Topographical Surveys in Edinburgh
Topographical, land and measured surveys across Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian, with an Edinburgh address and surveyors close by in Falkirk.
Call Us For A Free Quote 0345 548 5451- Surveyors based in Glasgow & Falkirk
- OS National Grid & Ordnance Datum
- DWG, DXF, PDF & 3D models
Land and site surveys in Edinburgh for design and planning
Ambler Group carries out topographical surveys in Edinburgh for architects, engineers, developers, housebuilders and contractors. From city-centre infill sites to greenfield land on the edge of the city, we deliver accurate CAD drawings tied to OS National Grid and Ordnance Datum.
Need what is below ground too? We also carry out PAS128 utility and GPR surveys in Edinburgh and CCTV drainage surveys in Edinburgh. Find out more about our topographical surveys and utility surveys across the UK on the main Ambler Group website.
Contact usTopographical surveys on Edinburgh sites
Edinburgh’s ridges, closes and terraces make level information critical. Gardens and plots drop sharply to the rear, boundary walls double as retaining walls, and planning officers in the city’s conservation areas expect to see a scheme properly in context with its neighbours.
We survey levels, contours, buildings, walls, trees and street furniture, and add building heights and street elevations where your architect needs them. Typical Edinburgh instructions include mews and backland sites in the New Town, waterfront regeneration plots at Granton and Leith, and housing land at the edge of the city in Midlothian and East Lothian.
Typical Edinburgh topographical survey instructions
- Topographical survey of a sloping New Town back garden site with neighbouring elevations
- Site survey of a Leith waterfront plot for design and flood risk assessment
- Land survey of a greenfield housing site in Midlothian with contours and trees
- Measured street elevations for a conservation area planning application
Topographical and land survey services in Edinburgh
People search for this work in different ways – a topographical survey, a topo survey, a land survey, a site survey, a levels survey or a measured survey. In Edinburgh they usually mean one of the services below, and we provide all of them.
Topographical surveys in Edinburgh
Levels, contours and features in CAD on OS National Grid and Ordnance Datum, for design and planning.
Find out moreSurveys for planning applications in Edinburgh
Existing site drawings, neighbouring heights and street elevations for planning and building warrant.
Find out moreMeasured building surveys in Edinburgh
Floor plans, sections and elevations of existing buildings for refurbishment and alteration.
Find out more3D laser scanning in Edinburgh
High-density point clouds and 3D models of buildings, structures and complex sites.
Find out moreTopographical + utility surveys in Edinburgh
Buried services and drainage added to the same drawing, from one team on one visit.
Find out moreSetting out & volume surveys in Edinburgh
Setting out from the same survey control, and earthworks volumes from 3D ground models.
Find out moreWhat we plan for on Edinburgh topographical surveys
Ridges and terraces
Edinburgh’s slopes mean back gardens and plots often fall a storey or more – we capture every change in level.
Conservation context
Street elevations and neighbouring heights help show a scheme in context for planning officers.
Stone boundary walls
Many walls retain ground, so we level both sides and record their condition and thickness where visible.
Waterfront levels
Leith, Granton and Portobello sites need accurate levels for coastal flood considerations.
Topographical surveys for development projects in Edinburgh
Architects, engineers, developers, housebuilders and contractors use our topographical surveys at every stage of a project in Edinburgh – from deciding whether to buy a site to setting out the finished scheme.
Feasibility and purchase
An early topographical survey shows what a site can take before you buy or commit to a design.
Planning and building warrant
Accurate levels, boundaries, trees and neighbouring heights for planning drawings, flood risk assessments and building warrant packages.
Detailed design
A 3D surface and full detail for engineers designing roads, drainage, earthworks and foundations.
Setting out and as-built
Control left on site for setting out, and as-built surveys at the end of the job for handover.
What your topographical survey includes
- Spot levels and contours across the site, to Ordnance Datum
- Buildings, walls, fences, kerbs, paths, hardstanding and road markings
- Trees with trunk diameter, canopy spread and height
- Manhole and gully covers with cover levels (invert levels on request)
- Overhead lines, poles, lighting columns and street furniture
- Building heights, eaves, ridges and street elevations where needed
- CAD drawings (DWG/DXF) on OS National Grid, with PDF plots
- 3D surface or model for earthworks and design on request
We survey with robotic total stations and Emlid Reach RS3 GNSS receivers, with 3D laser scanning available for complex buildings and structures.
How it works
- 1
Send us the site
Email a site plan or marked-up aerial showing the boundary of the survey, and what the survey is for.
- 2
Fixed quote and RAMS
We confirm the level of detail, extras such as building heights, days on site and the drawing format.
- 3
Survey on site
Our surveyors attend from our Falkirk base with robotic total stations and GNSS.
- 4
Drawings delivered
You receive DWG, DXF and PDF drawings, tied to OS National Grid and Ordnance Datum, ready for design.
Topographical Surveys in Edinburgh | Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do you carry out topographical surveys for planning applications in Edinburgh?
A: Yes. Most of our Edinburgh topographical surveys support planning or building warrant drawings, often with neighbouring building heights and street elevations added for context.
Q2: Can you survey sloping sites and retaining walls?
A: Yes. We pick up levels at the top and bottom of walls and banks, spot heights and contours across the site, so the design team can see exactly how the ground changes.
Q3: Do you produce street elevations in Edinburgh?
A: Yes. We survey building outlines, openings, eaves and ridges along a street and draw them as elevations, which is often requested for New Town and Old Town planning applications.
Q4: How much does a topographical survey cost?
A: Topographical surveys are priced on the size and complexity of the site, the level of detail needed, access, and any extras such as building heights or a 3D model. Send us a site plan or marked-up aerial and we will come back with a fixed quote, usually the same or next working day.
Q5: What format will I receive?
A: You will receive CAD drawings in DWG and DXF, with PDF plots, and a 3D surface or model if requested. Drawings are layered and set up so they drop straight into your design software.
Need a service & ready to book? Call us 0345 548 5451
Email usWhy choose Ambler Group for topographical surveys in Edinburgh?
Surveyors based in Scotland
Our surveyors work from Glasgow and Falkirk, so your site in Edinburgh gets a local Scottish team who know the area – not a crew driving up from England.
Surface and below ground
Because we are utility surveyors too, your topographical survey can include buried services and drainage on the same drawing.
Everything in one visit
PAS128 utility, GPR, topographical and CCTV drainage surveys from one team, with one set of RAMS and one coordinated set of drawings.
If you’re looking for reliable, professional topographical surveys in Edinburgh, contact us today!
Other surveys we provide in Edinburgh
Ambler Group is a full surveying company. Book your topographical survey alongside any of these and get one team, one set of RAMS and one coordinated set of drawings.
PAS128 Utility & GPR Surveys in Edinburgh
Locating and mapping buried services with EML and GPR to PAS128 quality levels before you dig.
Find out moreCCTV Drainage Surveys in Edinburgh
Commercial and construction CCTV drainage surveys, drain mapping and graded defect reports.
Find out moreGPR Surveys & Concrete Scanning
Ground-penetrating radar for non-metallic services, voids, and concrete scanning (ferroscanning) of slabs and structures.
Find out moreDesktop Utility Searches
Statutory record (STATs) searches from asset owners, compiled into a single pack before site works or design.
Find out moreBorehole Clearance
Service clearance of borehole and trial pit positions for site investigation contractors.
Find out moreUtility Surveys (UK-wide)
Our main utility survey service page, covering PAS128 utility surveys across the UK.
Find out moreClients Reviews
“Ambler Group have been our number one go to for all of our topographical, UGS & GPR Surveys.”
Ryan, Director – Topographical, Utility and GPR
Helpful survey guides
What Does a Topographical Survey Cost?
What drives the price of a topographical survey, which extras add time, and how to get a fast, fixed quote.
Read the guide GuideTopographical Surveys for Planning Applications in Scotland
When a planning application or building warrant in Scotland needs a topographical survey, and what it should show.
Read the guide GuidePAS128 Quality Levels Explained: QL-D to QL-A
What QL-D, QL-C, QL-B1 to B4 and QL-A mean on a utility drawing, and which one your project needs.
Read the guideTopographical Surveys near Edinburgh
Also covering the rest of Central Scotland – see all areas.
Topographical survey West Lothian
Topographical and land surveys in Livingston, Bathgate, Broxburn and across West Lothian, from our Falkirk base.
View areaTopographical survey Fife
Topographical and land surveys across Dunfermline, Rosyth, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and south and west Fife.
View areaTopographical survey Falkirk & Grangemouth
Topographical and land surveys across Falkirk district and Grangemouth, from surveyors based in Falkirk itself.
View areaContact Us
Book a topographical survey in Edinburgh
For a fast, fixed quote, send us:
- The site address or postcode
- A site plan or marked-up aerial image showing the survey area
- What the survey is for – design, planning, excavation, piling or records
- Access notes – working hours, permits, inductions
We usually come back with a fixed quote the same or next working day.
Locations:
5 South Charlotte Street,
Edinburgh EH2 4ANAmbler Group Limited
Springfield House, Springfield Road,
Horsham RH12 2RGCompany registration number: 12568344
Surveyors based in:
Glasgow and Falkirk, covering Glasgow, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Cumbernauld, Stirling, Perth and the rest of Central Scotland.