Topographic Surveys report on the physical conditions and characteristics of a property. This can vary from just listing locations of buildings to outlining improvements on a property based on design style surveys that reflect spot elevations, contours, grade breaks, utility structures, depths of utilities, and locations of rivers, streams, or gullies. It can also cover locations of street signage, striping trees, wells, and expansion joints, and it can even report specific conditions such as type of paving, depth of stream, or if a tree is sick or dying. Topographic surveys are primarily created to develop property and are used by engineers and architects as the base map for design projects. A development and design is only as good as the survey it is built upon, so it is very important to choose a surveyor in Houston who understands the elements necessary to create a quality civil engineering design or architectural plan.