Excavation and Footing Layout in Hamilton

What was needed

Construction on this Hamilton lot moved in steps, and the survey had to keep pace: first stakes so the excavator could dig the building footprint, then wall positions marked directly on the poured footings so the foundation walls could be formed.

The surveying work we carried out

• A topographic survey of the property in 2025, before construction
• Layout of excavation stakes for the building
• Layout nails on the poured footings for the foundation walls, marked with orange paint

Site conditions

The excavation was deep, with poured footings, form boards and lumber at the bottom, soil piled along the edges, a wooden fence and a dense stand of trees behind the lot. Setting the instrument on the rim of the hole gave it a clear line down to the concrete.

Methods and equipment

A Spectra Focus robotic total station on a tripod, working with a prism pole, was set up beside the excavation. Each foundation wall position went in as a nail on the footing, sprayed orange so the forming crew could find it quickly.

Deliverables

• Excavation stakes
• Layout nails and paint marks on the footings for the foundation walls
• Topographic survey of the property (2025)

How the survey supported the next stage

Because the wall lines were nailed to the footings themselves, the forming crew set the foundation walls from measured points instead of taping in from the sides of the excavation. The 2025 topographic survey of the same property had already given the design its starting ground information before any digging.