Reading land survey stakes is a skill not just for land surveyors, but for homeowners, landscapers, and builders alike. They provide essential information about the boundaries and topography of a property.
While the symbols and measurements might seem cryptic at first, with a little knowledge and practice, you can decipher them like a pro.
In land surveying, various types of stakes play crucial roles. These wooden or metal markers help to establish boundaries, guide construction processes, and provide critical information for both surveyors and workers on site.
Here are 6 different types of survey stakes you might encounter:
Benchmark Stakes act as anchors for the entire surveying project. They set the reference point by which all other measurements and locations are determined.
Typically marked with "BMK," these stakes also display important elevation details. This elevation is a fixed point above sea level and helps surveyors understand the relative heights of different points across the site.
Boundary Stakes define the property lines or project limits. They're often marked with "LOD," standing for Limit of Disturbance.
These stakes indicate where a project starts and ends. They usually have specific identifiers on them to distinguish one boundary from another. This helps to prevent encroachment on neighboring properties and ensures that work is conducted within the specified area.
Grade Stakes (or aka, Cut and Fill Stakes) are integral to earthwork operations to create the correct elevations. They guide workers on where soil needs to be removed or added.
A stake marked with a "C" indicates a cut, meaning soil must be removed from that spot. A stake marked with an "F" signals a fill, indicating that soil should be added. These stakes often include specific measurements to assist in achieving the desired terrain contour.
You might come across stakes with one or two slashes between grades. These slashes each carry a different meaning.
A single slash indicates multiple measurements from the same nail or hub.
For example, on a wall stake, you might see “cut 462 top of footing” and “cut 360 top of footing” separated by a single slash. This means both measurements can be set from the same nail.
On the other hand, stakes with two slashes are typically slope stakes. They indicate a continuous grade from one point to the next.
For instance, “fill 4 tenths to the toe // fill 6 feet at a 2 to 1” means that after filling four-tenths to the toe, you then fill six feet at a 2 to 1 slope.
Offset Stakes are used to provide maneuvering space for equipment and are typically marked with terms like "OFF" or "O/S."
They're set back from the actual work area to avoid being disturbed by construction activities, yet close enough to keep the project on track.
Slope Stakes are used in projects requiring grading, such as road construction or landscaping. They mark the required slopes and often include specific slope ratios.
These stakes guide the creation of precise inclines and declines to ensure the ground is shaped correctly for its intended purpose. They’re vital for ensuring proper drainage and landscape shaping.
Station Stakes serve as waypoints across large project sites. They’re particularly useful in road work and site preparation.
These stakes provide incremental reference points along the project's path to help workers track their progress and maintain alignment with the project's design.
These markers, from flags and pins to the slashes on survey stakes, provide critical information about the site being surveyed.
Let's look at some of the most common surveyor symbols and signs.
Surveying flags come in various forms like flagging tape, marking whiskers & stake chasers, or pin flags.
The marking flags are used for marking specific points or boundaries on a property. Typically bright in color for easy visibility, flags mark points of interest during a survey.
The American Public Works Association has established a universal color system for survey markers that is widely used:
Pins are more permanent fixtures. Made of sturdy materials like steel, these are driven into the ground at significant points such as property corners.
Their purpose is to provide lasting reminders of boundary lines after the surveyor has completed their work.
Control points are another crucial component in land surveying. These marked locations on the ground have known geographic locations and elevations, and serve as reliable reference points for all measurements taken during a survey.
Control points can be natural, like a large tree or distinctive rock, or artificial, such as a benchmark stake or a concrete monument installed by a surveyor.
Understanding how to read land survey stakes is a valuable skill since they play a pivotal role in defining property lines and guiding construction. By familiarizing yourself with the different types of stakes, their markings, and the color-coded flags used for surveying, you can accurately interpret the information about your project.
