Grading Surveys and Grade Checks

Grading and Earthworks Surveying

Geo Vision Surveying Inc provides grading layout, grade checks and earthworks surveying for residential lots, commercial sites and construction projects across Southern Ontario. We support builders, excavation contractors, landscapers, paving crews and civil contractors with clearly defined survey tasks, so the finished ground matches the approved grading design and water goes where it is meant to.

What's Included

• Pre-construction grade information: existing ground elevations that your engineer or designer uses to prepare the grading plan (see topographic surveys).
• Grading layout: grade stakes, cut and fill marks and offsets set from the approved grading drawing.
• Rough grade checks: elevations measured after rough grading, so corrections are made before topsoil, sod or paving.
• Final grade checks: finished grades, swales, slopes and key elevations measured against the design.
• Retaining wall and landscaping layout: positions and top-of-wall elevations from supplied plans.
• Earthworks and stockpile measurements: existing-ground and finished surfaces for volume calculations.

We provide measurements and survey data to support the grading plan prepared by your engineer or designer. Grading and drainage design are not part of our surveying service.

When You Need a Grading Survey

• Before design, when the engineer needs existing grades
• Before excavation and rough grading begins
• After rough grading, before topsoil and sod go down
• Before a municipal or engineer's grading review, when finished elevations must be shown
• When a driveway, parking area or yard is being regraded
• When a drainage problem needs facts before anyone decides on a fix

Equipment and Methods

Most grading work is measured with robotic total stations and GPS/GNSS receivers, tied to a site benchmark so every visit uses the same elevation reference. GPS/GNSS is efficient on open lots and larger sites, and the total station is used where tighter checks are needed or the sky view is blocked. On larger open sites, drone mapping can support earthworks measurements, available on request where suitable. Tolerances and reporting requirements are confirmed before work begins.

Deliverables

Deliverables are tailored to each project and may include:

• Grade stakes and marks on site
• A grade check sheet comparing design and measured elevations
• A CAD drawing of measured grades
• A PDF report of earthwork or stockpile volumes when requested

Our Process

1. Send the information. Your site location, the grading drawings, the project schedule and the survey work you need.
2. Confirm the scope. We confirm the stage of work, tolerances and reporting, then quote.
3. Set the reference. We confirm the benchmark and control used for the design.
4. Lay out or measure. We stake grades or measure the finished surface.
5. Report. You receive the agreed check sheet, drawing or report.

Grading work often starts with a topographic survey, runs alongside construction layout and ends with as-built grading checks. For Haldimand County projects, the County's building permit requirements explain the site plan information your application needs.