COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Site Surveys & Set-Out Procedures in Construction Projects course. This program is designed to provide you with an understanding of surveying principles and set-out methodologies critical to the accurate delivery of building and civil works. Precise measurement and positioning form the backbone of all construction activity, ensuring that every structure is built in the correct location, to the correct level, and in accordance with regulatory and contractual requirements.
This course begins by defining the functions of site surveying and set-out in construction workflows. Participants will explore the importance of precision, verification, and coordination across multiple disciplines, with emphasis on the roles played by surveyors, engineers, site managers, and trade contractors. Accurate set-out underpins structural alignment, service installation, and compliance with planning controls.
Understanding site plans and specifications is central to the surveyor’s role. This section focuses on interpreting architectural and civil drawings, identifying datum points, construction grids, and legal boundaries, and using technical documentation to determine exact set-out points. Emphasis is placed on reading and applying plan data for both horizontal and vertical control on site.
Surveying practices are governed by legal and regulatory frameworks. This section addresses compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC), local council regulations, and surveying standards. Participants will learn how to identify and adhere to easements, title restrictions, and boundary constraints, ensuring that all work is based on certified plans and approvals.
Survey preparation is crucial to ensure fieldwork accuracy. Participants will be introduced to procedures for reviewing service plans, assessing site access and hazards, and establishing reliable survey control points. This section lays the foundation for successful surveying outcomes by focusing on pre-survey planning and site-readiness evaluation.
Surveying requires a sound understanding of technical equipment. This section introduces common tools such as total stations, GNSS units, levels, and theodolites. Participants will examine equipment selection, maintenance routines, and calibration methods to ensure consistent measurement accuracy across different site conditions.
Establishing benchmarks and control points is fundamental to reliable set-out. Participants will learn how to determine fixed and temporary references, protect them from disturbance, and use them to guide construction alignment and level accuracy throughout a project’s duration.
Horizontal and vertical control defines the project’s physical layout. This section examines methods for setting out grids, reference lines, and slab levels, and managing construction tolerances. Participants will understand how to avoid cumulative error by verifying offsets and cross-referencing control data during key construction stages.
Topographical and feature surveys assist in understanding site constraints. Participants will learn how to record natural features, ground profiles, and existing services, using this data to inform earthworks, drainage design, and site grading. These surveys provide vital input for cut and fill operations and stormwater planning.
Boundary and cadastral surveying ensures legal compliance. This section explains the principles of boundary identification, setback verification, and property line referencing. Participants will understand when to engage licensed surveyors for boundary definition and how to interpret title plans in construction contexts.
Excavation and earthwork set-out enables site preparation. Participants will learn to mark excavation limits, batter lines, and depth references. Focus is placed on communicating set-out data clearly to plant operators and monitoring progress to maintain alignment with design specifications.
Footings, slabs, and retaining structures require precision in excavation profiles and vertical placement. This section addresses the marking of piers, starter bars, and formwork, and the use of Reduced Levels (RLs) to ensure compliance with structural engineering requirements.
Superstructure set-out ensures vertical elements are correctly aligned. Participants will learn how to position columns, walls, and beams, verifying formwork and steelwork alignment. Strategies are explored for managing construction tolerances, shrinkage, and movement in multi-storey applications.
Set-out for plumbing, electrical, and drainage services is essential for coordination. This section addresses the accurate location of service routes, invert levels, and fixture positions, as well as strategies for avoiding clashes between trades through coordinated service layouts.
Civil and external works require precise layout planning. Participants will explore techniques for setting out roads, kerbs, footpaths, and carparks, including pit locations and drainage gradients. This section also examines integration with external infrastructure and landscaping features.
Confined or complex sites require adaptive set-out solutions. This section introduces strategies for managing podiums, basements, and high-density zones, including the use of vertical referencing, laser scanning, and BIM integration to improve set-out precision in difficult environments.
Checking and recording set-out results ensures quality assurance. Participants will examine verification procedures, data recording techniques, and field log management. Emphasis is placed on identifying discrepancies early and documenting actual vs design coordinates to support compliance reporting.
Clear communication of set-out data to site teams is critical for execution. This section focuses on marking techniques, drawing annotation, and the distribution of accurate and updated set-out information. Participants will learn how to explain tolerances and assist trades in interpreting physical markings.
Set-out errors must be identified and addressed immediately. This section outlines common causes of error and provides guidance on confirming accuracy, correcting misalignments, and documenting rectification. Participants will also understand the importance of notifying engineers and updating plans following significant adjustments.
Compliance and quality control underpin the surveying process. Participants will explore the standards governing construction surveying, including AS 2870 and AS/NZS 1100. Emphasis is placed on inspection documentation, sign-off procedures, and the surveyor’s role in quality audits and project handover.
By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge and procedural understanding required to perform and oversee accurate site surveying and set-out activities—ensuring construction work is delivered with precision, confidence, and full regulatory compliance.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Site Surveying and Set-Out in Construction
- Defining site surveying and set-out in the construction process
- Importance of accuracy, coordination, and verification
- Role of surveyors, engineers, builders, and tradespeople
2. Understanding Site Plans, Drawings, and Specifications
- Interpreting architectural, structural, and civil site plans
- Identifying key survey data: levels, grids, boundaries
- Using specifications and notes to guide set-out requirements
3. Overview of Legal and Regulatory Surveying Requirements
- Surveying in accordance with NCC and local council regulations
- Understanding site boundaries, easements, and title restrictions
- Importance of working within certified plans and permits
4. Preparing for the Site Survey Process
- Reviewing pre-construction documentation and service plans
- Conducting site inspections for access, obstructions, and hazards
- Establishing survey control points and datum levels
5. Equipment Used in Construction Surveying
- Introduction to total stations, theodolites, levels, and GNSS/GPS
- Care, calibration, and maintenance of equipment
- Selecting the appropriate tools for site conditions
6. Establishing Benchmarks and Survey Control Points
- Types of benchmarks: temporary vs permanent
- Positioning and protecting control points on site
- Verifying levels using known datum references
7. Horizontal and Vertical Control in Set-Out
- Establishing building grids, reference lines, and offsets
- Setting out levels for slabs, footings, roads, and drainage
- Managing cumulative error and control verification
8. Conducting Topographical and Feature Surveys
- Identifying existing features: trees, services, contours
- Mapping terrain and surface variations
- Using survey data for earthworks and cut/fill planning
9. Boundary and Cadastral Surveying Principles
- Determining legal boundaries from title plans
- Identifying property lines, setbacks, and adjoining lots
- Engaging licensed surveyors for certified boundary redefinition
10. Setting Out Excavations and Earthworks
- Marking excavation limits, batter lines, and safe working zones
- Communicating set-out information to plant operators
- Monitoring depth and alignment during earthworks
11. Set-Out for Footings, Slabs, and Retaining Structures
- Marking excavation profiles for footings and piers
- Setting RLs (Reduced Levels) and vertical tolerances
- Positioning starter bars, holding-down bolts, and formwork lines
12. Structural Set-Out for Superstructure Elements
- Setting column centre lines, wall boundaries, and floor heights
- Verifying steelwork, formwork, and pre-cast positions
- Managing deflections and construction movement in tall structures
13. Services Set-Out for Plumbing, Electrical, and Drainage
- Marking stormwater, sewer, water, and gas service routes
- Coordinating with MEP trades to avoid clashes
- Confirming invert levels and service clearances
14. Surveying for Civil and External Works
- Setting out roads, kerbs, footpaths, driveways, and car parks
- Drainage levels, pits, and gradients for civil works
- Integration with landscaping and public infrastructure
15. Managing Set-Out in Complex or Confined Sites
- Adapting set-out techniques for basements, podiums, and tight boundaries
- Vertical referencing in multi-storey and staged construction
- Using laser scanning or BIM models for complex geometry
16. Checking, Verifying, and Recording Survey Work
- Double-checking measurements and positional accuracy
- Recording field data in survey books or digital logs
- Comparing actual vs design coordinates and elevations
17. Communicating Set-Out Information to Site Teams
- Marking clearly with paint, pins, nails, string lines, or profiles
- Providing maps, drawings, and set-out reports to foremen and trades
- Explaining set-out tolerances and interpretation
18. Dealing with Set-Out Errors and Adjustments
- Common causes of error: equipment, human, environmental
- Steps to verify, correct, and re-validate incorrect set-out
- Notifying engineers and updating affected documentation
19. Compliance and Quality Assurance in Surveying Activities
- Meeting tolerances under AS 2870, AS/NZS 1100, and other standards
- Site inspection reports, sign-offs, and conformance documentation
- Surveyor’s involvement in quality audits and handover
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.