Case Study: Comprehensive Survey for a Residential Property in Tintagel

Our Small Projects service typically focuses on topographic surveys, but this project in Tintagel shows how we can go beyond the basics. By drawing on the wider expertise within Kemp Engineering, we were able to enhance a straightforward residential topo with additional technologies, delivering greater detail, efficiency, and value for the client.

Project Brief: Residential Topographic & Measured Building Survey

We were appointed directly by the homeowner to carry out a topographic survey and measured building survey of their residential property. While the exact scope of future works had not been defined, the survey was required to support potential renovation plans and provide their architect, with accurate, reliable site and building information.

The brief included the production of:

• A full topographic survey of the site
• Floor plans, elevations, and sections of the existing building

This property had a tricky area at the back where the cliff wall almost touched the building. Traditional survey methods, like using a survey pole, would have struggled to capture the detailed profile of the cliff, especially through dense vegetation.

Our Survey Approach: Combining UAV, Laser Scanning & Topographic Methods

While our Small Works surveys are usually managed by Rich, for this project we combined skills across the team, to speed up delivery and add extra value:

• Topographic Survey & UAV Photogrammetry: Carried out by Rich, capturing accurate site levels and aerial context.
• Laser Scanning: Conducted by Kieran, capturing detailed floor plans, elevations, and sections, including the hard-to-access cliff area.

Using N4ce, Register 360, and AutoCAD, we processed the data efficiently to produce:

• A full topographic survey with UAV imagery
• Detailed floor plans, elevations, and sections of the building
• A clear profile of the cliff and surrounding areas that would have been impossible to capture with traditional methods

Efficient Survey Delivery Through Team Collaboration

By combining expertise across team members, the onsite work for this survey was completed in just half a day. This shows just one of the advantage of working with Kemp and our experienced team, we can bring in specialist skills like UAV and laser scanning when a project requires it, even for a small residential survey.

The client received comprehensive survey data to support future renovations, providing their architect, with accurate plans and a detailed site understanding.

Why Advanced Survey Techniques Matter for Residential Projects

This project demonstrates how even small surveys can benefit from a larger team with diverse capabilities. By combining topographic surveying, UAV photogrammetry, and laser scanning, we deliver faster, more detailed results that a smaller operation might struggle to achieve.

Explore more of our Small Works projects on our Small Projects Survey Page.