Underground utility locating on the South Shore for a building lot

Developing land on the South Shore

Several South Shore cities continue to develop on former farmland or on vacant lots between already built-up areas. These sites keep traces of their previous use: field drains, pits, foundations of demolished farm buildings, irrigation lines.

The soil of the St. Lawrence Lowlands, often clay, also affects the survey. Wet clay reduces the depth reached by ground-penetrating radar; the report states this clearly for each area, so the engineer and the contractor know where an additional check is useful.

What we look for on a building lot

• Old water lines, agricultural drains and filled-in ditches
• Wells, septic tanks and buried concrete structures
• Electrical and telecom cables from a previous building
• Existing private utilities near the lot lines

Before site layout, not during

The survey is most useful at the design stage. It lets you position the building, the service entrance and the connections while avoiding existing structures, or budget for their removal. For a subdivision with several lots, we can cover street rights-of-way and building locations in phases.

Frequently asked questions

Is a survey needed if the lot has never been built on? That is often where surprises are the most costly. Farmland or a vacant lot can contain drains, wells or lines without any visible clue.

Can you cover several lots in the same project? Yes. Send us the subdivision plan; the quote specifies the area covered and the order of the visits.