Land Surveying

Batterman has offered Professional Land Surveying services since 1917. Our professional staff serves commercial and residential sectors from our offices in Beloit, Elkhorn, and Janesville.

Over the years, we have kept pace with the technological changes that have transformed the way survey work is performed while maintaining the application of solid fundamentals and sound principles that are at the heart of professional surveying. Our trained staff ensures that our clients receive high-quality and cost-effective services on time and within established budgets.

Give us a call at 608.365.4464 or fill out the form to request a quote!

Surveying services are not currently being offered in Illinois.

Services Offered:

A Plat of Survey is also referred to as a property survey, lot line survey, or boundary survey.

The purpose of this type of survey is to retrace existing property descriptions. It can be for either commercial or residential properties and is often the first step in any type of proposed development or improvement, or possibly the sale of the parcel. Generally, the property corners are established by a combination of thorough research and fieldwork by a survey crew. Corners are either recovered or replaced, if missing, based on careful computation and evaluation of evidence collected.

For example, if you are considering installing a fence on your property, a Plat of Survey is important to ensure that you know where your property corners are so that your fence can be installed appropriately. In addition to establishing the property corners, other improvements can be measured and added to the mapping at the client’s request, such as buildings or other site improvements, which are sometimes required by local authorities to sell the property.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much does a survey cost?

The survey cost depends on many variables and can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Some of the information the surveyor considers when providing a quote for surveying services include the following:
• If the property is residential or commercial.
• The size of the property.
• How the property is described (i.e., in a subdivision or not).
• The purpose of the survey (i.e., to know where the line is or selling).
• Existing terrain (i.e., wooded, waterways, restricted access).

How long does a survey take to do?

For most surveys, Batterman can provide about a three-week timeline for completion of the survey and map. However, a complicated or phased survey could be longer. Land divisions that require review and approval by municipalities could take months to complete because of meeting timelines.

Do I need to be home when the survey is being done?

No, in most cases the landowner does not need to be present during the survey. Unless access to a locked gate is required. Batterman staff notifies the landowner on the way to the property so there are no surprises. If necessary, we may be able to meet landowners on-site on a specific day and time to discuss concerns.

How do I pay for the survey?

Batterman will provide a contract for services with clear expectations of what has been agreed upon for surveying services provided and the cost. Once this contract is signed and a 50% deposit for services is made, the survey is placed on the schedule. The survey is then completed, and once all work is satisfactory, an invoice for the remaining balance is due.

Elevation Certificates are a standard Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) form that is used to aid in determining the relationship of a structure or parcel of land to the established base flood elevation. If the surveyed data reveals that the structure or parcel of land is above the base flood elevation, then the client may wish to proceed with a Letter of Map Amendments (LOMA), which is a formal request to FEMA to remove the structure or part of the parcel of land from Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), commonly known as the floodplain.  An Elevation Certificate is commonly requested by mortgage lenders when a property is being mortgaged.

Elevation Certificates must be prepared by a Licensed Land Surveyor, Registered Professional Engineer, or architect who is authorized by Commonwealth, State, or local law to certify elevation information.

An Elevation Certificate or LOMA provide information on the existing site conditions of your property which will assist the insurance companies in establishing your insurance premiums based on the risk and impact of possible flooding.

A topographic survey is used to determine the elevations of the existing ground, including the location of natural and/or manmade features that are not always visible on traditional maps or surveys. Topographic maps are commonly used by landowners, engineers, architects, planners, developers, landscape architects, and governmental agencies for numerous uses, ranging from land use or development, site design or re-design, and flood studies. Batterman takes care in setting accurate site benchmarks and gathering pertinent details knowing this data is used for intricate design and future construction. Give us a call to chat about your project!

A land division is the process of creating and defining new lots. A Subdivision Plat is the necessary instrument used to create five or more lots, and a Certified Survey Map is the instrument that is used to create four or fewer lots. The Certified Survey Map is commonly used to separate farm buildings from the remaining lands. Both Certified Survey Maps and Subdivision maps require a combination of State, County, Town, and City/Village review and approval. Batterman coordinates and facilitates the applications to the governing authority, any zoning changes, and attendance at public meetings that are required as part of the land division process.

An easement gives specific rights or interests in land for lawful use of or over the estate of the owner for use by another. For example, a common type of easement is a utility easement, which gives utility companies specific rights which can include access to your property for utility placement and maintenance. Understanding easements and their purpose is why it is so important to be aware of easements on your property before moving forward with any improvements or construction plans. Batterman can assist landowners in mapping and offering guidance on easement questions. Additionally, we can prepare comprehensive new easement exhibits and legal descriptions for use in legal documents.

Batterman offers 3D scanning, an advanced surveying technology to effectively capture high-resolution site imagery quickly and with unparalleled precision. Our technology-focused staff uses Trimble SX-10 equipment and Trimble Business Center software to provide our clients with precise and dense point cloud information.

We have made a significant addition to our tech gear – the DJI Matrice 350 RTK drone. We have equipped this powerful tool with two payload options, a Zenmuse L2 LiDAR sensor and a P1 camera, enabling us to collect and produce dense, detailed topographic data and aerial imagery quickly and safely. Combining this hardware with the latest software allows us to process data more efficiently and scale up our workflow, a testament to our team’s continuous progress.

3D scanning is often beneficial for:

Detailed vertical topographic surveys (building facades, overhead piping, or obstructions)
Capturing picture-like quality point cloud viewing for sharing with anyone (architecture firms, design engineers, etc.)
Quickly capturing current or as-built field data
Classified point-cloud data exports for use in various post-processing software

Batterman offers UAV (drone) mapping services. Our licensed UAV pilots have the necessary knowledge, equipment, software, and training to provide flights for gathering data that can be used for multiple aspects of project development. Drone mapping can be used to enhance surveying and engineering services or as a standalone product. By gathering high-resolution aerial imagery that is post-processed to generate topographic relief that can be used for:

Cost-effective mapping for initial site planning
Comprehensive presentation maps based upon current site conditions
Quarry operation documenting aggregate quantity calculations
Construction site monitoring and progress
Photographs and videos for use in marketing materials

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Featured Projects

US-12 & STH 11 Improvements (including stream realignments)

The US-12 and STH 11 improvements project involved resurfacing 7.25 miles of roadway, reconstructing the Sugar Creek Bridge and Bakers Creek box culvert, and upgrading the US-12 and County ES intersection with new traffic signals. The most complex aspect of this project was managing the realignment of two environmentally sensitive streams under challenging conditions and strict regulations.

County Trunk Highway T – LiDAR Survey

The steep slopes and dense vegetation surrounding this roadway posed significant challenges and safety concerns for the survey crew when using conventional methods. To address this concern, Batterman was asked to provide aerial survey assistance by leveraging LiDAR UAV technology.

Henry Dorrbaker’s Entertainment Lab

This project’s primary challenge was maximizing the outdoor entertainment space while maintaining a turnaround for traffic and fire trucks and effectively managing storm water. Through strategic planning, public engagement, and creative engineering led by Batterman, the project successfully navigated space constraints and environmental hurdles, helping this exciting addition to the downtown landscape to move forward.

500,000-Square-Foot Spec Warehouse

This project in the Gateway Business Park presented several challenges, including a significant grade change across the site, unique storm water routing requirements, poor soils, and existing infrastructure elements. Despite these challenges, the project stayed on its aggressive schedule, showcasing the importance of early due diligence and proactive problem-solving.

I-39 Reconstruction (STH 11 to USH 14)

This complex IH 39 expansion project involved reconstruction of the most urban section of the IH 39 corridor from STH 11 to USH 14. Key components of this complex staged project include twelve bridges, six MSE retaining walls, nine noise walls, major grading operations, four lanes of concrete pavement, and all new storm sewer.

County Highway H Reconstruction

This 0.8-mile reconstruction/perpetuation project includes geometric expansion and turn lane additions required for a 350,000 SF Kroger Distribution Center.