PAS 128 survey types can be confusing if you’re not working with them day-to-day. This guide breaks down M1, M2, B, C and D in simple terms so project managers, engineers and contractors can choose the right survey level and manage underground utility risk confidently.

PAS 128 sets the standard for underground utility surveys in UK construction. This guide explains what each survey type means, how to interpret confidence levels, and how PAS 128 helps reduce risk on highways and civils projects before you break ground.

Pot-ended and abandoned cables are some of the hardest buried services to identify. This blog explains why standard detection methods can’t locate them, what this means for PAS 128 surveys, and how project teams can plan safer excavations despite these limitations.

 Before any as-built report leaves our office, it goes through a detailed internal verification process. Here’s how AKN Engineering ensures accuracy and consistency before client sign-off.

Most design problems and on-site delays come from one thing: the wrong survey scope. Here's what project managers should understand about topographical and utility surveys before a project starts — and why RICS accuracy bands and PAS 128 Quality Levels matter.

Not all equipment is equal when it comes to setting out highways projects. Learn which instruments deliver the highest accuracy and why — plus how AKN Engineering ensures every design line is built right.

GPR surveys can’t see everything — they detect disturbances and metallic objects beneath the surface. Learn why a layered approach gives safer, more accurate results on UK construction sites.

Not everything beneath the surface is meant to be found. Some underground utilities are classified — hidden for national security reasons. Learn how utility surveyors identify the invisible networks that keep the UK running safely without ever appearing on a plan.

Every cubic metre matters. Find out how accurate volume analysis protects your construction budget from hidden cut and fill costs.

Using the wrong UK coordinate system can mean centimetre-level misalignments. Learn how to avoid costly errors with OSM15 vs OSM32.

Moving from CAD drawing to ground needs millimetre precision. Discover how AKN Engineering sets out DWG plans to keep your project on time and on spec.

Learn how to align GNSS with local site coordinates and why calibration files are critical for highways and machine control projects.

An as-built survey is more than a drawing – it’s proof of what’s been built. Here’s what it tells you, why it matters, and how it helps contractors and clients.

One small survey error can snowball into big problems—programme delays, cost overruns, disputes, and safety risks. Learn how to avoid them and keep your project on track.

Before you break ground, what’s under the surface? Learn how utilities surveys help prevent delays, reduce risk, and improve planning on highways and building projects.

In construction, strong partnerships with main contractors can be the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that faces constant challenges. At AKN Engineering, we prioritise building solid, long-term relationships with our main contractor clients, enabling us to deliver seamless, high-quality projects across Hertfordshire and the South East of England.