Compliance Surveys
Elevation Certificate
On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). FEMA is responsible for delineating areas of probable flooding during a catastrophic event. The Elevation Certificate is an important administrative tool of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It is to be used to provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances, to determine the proper insurance premium rate, and to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision based on Fill (LOMR-F).
As part of the agreement for making flood insurance available in a community, the NFIP requires the community to adopt floodplain management regulations that specify minimum requirements for reducing flood losses. One such requirement is for the community to obtain the elevation of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new and substantially improved buildings, and maintain a record of such information. The Elevation Certificate provides a way for a community to document compliance with the community’s floodplain management ordinance.
LOMA-LOMAR-F Application
If you are a homeowner and believe your property is not located in the designated 100-year floodplain [also known as a 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain, or Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)], as shown on the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map or Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map for your community and you would like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make an official determination regarding the location of your property relative to the SFHA, you may request a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or a Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F).
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can amend a Flood Insurance Rate Map through a process called "Letter of Map Amendment" (LOMA) or a Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F). to remove the Federal requirement that a lending institution require the purchase of flood insurance - Note that the lending institution may still require flood insurance even though the Federal requirement has been lifted. If FEMA determines the property is not in the SFHA, a LOMA may be issued. (The Federal flood insurance requirement applies to all structures located in SFHAs that carry a mortgage loan backed by a federally regulated lender or servicer.) You may send the LOMA removal determination to your lender to request that the Federal flood insurance requirement for the property be removed. However, lenders retain the prerogative to require flood insurance as a condition of any loan as part of their standard business practices, regardless of the location of the structure.
Improvement Location Certificate for Building Permit (ILCBP)
An ILCBP is a Specific Purpose Certification used to verify elements pertaining to a building permit process. It is typically required by a Building official or a lending institution to verify that the work authorized was completed to the proper specifications and conforming to approved plans. Items such as location of foundation walls, framing, and ridge heights are typical subject matter of the service. This survey product does not comply with statutory ILC requirements, its purpose is to verify building permit elements relative to boundary lines and easements of record – items including but not limited to, utilities, or all boundary evidence are omitted.
Building Height and/or Setback Verification
Field crews locate existing structure(s) resulting in the production of a report, the results of which are then expedited via verification letter to the client.
Drainage Certificate
A Drainage Certificate is a Specific Purpose Certification, usually associated with a building permit, showing the grading characteristics on a Lot. It is typically required by a building official to disclose adverse drainage patterns on or off the site.
Deformation Survey
Also called Deformation Monitoring is the systematic measurement and tracking of the alteration in the shape or dimensions of an object as a result of the application of stress to it. The Deformation Survey is a major component of logging measured values that may be used for further computation & analysis leading to predictive maintenance and alarming.
Monitor Well Mapping
Mapping and monitoring subsurface aquifers on a specified horizontal and vertical datum under the direction of an environmental consultant and reporting the results over a specified timeframe.
Wetlands Delineation Map
The delineation of wetlands with colored flags placed at key locations, as done by qualified personnel. A surveyor then conducts a field survey to collect the data on the locations of the colored flags and a map is drawn to reference the boundary of the wetlands. Mapping wetlands is done on a specified horizontal and vertical datum under the direction of an environmental consultant.
Annexation Map
(CRS: 31-12-107) This is a document required by a municipality as part of an annexation application. The Surveyor certifies that a minimum of one sixth (1/6) of the perimeter of the parcel to be annexed is contiguous with the existing municipal boundary. If there is a municipal requirement to set monuments then this becomes a Land Survey Plat thereby governed by the minimum requirements thereof.
Other Compliance Surveys
County & Municipal Utility As-Built Mapping
Upon completion of construction of utilities in a new subdivision, county governments and municipalities require infrastructure mapping of major utility lines including, Water, Sewer, Storm Sewer, along with shallow utilities such and electric lines, phone and fiber optic lines, etc to confirm that the structures, utilities, and roadways were built in the proper locations. Submittal is in both hard copy and electronic AutoCAD format. The electronic submittal requirement is to aid the maintenance and development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).