it is salvageable. As natural disasters aren’t isolated incidents, but often affect many properties in the area, cleanup and rebuilding is a huge cooperative effort between multiple agencies.

Topographic surveying

In the case of natural disasters, particularly landslides, can cause the levels of the earth to change in unpredictable ways. A topographic survey will help to determine how the landscape has changed. This is especially important to do before the rebuilding process can begin. A topographic survey may reveal that what was once a viable place to build is no longer after a natural disaster. It also gives data into what physical features, such as trees and lamp posts, remain.

Measured building surveying

If a structure is still standing after a natural disaster, it needs to be determined whether or not this structure is safe and can be repaired or needs to be demolished through a measured building survey. In cases where the building is unsafe for a surveyor to enter, a 3D laser scanning survey can be done from a safe distance to gather data about the structure. Depending on the natural disaster, it can be quite obvious as to whether or not a building will still be usable. But in the events of some natural disasters, it can be difficult to tell what the true state of the building is without gathering some evidence first.

Drone surveying

As natural disasters tend to affect large areas of land, drone surveying is crucial for surveying these large areas. The data gathered from these surveys contribute to an overall picture of the true extent of the disaster. A drone can also be used for surveying the roofs of buildings where it would otherwise be dangerous and time-consuming to use traditional survey methods involving.

Surveying for prevention

While not every natural disaster can be prevented or even limited, there are surveys that can be done in advance that will help recognise weak points of structures and geography that can be reinforced to better stand up to disaster. This includes surveying for flood prevention or looking at where buildings may be particularly vulnerable to high winds, or located where the ground below may be weak. Even though we can’t stop natural disasters, we can help be more prepared.

If you’re looking to work with a surveyor to help assess your properties, get in touch (https://www.landform-surveys.co.uk/contact-us/)