Monitoring Surveys
Checking & Reporting On Movement
Working across London and the UK, we setup and undertake detailed monitoring surveys for projects such as basement construction, underpinning, piling, insurance claims, tunnels and more. Read more about our service below.
5 Star Reviews On Google & Trustpilot.
Over 1900 projects completed since 2013.
Working across London, the UK & Internationally.
Fully insured & Survey Association registered.
We put your mind at rest during your building works by undertaking detailed structural monitoring surveys and producing clear, easy to read reports that help demonstrate the movement, or the lack of, during a building project.
Our structural monitoring service is typically utilised during projects where underpinning, basement excavation, and party wall works are taking place. The produced reports help you satisfy key requirements and agreements with neighbouring property owners.
THS Concepts have been undertaking movement monitoring surveys for over 8 years in and around London. We have worked on a range of different projects from £25 million pound refurbishments to small basement builds. You can rely on our monitoring survey team to quickly get to your site, set up the the scheme and reliably report on the movement in your structures.
The Monitoring Survey Process:
Quotation / Proposal
- Quote requests returned within 1 working day of enquiry.
- We quote on micro to very large construction projects.
- We offer fixed prices to give you piece of mind.
On Going Visits
- Surveys are very accurate utilising 1 second Leica total stations.
- We survey your structures at set intervals depending on requirements.
- After each visit we produce a range of reports and graphs.
Setting Up Scheme
- We can send our own proposal document if required.
- Site visit to install monitoring survey scheme.
- Production of post setup report outlining what has been done.
After Care
- We ensure you are 100% satisfied with our services.
- Payments are not needed up front, pay on a monthly basis.
- We can help you with CAD tips & advice.
Your Monitoring Survey Service Includes:
Proposal Document
If you haven't already got any details from your Structural Engineer, then we can produce a free outline monitoring specification document for approval by your contractors.
Site Setup
Our experienced surveyors visit your site and undertake ongoing surveys to determine movement (or lack of) over time. We set up the survey points and can advise on optimal positions to place the points whilst on site.
Post Setup Report
Following the initial setup, we issue you with a thorough report describing important details of the setup, this includes point locations, setting up positions and any other considerations.
On Going Reports
Following your survey, you will receive ongoing reports and graphs clearly illustrating the results of the survey. You will be able to compare movement over time and be automatically informed if the movement is beyond its limit.
Photographs
Our surveyor takes plenty of photos on site, which are often useful during your project. We can send these in an easy-to-download One Drive Link.
After Care
We ensure you are 100% satisfied with the drawings and service we provide. Updates and amendments are no problem and are undertaken quickly to get your project moving.
Other Services That May Be Useful
Crack Monitoring
We help our clients monitor cracks that are potentially opening or closing. We install demec studs or gauges to accurately record movement over time.
Tilt Monitoring
We install tilt sensors on walls that need to be monitored for angular movement. Our tilt sensors work remotely and can report readings as often as every minute!
Frequently Asked Questions
We provide you with accurate data and easy to understand survey reports. We have been engaged on a number of projects ranging from small basements to large earth moving projects.
Our clients receive great service from us, which is reflected in our 5 star reviews on Google and Trustpilot. We ensure you are happy before, during and well after the project has ended.
As a professional surveying company, we carry all the relevant insurance to give our clients confidence in what we produce. We offer a money-back guarantee on all our work and have £5 million in both professional and public liability insurance.
We undertake local topographical land surveys in the counties surrounding our offices. These include:
- London
- Essex
- Kent
- Hertfordshire
- Sussex
- Surrey
- Buckinghamshire
However, we have been much further afield within the UK and internationally. We have undertaken surveying work as far away as Liberia in West Africa.
If you would like a quote for a project, then please get in touch.
We typically return all monitoring data within 2 working days of visiting sites. If excessive movement has been observed on site then we often inform the site management whilst there.
Absolutely, we can liaise with your design team directly or even discuss what you may require for your project. We have undertaken 100’s of monitoring survey projects so know what is usually required depending on what you are looking to build.
Get Your Monitoring Survey Quote
To get started, please fill out our form below. After we check your project details we’ll send you a fixed price quotation within 24 hours illustrating costs and timelines to get everything returned to you.
Don’t fancy filling out the form? Get in touch via email or telephone:
Email: info@ths-concepts.co.uk
Call: 020 8935 5160
Edward Sadler - Davis Construction
“Proactive on site and quick. Customer service is of the highest level as well. Will be using for all future projects.”
Teoman Ayas - MIM Studios
“Professional and attentive. They produced good quality CAD survey tailored for the specific needs of our project. Their price was reasonable and they delivered it on time.”
Anthony Kyrke-Smith - AKS Architects
“Very efficient service with quick turnaround. I have used THS-Concepts before and I will again, when I next need a detailed survey.”
Geoff Smith
“Chris and the guys at THS were absolutely fantastic! They were extremely reasonable cost wise yet provided an outstanding service, despite my complicated situation and numerous changes we had to make.”
A Guide To Monitoring Surveys
Table of Contents
What is a movement monitoring survey?
A fixed position monitoring survey is the method of monitoring a set location on a wall / structure and observing movement in the horizontal and vertical planes over time.
Fixed position monitoring is used for a number of projects ranging from small basement projects to large infrastructure projects such Crossrail tunnel project under London.
The monitoring project always starts with the initial setup of the monitoring targets and local survey control network. The targets are fixed to the structure in the pre-designated locations utilising either glue or drilled screws.
Without a fixed monitoring point to resurvey each time the consistency will be poor or non-existent. Fixed points are installed on to the structure and usually consist of survey prisms or reflective target stickers. When using prisms they are typically secured using screws drilled into walls or using high strength glue.
A local survey control network also needs to be installed. This involves placing survey targets (prisms or reflective survey points) away from the site. These are used by the total station as a way of calculating it’s precise position each time a monitoring survey needs to be undertaken.
A monitoring survey is undertaken using a piece of equipment called a total station. A total station is a high accuracy optical instrument that is used to measure distances and angles. Total stations are usually mounted on tripod legs whereby the operator can look through the lens and record survey points. In some cases, automation is required If so a total station can be left in a safe location and operated remotely.
At each survey interval, the total station has to be set up using the local control network. Once set up accurately, the monitoring survey process can be undertaken. Each monitoring point is precisely surveyed using the total station and recorded to the instrument.
Once this data has been reached the office, it is uploaded to the monitoring survey software which can generate data to illustrate movement (or lack of) over time.
What projects require movement monitoring surveys?
A monitoring survey process is usually undertaken on the advice of a professional such as a Structural Engineer or Party Wall Surveyor. If a building or structure is a risk of movement then a monitoring survey is usually commissioned.
Typically monitoring surveys are commissioned when undertaking heavy construction works next to existing buildings. Some examples include:
- Piling works
- Underpinning
- Basement excavation
- Demolition
A monitoring survey scheme can also be commissioned where an insurance claim is being checked.
How often do I need my property monitored?
It is very important that you have at least one survey prior to any works being undertaken. This is to ensure you have a base reading to compare any future readings against. If you start after works have taken place then you may miss any initial movement in your structure.
During major operations such as digging, underpinning, concrete pours etc then we recommend a survey every week until this is completed.
Once the intense, heavy works have been completed then this can be reduced to say a monthly visit until the internal fit out works begin. Once the internal fit out (plastering / painting / decorating) has begun then any movement will likely be limited so the monitoring can cease.
We recommend speaking to your project manager or party wall surveyor about monitoring intervals. Some projects require more frequent intervals whilst some specify less!
How can the movement data be used?
Monitoring survey data is usually presented in report and graph format. The reports will outline movement over time. It’s common to see reports showing movement compared to the previous set of readings as well as the initial set of readings.
Graphs can also be produced to show the movement in a graphical sense. Graphs can help show when movement started occurring.
Movement monitoring surveys are an good way to help prove or disprove that movement within a structure has been undertaken. This can help with future claims either made for or against.
Diligent contractors ensure that they minimise movement as a result of construction however claims from neighbours can still arise.
The movement monitoring reports produced can demonstrate movement or lack of over time. This can be used in counter claim situations where by neighbours insist that damage has occurred.
Another purpose of monitoring surveys is from a safety perspective. If a building is moving during construction works then this can be identified. If a movement exceeds a certain level then this can be flagged. The potential source of the movement can be found and mitigated against prior to any problems that could potentially endanger.
How to save money on your monitoring survey?
Saving money when possible whilst undertaking a project is important. Below we explain how this can be done when commissioning a monitoring survey company.
Reduce the amount of targets/locations
When your Structural Engineer or Party Wall Survey is looking to commission a survey they usually don’t consider the company who has to undertake the works. Complicated monitoring survey proposals that require multiple total station setup locations add a lot of complexity and time to a job.
Keeping things simple
Simplifying what is required can often make little difference to the effectiveness of a monitoring survey and can unlock considerable savings if the following elements are considered:
- Can the survey company easily set up with access to their offsite control network?
- Can we reduce the number of monitoring points?
- Are the monitoring points safe and easy to install?
Increase the monitoring interval
Often a surveying company will quote for a monitoring survey job based on a per-visit basis. A simple way of reducing the overall cost of a monitoring survey is to simply reduce the amount of surveys.
- Can a weekly specification be pushed to a 2 weekly interval?
- Can we do less surveys whilst less intense work is being undertaken on site.
- Is it possible to pause the survey work whilst the site is temporarily shut down?
Check their experience
The experience of your monitoring survey team has the possibility of significantly increasing your costs. An incompetent survey company can incorrectly report results and show general inconsistencies. It is important you check the following aspects of a survey company prior to appointment.
- Experience in undertaking monitoring surveys
- Level of insurance for the works.
- What is and isn’t included in their price.
- Reviews from others (Google, Trustpilot ETC).
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