What an as-built survey drawing is
An as-built survey drawing records what was actually built, not what was planned. Surveyors measure the completed work in the field and show its true horizontal and vertical positions on a drawing. They often overlay or compare these against the design plans.
The drawing is typically used for:
- Verifying construction matches the approved plans
- Documenting deviations for the engineer, owner or contractor
- Supporting permit close-out, certificates of occupancy or municipal acceptance
- Providing a record of buried utilities before they are covered or lost
- Supporting lender, warranty or future-design needs
Requirements vary by jurisdiction and project, so check with the permitting authority, the client's contract and the project engineer.
What it typically shows
Content depends on the project scope, but common items include:
- Building footprints and finished floor elevations
- Edges of pavement, curbs, sidewalks and driveways
- Storm, sanitary and water utilities, including manholes, inlets, valves, pipe sizes, inverts and rim elevations
- Final grades, ponds, swales and retaining walls
- Property lines, easements and setbacks for reference
- Differences between design and as-built positions or elevations
- Surveyor's notes, datum, benchmarks and certification block
Who can draft it
Two roles are involved, and they are often confused.
Field verification and certification. In the US, the surveying work and any signed or sealed certification must be performed by, or under the direct supervision of, a licensed professional land surveyor in the state where the project sits. Canada, the UK and Australia have their own licensing and professional rules.
CAD drafting. Turning field data into a clean drawing can be done by a trained CAD technician. This may be an in-house employee, a freelancer or an outsourced drafting company. The licensed surveyor reviews the drawing and takes professional responsibility for it before it is signed.
| Role | Typical person | Can certify the drawing? |
|---|---|---|
| Field data collection | Survey crew under a licensed surveyor | No, unless the crew chief is licensed |
| CAD drafting | In-house or outsourced drafter | No |
| Review, signature and seal | Licensed land surveyor | Yes |
| Design comparison | Civil engineer or surveyor | Per project requirements |
In short, an outsourced drafter can prepare the drawing, but the licensed surveyor remains responsible for the final certified product.
What a drafter needs from you
Good as-built drafting depends on good inputs. Typically provide:
- Field data: point files (CSV/TXT), raw data or a point cloud/LiDAR scan
- Field notes, sketches and photos
- The design plans, such as CAD files or PDFs
- Your template, layer standards and title block
- Datum, coordinate system and units
- Any specific agency or client requirements
If any of these are missing, a drafter should flag it rather than guess. Unclear field notes are the most common cause of revisions.
Software and deliverables
Most as-built drawings are produced in AutoCAD or Civil 3D. Some firms use Carlson or MicroStation. Typical deliverables include a DWG file, a PDF for review, and sometimes a surface model or a comparison of design versus as-built. When the field data is a scan, point cloud or LiDAR data can be converted into CAD linework and surfaces.
In-house vs. outsourced drafting
Outsourcing is common when workloads spike, when a firm lacks a CAD technician, or when turnaround matters. The main considerations are:
- Quality control: Ask how drawings are checked and how revisions are handled.
- Standards: Confirm the provider can follow your layer names, symbols and templates.
- Confidentiality: Request an NDA if project data is sensitive.
- Responsibility: Make sure your licensed surveyor reviews and certifies the output.
How Land Drafters helps
Land Drafters, LLC is a US company based in the Orlando, Florida area. It provides outsourced land survey CAD drafting to surveying and civil engineering firms in all 50 US states, Canada, the UK and Australia. Its services include as-built drafting along with boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS and subdivision plat drawings, Civil 3D surfaces and point cloud/LiDAR to CAD. The team works in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Carlson, MicroStation and Revit.
- Typical turnaround is 24-72 hours.
- Pricing is hourly or per drawing; see /pricing.
- A free trial drawing and an NDA are available.
- Your licensed surveyor reviews, signs and seals the final drawing.
To start, send your field data and plans through /get-quote, or contact the team on WhatsApp.