What is the primary purpose of a land survey?

The primary purpose of a land survey is to determine and define land boundaries, locations, and property lines. This task involves precise measurements and calculations that help identify the extents of a property and its relation to adjacent lands. Understanding these boundaries is crucial for ownership rights, land use planning, and legal documentation. Surveys establish the legal boundaries of parcels of land, which is essential for property transactions, resolving disputes, and ensuring that development and construction comply with zoning laws.

Topographical maps, while important, serve a different function by illustrating the physical features and elevations of the land but do not specifically address property boundaries. Evaluating environmental impact focuses on how land use decisions affect the environment, which is a different objective not covered by a standard survey. Similarly, while designing infrastructure projects is a significant aspect of civil engineering and land development, it relies on detailed land survey data but is not the primary aim of a land survey itself.