The Complete As-Built Survey Checklist for Contractors in East Anglia
Site engineer marking up as-built drawings on a live highways project in Cambridgeshire using total station data.
If you're managing a highways or infrastructure site in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex or Hertfordshire, you already know how much pressure there is to get things signed off accurately and on time.
One of the most overlooked parts of that process? The As-built survey.
But getting your As-builts wrong — or not getting them at all — can come back to bite you. We’ve seen it cause everything from rework and delayed handovers to invoice disputes and asset rejection.
Here’s a simple, no-nonsense checklist we use at AKN Engineering to help main contractors and site teams get their as-builts right the first time.
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What Is an As-Built Survey?
An As-built survey is a set of updated drawings that reflect what’s been built — not what was designed.
They’re used for quality checks, asset handover, and proving compliance with tolerances. On highways projects, they often cover drainage, ducting, road alignment, lighting columns, levels, fencing and even soft landscaping.
If you’re working under strict specifications, like Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, they’re essential.
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As-Built Survey Checklist (for Project Managers & Engineers)
Have you agreed the scope?
It’s surprising how often As-built surveys are assumed rather than scoped properly. Speak to the client early about:
- What needs surveying (e.g. road centreline, drainage, ducting)
- Which format they expect (CAD, PDF, survey report)
- Tolerance levels or specifications
Not sure what’s expected? Refer to your ITP (Inspection Test Plan) and contract documents.
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Are Your Control Points Verified?
If your control’s drifting or based on loose assumptions, your as-built won’t line up with setting out.
Double-check:
- Grid and level datum
- Control station stability
- Coordinates logged against site GPS or total station
You can refer to the Survey Association standards if you need guidance.
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Is Your Survey Kit Calibrated?
Your equipment is only as good as its calibration. Make sure:
- Total stations and GPS are checked weekly
- Correct coding and description key sets are used
- Field to finish workflows are clean (this saves hours in CAD)
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Are You Capturing the Right Features?
For highways work, we recommend as-built surveys for:
- Drainage runs and manhole locations
- Kerb lines and road levels
- Street furniture and signage
- Ducting and drawpits
- Fence lines, bollards, tree planting
Missing any of these will cause snags or non-compliance later.
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Have You Issued Clean, Layered Drawings?
A CAD file with 12 overlapping layers and no keys isn’t helpful to anyone.
Send:
- Clean .DWG or .PDF files
- Title blocks with clear date/version
- Legend and layering that matches the site specification
- Photos or redlines if requested
Need a template? You can find drawing standards here via CICES UK
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Real-World Tip from AKN Engineering
We worked with a contractor in Essex last winter who kept getting drainage runs rejected by the client. They thought it was installation error — but it turned out the As-built drawings didn’t reflect a mid-design change.
A quick GPS pickup and updated CAD drawing solved the issue — and helped close out the section without delays.
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As-Built Survey Support Across East Anglia
At AKN Engineering, we support civil and highways contractors across:
- Cambridgeshire
- Hertfordshire
- Bedfordshire
- Northamptonshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Kent
- Essex
- Suffolk
- Norfolk
Our engineers are experienced in as-built data capture and CAD production, using survey-grade kit and consistent QA procedures. Whether you’re after pre-handover checks, adoption packs, or monthly updates, we can help.
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Need Help with Your As-Built Surveys?
Don’t risk late handovers or rejected works. We can provide reliable, clean As-built surveys to support your highways or civils project.
👉 Click here to speak with an engineer
📘 Read last week’s article: What is a Utility Survey and why do they matter