With an average permitting process of 4-6 months for a land disturbance permit, you will have to start planning your project in the winter months if you want to break ground by summer. With a long timeline for site planning and permitting, we recommend starting with a Feasibility Study and/or a Land Survey as soon as possible to start your project timeline.
While we can survey properties year-round, there are ideal conditions we look for to get the most out of our survey data. With an arsenal of high tech surveying equipment from Total Stations, GNSS, Photogrammetry, and LIDAR, there is a lot of high-quality data we can collect. However, the quality of that data can be limited by poor site conditions such as snow and leaf debris. While we can still survey in these conditions, it is usually best to wait until the snow melts and have your landscape contractor perform a winter cleanup. A clean and tidy property will result in the most accurate scan data.
Why Winter Produces the Best Data
The biggest advantage of surveying in winter is the leaf‑off condition. Without foliage, our survey crews can capture far more precise measurements of the ground surface. This results in a more accurate topographic survey, which directly improves the quality of the civil engineering design and the smoothness of the final construction.
Below is a cross-section from a winter LiDAR scan of a heavily vegetated site. Because the survey was performed during leaf-off conditions, we were able to collect a clean, accurate ground line beneath the vegetation.
How Site Conditions Affect Cost and Efficiency
Overgrown brush, like in the image below, slows down fieldwork, reduces the amount of usable data we can collect, and increases the cost of a survey. While you should not perform any land clearing prior to obtaining a Land Disturbance Permit, general yard maintenance such as leaf cleanup, mowing, and light brush trimming is acceptable.
A simple rule of thumb:
If it’s difficult to walk through your property, it’s going to be difficult to survey.
A simple yard cleanup, by your landscape contractor before we begin a land survey, can go a long way in helping our survey crews capture the highest‑quality data possible for your property. Read more tips for a successful topographic survey here.
Get Started Today
DeMarr Engineering is your one‑stop shop for Land Surveying and Civil Engineering services for land development projects throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. To ensure the best results from our services, keep the following in mind:
- Plan ahead. The timeline from initial survey to plan approval and issuance of a Land Disturbance Permit typically takes 4–6 months, so starting early is essential.
- Take advantage of winter surveying. Winter is the best time of year to conduct topographic surveys on properties with heavy vegetation due to leaf‑off conditions and improved ground visibility.
- Prepare your property. Having your landscaper perform a winter cleanup before our survey crew arrives helps us capture cleaner, more accurate data.
For your next land development project in Northern Virginia or Washington, DC, contact DeMarr Engineering to learn how we can help you move from concept to construction with confidence.
Related post: Why Do I Need A Topographic Survey?
